General Manager – Aloft New Orleans Downtown
Area Vice President of Operations – HRI Lodging, LLC
As a thirty-five year hospitality veteran, Kristi contributes her success and drive to both her parents and by-chance summer job at the Royal Sonesta during her first year of college. “My father was a teacher and pastor. My mother was a nurse. I suppose with having two amazing parents who are so passionate about caring and serving others – hospitality came naturally to me.” After spending a year working at the hotel, Kristi felt she found her calling and chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism at the University of New Orleans.
In 1987, Kristi began her career as Front Office Manager at the Holiday Inn in Kenner, LA, a property where she moved quickly through the ranks and held several management titles. Since then, Kristi has worked at a series of luxury, boutique and select-service properties throughout the city of New Orleans in a variety of positions including Catering Sales, Director of Food & Beverage, Director of Rooms, Director of Operations and General Manager.
In her latest appointed role as Area Vice President and General Manager in New Orleans, Kristi is responsible for providing leadership and operational support to six local hotels while continuing to manage one of the top performing Aloft hotels in the country.
Over the years, Kristi has been an active member of Greater New Orleans Hotel Lodging Association, where she has contributed as President, Membership Chairperson and Treasurer. Additionally, Kristi is a board member of the Arts Council New Orleans, New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, the Advisory Board University of New Orleans – HRT Program , GNOHLA Education Foundation and Lutheran High School New Orleans.
In her free time, Kristi enjoys golf, cooking and spending time with her family.