Crossroads Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Emily Olsen as Director of Lifestyle. With an impressive career and background in the hospitality sphere, Emily brings both a wealth of knowledge and refreshing excitement to her new role.
Emily holds a Strategic Communication degree from North Dakota State University, where she minored in Visual Arts, a passion she lives out through the hotel’s thoughtful gallery program highlighting local artists with historic ties to Kansas City, to performances and unexpected artist-driven experiences. With her new role, she aspires to foster community through the art of placemaking, thoughtful collaboration, and the delivery of high-quality experiences that challenge the norm. Her commitment to creating spaces rich in arts and entertainment while uplifting the creative voices of Kansas City reigns present throughout her work within the hotel.
Emily joins Crossroads after spending two successful years as the Director of Lifestyle at Jasper Hotel, a sister Aparium property in the urban downtown district of Fargo, ND. She has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to the destination, receiving the prestigious ‘Tourism Champion 2023’ award from the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau, an award presented to the individual who has made the greatest contributions to tourism in the past year. She was also awarded Hotel Management’s 30 under 30 recognition for the hotel industry’s top rising stars. Before joining Crossroads, Emily served as the Host and Secretary of CreativeMornings Fargo, an international breakfast lecture series for the creative community, and currently serves as Co-Host for CreativeMornings Kansas City.
As the Director of Lifestyle for Crossroads, Emily handles the thoughtful and community-focused programming offered at the hotel, including the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration with the Mattie Rhodes Art Center & Gallery and the Kansas City Museum, and New Year’s Eve extravaganza, this past year in partnership with Quixotic and Nomada inclusive of talented performers, avant garde decorations, chef specials and an all inclusive bar featuring top shelf liquors. Throughout the coming year, Emily will spearhead new programming initiatives like DJ takeovers in the hotel’s bar and lounge, printmaking art class with local community group Studio Art Club, and create meaningful ways to celebrate the diversity of Kansas City.
