Hospitality Leaders - Interviews with leaders, entrepreneurs, and supporters of hospitality. - Changing the Narrative with Jeff Keeley of InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza

Changing the Narrative with Jeff Keeley of InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza

05/02/22 • 24 min

Hospitality Leaders - Interviews with leaders, entrepreneurs, and supporters of hospitality.

On this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I had the opportunity to speak with Jeff Keeley, General Manager at InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza, about some of the ways he’s trying to change the popular perception of the hospitality industry.

In days past, there was a stigma of immobility with hospitality jobs, especially hotel positions. Being a dishwasher or a hotel receptionist was thought of as a final destination and there was no ladder to climb if you found yourself in these entry-level roles.

Jeff, who himself started as a front desk clerk, is trying to dispel that notion. Especially now in a post-Covid world, the hospitality sector is hurting for mid-level staff, and entry-level hotel jobs may actually be some of the most upwardly mobile positions available right now. That mobility doesn’t have to come with an 80-hour per week work rate, either. That’s another myth Jeff wants to put to rest.

Hospitality can offer a sensible work-life balance and to work in a hotel or restaurant does not mean selling your soul to your job. From Jeff’s perspective, everyone has a life outside work and a job should never take its place. It’s an outstanding management philosophy and it’s helping Jeff to change the narrative around hospitality work.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit

HospitalityLeaderspodcast.com.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit

HospitalityLeaderspodcast.com.

Previous Episode

Cultivating Creativity with Joshua Abelson of The Industrial Event Space

On this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Joshua Abelson, Co-Owner and General Manager of The Industrial Event Space.

Joshua’s business is defined by its creativity. The Industrial Event Space works with clients to create truly unique events for each and every customer. That embedded creativity allowed Joshua to adapt well to Covid-19, putting on non-traditional events that let customers continue to gather and enjoy an entertainment experience in a safe and accessible way.

While some venues may be trying to return to business as usual in a post-pandemic world, Joshua wants to continue to push the boundaries of what entertainment can be. For him, the forced pivot during the pandemic was an opportunity to stretch his creativity, and it showed him what future events could look like.

To Joshua, the future of hospitality is in the continued pursuit of those non-traditional guest experiences. Businesses shouldn’t try to replicate past standards but push future boundaries.

For those willing to put in the work and expend the creative energy to serve clients on an individual level, the avenues for success are endless.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit

HospitalityLeaderspodcast.com.

Next Episode

Building Longevity with Chuck Johnson of the Las Vegas Aviators Baseball Team

On this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Chuck Johnson, General Manager of the Las Vegas Aviators Baseball Team.

Besides a brief stint working behind the scenes in an unofficial capacity, Chuck has been a part of the Aviators team for nearly 30 years. Many of his colleagues in leadership positions have served for similarly long tenures; the longevity of the team has allowed Chuck and his peers to cultivate a culture and a consistency in their work environment that few companies can match.

Chuck attributes this outstanding stability to his company’s willingness to invest in its people. From extra days off to team nights out, the Aviators leadership has always gone above and beyond in the name of caring for their human capital. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, when revenue was declining and other businesses were undergoing layoffs and wage reductions, the Aviators maintained competitive wages at the cost of their bottom line.

In the end, it proved a worthy financial risk. The Aviators were able to keep a team with decades of combined experience through the pandemic and have been able to surge ahead in a post-Covid market without missing a beat.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit

HospitalityLeaderspodcast.com.