From Incarcerated to Hotel of the Year: Danny Owen's Remarkable Journey at Country Inn and Suites

🎙️ From House Person to Hotel of the Year: Danny Owen's 17-Year Journey at Country Inn and Suites Abingdon VirginiaDanny Owen, General Manager of Country Inn and Suites by Radisson in Abingdon, Virginia, shares his journey from starting as a house person at a 79-room hotel 17 years ago after walking to his first job interview fresh out of incarceration, asking only for a chance to prove himself, to leading his property to Hotel of the Year out of 350 hotels in the Coakley Williams and Hotel Equities portfolio in 2021. Through candid stories about surviving brand transitions, feeding hurricane victims from his own pocket, watching his team renovate his office as a surprise gift, and the night in prison when he gave his heart to God and decided if you change nothing nothing changes, Danny reveals what it looks like when a GM builds a hotel that guests return to for decades and asks for him by name.✨ Key Insights You'll Learn:Started at the same hotel 17 years ago as a house person and cross trained in every department including housekeeping, maintenance, breakfast service, and front desk before becoming GM seven years agoWon Hotel of the Year in 2021 out of approximately 350 properties in their management portfolio during their first year with Hotel EquitiesCrisis leadership during a hurricane: opened a free shower room for displaced families, drove to Walmart for sandwich meat to feed guests who could not leave, and kept rates below normal while competitors raised theirsThat generosity was witnessed by a passing tour group who took up a collection on their bus and presented a $3,000 check to the town of Damascus alongside the mayorRetaining housekeepers for 25 years and front line team members for seven to ten years by feeding the team monthly out of his own pocket, running employee games during housekeeping week, and keeping an open door for anyone who just needs someone to listenWalked to his first job interview after incarceration with nothing but the clothes on his back and asked only for a chance, and the head housekeeper who hired him now works for himActively hires from work release programs for formerly incarcerated individuals because he understands the invisible barriers they face including background checks on housing applications and job applications🌟 Danny's Key Mentors:George (Original GM Who Hired Him): Gave Danny the first opportunity, encouraged him to cross train in every department, and eventually recommended him for interim GM assignments across the country before retiring and creating the opening Danny stepped intoMan Who Gave His Testimony in Prison: Shared a life story that sounded identical to Danny's own, but had come out the other side owning a trucking company and giving back to others, becoming the living proof that change was possibleHis Wife of Nearly 35 Years: Stayed through incarceration, through rebuilding from nothing, through receiving a donated vehicle from a church member, and through the decision to raise two more children later in life👉 Don't miss this conversation about what genuine hospitality looks like during a crisis, why giving second chances is not just a philosophy but a daily hiring decision, and how a man who walked to his first job interview with nothing built one of the most beloved small hotels in Virginia.🔗 Connect with Danny Owen:Company: Country Inn and Suites by Radisson, Abingdon Virginia How to Find Them: Search Country Inn and Suites Abingdon Virginia on Google or Choice Hotels📄 Transcript Available: From Incarcerated to Hotel of the Year: Danny Owen's Remarkable Journey at Country Inn and Suites📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com