SPOTLIGHT ON
Henry Kallan
President, Library Hotel Collection
By Sharon Hirschowitz
Henry Kallan’s story encapsulates the American dream, starting as
a busboy at the Gotham Hotel, and through grit and determination,
returning to the same hotel as General Manager at a very young
age. He has perfected the art of personalized guest experience,
with his hotels holding the top positions in TripAdvisor. Here, he
tells us now he does it.
You have an interesting story about your
humble beginnings as a busboy. We would
love to hear more about it.
When I first came to America, I looked at working as a busboy as
the best opportunity to get my foot in the door at The Gotham
Hotel (the current Peninsula Hotel).
For reasons unbeknownst to me, one of the hotel managers was not
as supportive as he could have been in helping me learn the skills I
needed to advance. I was determined to prove I could do the job,
though, and despite him, I was soon promoted to waiter.
16 ILHA