Parking attendant to award winning General Manager - Industry pathways

Juan D. Leyva is the General Manager of LondonHouse Chicago, and Vice President of Operations of the Central Region for Oxford Hotels & Resorts. With more than a decade of hospitality experience, Juan was named the 2021 Hotelier of the Year by the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association - the highest honor awarded to General Managers in the hotel industry.

Juan has held a number of roles in hospitality across a huge scope of responsibility, from career beginnings as a Parking Garage Attendant to Director of Operations. In Fall 2019, Juan was recognized by Hotel Management as a 'GM to Watch', and was also one of Chicago United's 2019 Business Leaders of Color. Juan serves on the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association's board of directors, the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Chicago, and serves on the BBB's Standards and Ethics Committee.

For Juan, the most rewarding part of his job is developing future leaders in the industry. He believes that when you're passionate, work hard, and believe in yourself, anything is possible. 

In this mentor session, Juan explains how he forged his own path to create an incredible hospitality career... and how you can too!

• The power of saying 'yes'
• Driving your own learning opportunities
• Finding passions to shape your path

Whether you're brand new to the industry or figuring out your next step, this mentor session will provide you with the inspiration you need. Skill up now!