Hospitality Design February - March 2024 - 45

perspectives hdac spotlight
By Alissa Ponchione
Photo courtesy of Morgensheer Hospitality
This is an ongoing interview series curated by
the Hospitality Diversity Action Council (HDAC)
SWITCHING GEARS
Hospitality veteran Trica Jean-Baptiste navigates a new course
Trica Jean-Baptiste began her career in communications working for
Doral Hotels & Resorts and Le Parker Meridien. She continued working
in public relations, launching her own global boutique firm that she ran
for 14 years. Then, after the 2009 recession, she launched Morgensheer
Hospitality, a New York-based group of industry experts in myriad
fields that addresses the needs of investors within the hospitality,
development, and real estate sectors. Next up is another career change:
In collaboration with luxury sustainable cabin company TimberHut,
Jean-Baptiste is launching Left the Nest International, a unique
hospitality and real estate platform geared toward active baby boomers.
What led you to launching Morgensheer Hospitality?
After the 2009 recession, travel stopped. This industry always rebounds,
but it comes back differently. In every crisis, there's an opportunity. I love
the business side of hospitality, and many of my PR clients were investors.
[I always enjoyed the] conversation about operations in the capital markets,
so I got my real estate license to sell hotels. What got me in the door was
pitching myself. That's where the PR part comes in handy. Over the
course of [a few] years, I built relationships on the capital market side. As
I was presenting deals, owners would come back and say, 'We acquired
this property. Who do you suggest for operations?' I started connecting
investors to brands, and so I formed Morgensheer Hospitality, a consortium
of consultants who I tap for different services like asset management,
revenue management, etc. It's kind of like matchmaking.
How has the industry evolved since you started?
Owners are different, and I meet them where they are. With every
deal, I learn something new. I'm a resource. I'm educating them on the
industry, but I'm also helping them achieve their investment goals. I
enjoy building trust with investors and sitting with them through the
entire process.
What have you learned from your many career pivots?
Fear is a great motivator, and if you think about what makes you fearful,
you learn you have nothing to lose. You can only go forward. After 2009,
I never wanted to be in that position again, so I created processes that I
do every two years to keep myself relevant. Being able to reset regularly,
no matter what's happening in the industry or market, is important.
The other thing I learned about myself is I'm resilient. In 30
years, so much has happened, from the collapse of the markets to 9/11.
Through each crisis, I found the courage to move forward and utilize my
skills. You have to have a passion for whatever you do.
Do you think the industry has become more inclusive?
I remember meeting with a group at an investment firm, and I was the
only woman in the conference room. Not only was I the only woman,
but I was the only person of color. It has become more inclusive from
when I began, but there is tremendous work to be done.
What can you share about your latest endeavor, Left the
Nest International?
What's next for me is one last pivot. I'm building a platform [for baby
boomers], launching this year, which will encompass hospitality
and real estate. I want to build something that speaks to what I'm
passionate about while addressing an untapped market, and I'm
excited about that. hd
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Hospitality Design February - March 2024

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