Hidden Gems: Meet Brittany Shami

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Shami.

Hi Brittany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Hospitality Business in 2014. I was lucky enough to land an internship at Aspen Meadows Resort over the summer of 2013 and fell head over heels for Aspen, Colorado, and mountain life in general! I knew after this summer that I would do everything in my power to make Aspen my permanent home. Six days after graduation my car was packed and I was on the 22-hour driving journey back to Aspen, ready to start my career in events at The St. Regis Aspen Hotel.

During my three years at St. Regis, I was happy to be promoted to three different positions before accepting an opportunity with The Little Nell Hotel as a Group & Event Sales Manager. I spent two and a half years in my position at The Little Nell when I was approached by ownership of Aspen Street Lodge to become General Manager and open this beautiful & one-of-a-kind property!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The jump from the “corporate” hospitality sector of hotels to working for a private ownership team was a little intimidating to wrap my head around at first. I also felt a lot of pressure to succeed given the tremendous opportunity I was being given. As anyone can imagine opening a new hotel, let alone introducing a new experiential travel concept into Aspen’s current offerings required a ton of time and dedication.

And on top of all of this, I started this new journey as General Manager of Aspen Street Lodge only days after COVID-19 shut down the world in March 2020. As many others in the hospitality and travel industry experienced; COVID-19 was crippling and a beyond intimidating time to start building out operations with the unknown of what the future of the hospitality industry would look like.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Aspen Street Lodge?
Aspen Street Lodge is a boutique luxury lodge in the heart of downtown Aspen. We specialize in curating experiences for leisure, social, and corporate groups. The lodge is 26,200 sq. ft. with 11 bedrooms and can sleep up to 28 guests when all bedding is maximized.

We only offer complete lodge buyouts to groups, and are the culmination of the best amenities guest seek from a private residence coupled with services you seek from a luxury hotel such as housekeeping, transportation, custom itinerary, activity, culinary, and event planning with our team of experts and local hosts! No group stay is the same, and every detail is curated by our team.

We are a one-of-a-kind offering in Aspen, and there are few others around the world that cater to experiential customized travel exclusively.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I work in hospitality, so being social and outgoing comes with the territory! I always recommend getting involved in your local industry and volunteering on boards and other leadership positions. I was the secretary for the WIPA Colorado chapter for two years while I worked at The Little Nell. Not only did I meet some amazing friends, but also generated business for the hotel and expanded my network of industry connections tenfold.

When it comes to finding a mentor, be honest and harsh with yourself. Dig deep on: your weaknesses (big or small), what makes you uncomfortable, and areas where you not just want, but need to grow professionally! For me, it was operations and managing a team as my previous roles gave me limited experience. For my mentor, I choose to ask the former Director of Operations from when I worked at St. Regis (who has since held multiple General Manager positions at some of the most luxurious hotels in the United States!).

Your mentor is giving you valuable time, so come prepared with an agenda of where you need help and advice, and set your own goals as a framework. This proactiveness will guarantee the success of your objectives. Often you will find your mentor supporting you in more ways than imagined.

Pricing:

• Buyouts of Aspen Street Lodge start at $30,000 per night for groups of up to 28 guests.

Contact Info:

• Website: aspenstreetlodge.com
• Instagram: @aspenstreetlodge
• Facebook: Aspen Street Lodge
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspen-street-lodge
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspenstreetlodge5084
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@aspenstreetlodge

Image Credits
The Charles Group, Sam Ferguson, Jenna Noelle, Draper White, Riccardo Savi, and Alexis Ahrling