“When people feel welcomed, appreciated, and included, we create an environment where every associate, regardless of language, can grow and thrive.”

Sofia Tolar
Corporate Human Resources Manager

Q: How does your experience working on property, including as a General Manager, shape the way you support hotel teams today?

SOFIA: Working on property taught me that no two days at a hotel are ever the same. Hotel teams are constantly multitasking, adapting, and wearing different hats, and every property has its own needs and dynamics. Having experienced that firsthand helps me understand what our teams are navigating and adapt the way I support them.

Being a General Manager also taught me how much pressure staffing challenges can put on an entire team. When you urgently need people, it can be tempting to rush the hiring process, but that can lead to more turnover and make the situation even harder. Now, as an HR leader, I try to understand what each property is facing, meet them where they are, and help find an approach that supports both their immediate needs and the long-term success of the team.

Q: You’ve helped develop translated training and orientation materials for LBA’s Spanish-speaking associates. Why is providing information in Spanish so important?

SOFIA: Starting a new job can be exciting, but it can also bring stress, uncertainty, and a lot of questions. Now imagine experiencing that while not fully speaking or understanding English. What should be an exciting day can quickly become overwhelming.

Providing information and resources in an associate’s language can help remove some of that uncertainty and create a greater sense of confidence and belonging.

We are in the hospitality business. Every day, we work to make our guests feel welcomed, comfortable, and cared for. I believe we should create that same experience for our associates. Our LBA orientation video series, for example, helps introduce new associates to what our company has to offer, what we value, and what it means to be part of an organization that puts its associates first. By creating versions of our orientation videos for both Spanish & English speaking associates, we help our associates feel like part of the team from day one.  And when people feel welcomed, appreciated, and included, we create an environment where every associate, regardless of language, can grow and thrive.

Q: LBA is known for developing leaders from within. What do you think helps associates grow from property-level roles into leadership opportunities?

SOFIA: I believe it comes back to our culture and our values. I love hearing LBA success stories because I can relate to them personally. Throughout my own career with LBA, I have had people who helped me learn, succeed, and develop into the role I have today.

Our leaders genuinely want to see associates grow. They mentor people who want to develop, encourage them to take new opportunities, and celebrate their success. When you take care of your associates and invest in their growth, people notice.

Q: As we recognize HR Professionals Day, what makes you most proud of the work being done to support LBA’s associates and hotel teams?

SOFIA: I’m most proud to be part of a team that has the opportunity to make a meaningful difference for so many associates and hotel teams.

Working in HR gives me the opportunity to support associate training, development, and growth, and that is a responsibility I take very seriously. Being bilingual also allows me to communicate directly with associates who may not fully speak English, whether they have a concern, need help understanding something, or simply need someone they feel comfortable talking to.

It is very rewarding to know that the work we do can have an impact not only on the success of our hotel teams, but also on an associate’s personal and professional growth.