First Hospitality, a national hotel operating, management, and development company, has been named a Certified™ Great Place To Work® for the second year in a row. The company also ranked on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list.
The Great Place To Work Certification is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at First Hospitality. This year, 81% of employees at First Hospitality said it is a great place to work, compared to the average 57% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company. Additionally, 84% of employees said they feel a sense of pride when looking at what First Hospitality has accomplished.
“Receiving this recognition is a testament to our commitment to fostering a positive, growth-oriented environment for our employees,” said Travis Bowman, vice president of learning and performance management. “At First Hospitality, we believe that investing in our team’s development is the key to our success. We’re proud of the workplace culture that we have built that provides associates with the tools and support they need to thrive, both personally and professionally.”
Furthermore, First Hospitality reports a retention rate for the previous 12 months that is 5% higher than the industry average for 2023 (as reported by Awardco). With 102 internal promotions over the last 12 months, First Hospitality continues to place strong emphasis on people development and the career growth of its associates.
In response to the employee survey feedback, First Hospitality is leveraging two of their various key employee growth programs including the Future Leaders and First Path initiatives. The Future Leaders program offers property aspiring Assistant General Managers and Directors of Sales a pathway to becoming a General Manager through experiential learning and a hands-on approach. Similarly, the First Path program gives developmental training and the opportunity for other frontline leaders to grow within First Hospitality.
“Our frontline leaders play the most crucial role in shaping the environment for our hourly team members,” stated Christine Andrews, vice president of people at First Hospitality. “By empowering young leaders through professional growth programs like these, we create a pathway for employees to succeed, fostering a positive environment for our associates, driving both personal achievement and overall company success.” Andrews added, “And it’s thanks to the talent of all our associates that First Hospitality prospered this year and made the 2024 Inc. 5000 list.”
This esteemed ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses.
