Vanessa Williams gets it. The general manager of Tampa’s The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection understands that a great hotel is like a theatrical production — everything must work in harmony for the show to go properly. Yes, you need reliable housekeeping and great food and drinks, but it means nothing if a friendly valet attendant doesn’t set the stage when guests pull up.
“I interview [all the staff] in the hotel,” says Williams, who was the GM at Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills before joining The Vinoy in 2022. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t speak English. I’ll have a translator with me, but we’re going to meet. We’re going to talk. The valet parking company is not even ours. But I am so passionate about the fact that that is the first person any guest that arrives at this hotel will interact with [that I want to interview them first].”
When she isn’t ensuring all aspects of The Vinoy’s property-wide refresh are going well before the hotel’s 100th anniversary in 2025, Williams enjoys spending time in the kitchen, walking her dog and enjoying Tampa’s bustling art scene. And as you’ll see in the following interview, she’s got a knack for answering rapid-fire questions, too.
What are some Tampa area must-visit attractions?
All you need to do is travel to St. Petersburg, stay at The Vinoy and you’re within walking distance of absolutely world-class museums. We’ve got the Dalí Museum. It’s all housed here in just a beautiful museum experience.
What’s a can’t-miss restaurant in Tampa?
We have a very strong Cuban influence in the Tampa Bay market. Anybody who wants to have an authentic Cuban experience, Ybor City has some of the most amazing restaurants and incredible food.
How do you relax in Tampa?
As a GM, I don’t think I ever don’t think about work. You know what I’ve learned over the years? To balance my life.
What’s a destination you can go to over and over again?
Japan.
Favorite room view — a beach, downtown or nature?
I love them all.
What’s your favorite hotel amenity?
When I open the door to a guest room or a suite and it smells great.
What’s your favorite room service order?
A really good hamburger with french fries.
What’s your favorite minibar snack?
I probably lean into things like M&Ms.
What’s your favorite cocktail?
I’m a martini girl. I do a martini with no vermouth and three olives.
When you’re traveling, what are a few essentials that are always in your luggage?
I always carry a hair dryer. As hoteliers, we are getting a lot better [with having them in rooms], but we’re not where we need to be in terms of having a quality hair dryer in a luxury hotel.
What’s your go-to airport outfit?
I generally dress up, but I will wear comfortable shoes.
What movie can you watch over and over on a plane?
I’m not a big movie person, but I do love documentaries.
Do you have an on-the-road wellness routine?
If I can’t get into the gym, I’ll definitely walk. I build in a good hour of walking every day. Sleep is super important, too.
Who do you admire most in the hospitality industry?
I often think about how fortunate I’ve been in my career to have the general managers that I had in the last 30 years. They were all very different. My general managers were the ones that were the toughest on me, but they taught me the most.
What’s the worst hospitality trend you’ve seen?
You can check into a luxury hotel, and they don’t have a minibar. Why? I know we didn’t do it during COVID for a reason, but for me to open a refrigerator in a hotel room and it’s empty is [not good].
What’s a trend in hospitality that you like?
I love the personalization of amenities. I recently traveled to India, and they have entire wings in a hotel that are just geared to female travelers traveling on their own. I absolutely love the fact that everything in that room was geared to a female traveler, from nail polish remover to a pretty robe.
What’s an overrated culinary trend?
Celebrity chef-run restaurants.
What does hospitality mean to you?
Hospitality is creating a space for people to make memories.
If you could change one thing about the travel industry, what would it be?
I think there were a lot of young people in our industry that we lost [after the pandemic]. I think that is something that we’re going to have to claw back because our industry needs young people to come into the trade.
What’s the best piece of advice you got from someone in the hotel industry?
Don’t be afraid.
What’s the most underrated trait of a good leader?
I think what’s underrated is that people don’t understand the amount of time that we spend with people. It probably consumes 70% of what I do.
What is your proudest career accomplishment?
My legacy is that I don’t lower the bar. I won’t lower the bar. And if I have to, then I’m not in the right place.
