Meet HALA Member Jason Vance
Jason Vance
Chef Concierge at the Mondrian Los Angeles
Can you talk about your career journey and current position as Chef Concierge at the Mondrian Los Angeles?
I had never worked at a hotel previously. I started at Mondrian as a Front Desk Agent. Six months later I was promoted to Front Office Manager. They literally would not take no for an answer. I did that for two years. When I put in my resignation they offered me a couple other positions. One of the positions was Concierge. If you can support yourself doing something you love that's a big win. I have been fortunate to work with some great people over the years. Our current Hotel Manager, Aaron Peaslee, has been the best mentor. Our current General Manager Carl Hubbard has a long history of working on the Sunset Strip. We have a fantastic team.
How has the hospitality industry evolved during your career, and what challenges and opportunities have you encountered along the way?
The biggest change is technology. As a Concierge it was a bit intimidating when Uber, Stub Hub, Open Table came onto the scene. There was a worry that Concierge would not be as essential. It turns out that even with the ease of apps, guests still want that personal connection. In this digital age it's like Concierge are even more important to the guest experience. I have a lot of fun doing my job, but I'm very serious about creating life long memories for people. It was interesting to experience the shift where hotels needed to have a destination restaurant on property.
Can you talk about living in Los Angeles, CA and how it helps you in your current role?
For twenty years I lived at the intersection of Sunset and La Cienega. One reason I started working at the Mondrian. Talk about a sweet commute! There is now a huge construction project happening in the spot of my former apartment building. I was lucky enough to move to a new location close by. I have seen so many changes to the Sunset Strip in my years of living directly above it. It has been extremely helpful professionally. Many in hospitality don't live and work in the same zip code. I've been able to establish lasting relationships, and friendships, with so many of the local business owners.
Can you talk about the importance of HALA as an advocate for the industry?
After so many years I'm just getting introduced to HALA. I look forward to educating myself more. Any advocate for the hotel industry is a good thing. Hotels are such of key importance to any city's economic growth.
What advice would you give to aspiring hospitality professionals who aim to reach leadership positions in the industry and make an impact?
I would say it's really important to try and learn about as many different positions as possible. It takes a while to understand how every department is so connected. And the more you understand, really, what another department does to make the machine run the better. Never just make up answers. There is no shame in not knowing. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Be outgoing, not just with guests, but with co-workers. It might surprise you how generous people can be with knowledge if you show an interest in learning. And remember to pay it forward in your career.
This really is an industry where growth is very reachable. If you decide that is what you want. And once you do get into management, be prepared for some long hours.
Looking ahead, what do you envision for the future of the hospitality industry in Los Angeles?
Whatever the future holds the basics will always be there. There can be a flashy new property opening but the flash fades. There has to be an elite service level. There is a lot of competition. If you don't have the basics down, it's going to be diminished returns. A lot of hotels try to save on labor costs. It's near impossible to provide a memorable, in a good way, guest experience without proper staffing.
Is there any recent news you’d like to share?
There are a lot of interesting projects coming to the Sunset Strip. I'm not at liberty to discuss them right now so stay tuned!