Real Talk with Bonnie Li
Bonnie is a seasoned hotel industry professional who transitioned to Chief Operations Officer of vacation rental management company Upstay after 18 years of leading hotels. In this interview, she shares her insights on her rise to the C-suite. Bonnie's commitment to inclusivity and navigating cultural differences provides valuable guidance to leaders seeking diversity within their organizations. With additional roles supporting WORTH Association and Bliss Hospitality & Education, don’t miss her tips for maintaining balance.
HAVING DEDICATED 18 YEARS TO THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, WHAT PROMPTED YOUR SHIFT TO THE VACATION RENTAL MANAGEMENT SECTOR, AND HOW HAS THE EXPERIENCE UNFOLDED FOR YOU?
I loved hospitality and knew from a young age that I would work in hotels. I had the privilege of working with some of the best brands in the industry. As I get older, I started to realize that I enjoy the thrill of opening hotels and building teams. I also enjoy a fast paced environment.
I did my MBA and graduated in 2021. Purposely avoiding a hotel program and wanting to learn more about the business world in general, I found myself opening up my mind to the idea of entrepreneurship. I turned my course project into a live project, Bliss Hospitality Talent & Education. Joining Upstay, a vacation rental (VR) management company, was my destiny. I could apply my hospitality knowledge and my experience in building systems and structures in this start-up environment. I am enjoying how tech forward the VRl industry is. I am such a tech junkie and this industry allows me to keep up with the newest products out there. I am also honored to have some of my long-time friends and colleagues moved into the VR space with me. We found ourselves building, changing, and evolving with the company. It has been a super rewarding experience.
YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR EXPERTISE GLOBALLY, HAVING WORKED AT TWO PRESTIGIOUS FORBES FIVE STAR AWARD-WINNING HOTELS. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE HAS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND YOUR SUCCESS AND THAT OF YOUR TEAM?
People! People! People!
People who are committed to the same goal, people who are like-minded, people who can lead in all directions (up, down, and all around).
YOUR JOURNEY STARTED IN ENTRY-LEVEL HOTEL ROLES AND YOU’VE SINCE MADE YOUR WAY UP TO THE C-SUITE. WHAT FACTORS DO YOU THINK HAVE HELPED INFLUENCE THIS PATH TO SUCCESS?
Having a goal and staying focused. I knew I wanted to one-day become a hotel general manager. Curiosity (or some people call it: a growth mindset) is important. I remember always asking for more responsibilities and more opportunities to learn new things along the way.
But what really is going to help one climb the ladder is having a strong support system. Family, friends, and mentors.
YOU'VE RECOGNIZED THAT TAKING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES INTO ACCOUNT HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN LEADING HIGH-PERFORMING TEAMS. WHAT GUIDANCE WOULD YOU OFFER TO FELLOW LEADERS SEEKING TO ENHANCE THEIR INCLUSIVITY?
Hospitality is naturally a diverse industry. However, being inclusive and assembling a diverse team is harder than I thought. In Vancouver, we often see housekeeping teams that are dominated by a specific ethnic group or an engineering team with no female members. Sometimes, we ought to ask ourselves, are we set in our ways or are there other ways? Bringing in a new perspective could be disruptive to the team culture. There are debates out there about company referral programs. I remember working for companies where people are incentivized to refer candidates. However, if we are always hiring people who we like and get along with, who is going to challenge us? I personally love those who challenge and ask questions. If I am able to answer those questions and get their buy-in, I just gained the loyalty of a strong voice on my team.
In reality, I have an asian-heavy team, due to the location of our off-shore team (the Philippines). On one hand, We need to balance the workforce in Canada and the US. On the other hand, we also need to ensure that the team members who are managing our Filipino workforce understand the culture and can act as a bridge between the local culture and the North American culture. I have learned a lot about the Philipino culture. Our team of leaders are also committed to promote and groom more off-shore members into leadership roles.
CAN YOU NAME ANOTHER WOMAN WHO HAS HELPED INSPIRE YOUR OWN JOURNEY?
Denyse Fishwick, the current Director of Housekeeping at the Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto. She was my role model when I first started with the industry. She was graceful, always able to calm an angry guest down. Everyone loved her as she genuinely cared about everyone. She was the person and leader I wanted to be. We always say, “it’s not what you say it’s how you say it”. She makes people feel good about themselves even if she was giving you constructive feedback.
YOUR ROLE AS CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR AT BLISS HOSPITALITY TALENT & EDUCATION INVOLVED CREATING A VIRTUAL HOTEL FOR DEVELOPING TECHNICAL SKILLS. HOW DOES THIS PASSION PROJECT CONTRIBUTE TO THE EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF OTHERS PURSUING CAREERS IN HOSPITALITY?
My goal for Bliss is to collaborate with a group of tech savvy industry experts and pass on our knowledge to those who are passionate about the hospitality industry. It’s been important to us to have an equal number of men and women participating in our workshops.
WHEN YOU ARE NOT BUSY OVERSEEING OPERATIONS FOR 400+ PROPERTIES, WHAT MIGHT WE FIND YOU GETTING UP TO?
Ballet Classes!
Ballet does not let you half-ass things. You have to change into workout outfits and be ready to go. During ballet classes, you are unavailable to the rest of the world except for yourself. Ballet trains your body and your mind. This is also a place where you find women empowering other women. We clap and extend our encouragement to others. We create bonds and friendships.
BALANCING CHARITY WORK, MOTHERHOOD, AND A HECTIC CAREER, HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE WHILE FULFILLING YOUR COMMITMENTS TO OTHERS?
ME time: This includes going on a trip alone, eating in a restaurant alone, taking a walk alone, getting a massage/facial. I found it most effective to reset my headspace when I am alone.
Exercise: Dance, fitness class, running on the seawall (only in the summer…lol)
Outsource: Childcare, cleaning, mani/pedi, petcare
Set Boundaries:This is the hardest part. We often feel guilty about not being with our kids, not getting back to bosses and clients immediately, not responding to our team members to listen and emphasize. But if we let everything take over our lives, we might not be in the right headspace to support everyone around us or show up for ourselves.
ABOUT BONNIE
Bonnie is a multifaceted professional with a unique blend of experiences and passions. As a dedicated dance mom, she brings the same level of enthusiasm and commitment to her role as a C-suite executive. Her journey in the hospitality industry spans many years, during which she has excelled in opening new hotels and building dynamic teams. Bonnie's expertise lies in the luxury hotel sector, where her vision and leadership have significantly contributed to the industry.
In addition to her corporate endeavors, Bonnie is the driving force behind Bliss Hospitality. This initiative focuses on educating and training aspiring leaders in the hospitality field, demonstrating her commitment to nurturing the next generation of professionals. Bonnie also volunteers for WORTH Association supporting Community Engagement.
Her diverse background, from the fast-paced world of hotel management to her passionate advocacy for women's empowerment, positions Bonnie as an invaluable source of knowledge and inspiration. As she continues her journey with WORTH, many are eager to learn from her vast experiences and insightful leadership.