For Pamela, 20 years in hospitality have been about more than the buildings that house hotels. Every role has been shaped by the people, relationships and memories that stay with her long after the moments have passed.
“Hospitality is how you make people feel,” Pamela shares.
Throughout her hospitality career, Pamela has worked as a banquet supervisor, assistant front office manager, reservations and royal service manager, director of housekeeping and director of rooms. Now, she serves as the director of operations at Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire.
Pamela's Calgary-based best friend spent a decade trying to convince her to move to the city. When an opportunity came along in 2021 but didn’t work out, Pamela thought Calgary simply wasn’t meant to be; however, everything happens for a reason, and she still ended up in Calgary in mid-2022 and never looked back. The Blue Sky City instantly felt like home.
Pamela considers it a privilege to be part of the team at Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire. One of her most memorable moments came on her first day, when all the leaders showed up to their daily stand-up wearing her favourite colour, pink. She had never felt so welcomed. It was an early reminder that it’s the people who make hospitality a feeling.
“Our team shows up every single day with a sunny, blue-sky mindset, ready to show our guests why we’re ranked in the top three Sheratons in North America,” Pamela shares. “I am EAU so proud!”
Calgary’s hospitality culture is unlike anything Pamela has experienced elsewhere in Canada. She sees the city’s connection to Western hospitality reflected across all branches of service. It’s hard to put into words, she says, but easy to feel.
“And, of course, you should see my Stampede wardrobe!” Pamela jokes.
Throughout her career in hospitality, Pamela has learned that the most important thing a hotel can create is a feeling. Her goal as a leader is to build an environment where colleagues feel valued, guests feel genuinely welcomed and everyone who walks through the doors leaves with a great memory. A hotel is never just a building. It’s the people, energy and stories inside it.
That’s the kind of hospitality Pamela is proud to be part of, and the kind she wants to keep creating.