Friday, March 29, 2024
The Hilton Chicago is delighted to announce Misoon Kong as the new General Manager, marking a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman to ever hold this prestigious role in the hotel’s 97-year legacy. This significant appointment coincides with the culmination of National Women’s History Month. Kong will be at the helm of the hotel’s operations, leading the charge in maintaining Hilton’s dedication to superior guest services and financial excellence. The hotel boasts 1,544 guest rooms and over 234,000 square feet of meeting space, all of which will benefit from Kong’s leadership. Her recent role was as the Complex General Manager for both the Juniper Hotel Cupertino, Curio Collection by Hilton, and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose, where she made significant contributions towards revenue optimization and guest experience enhancements.
Kong’s appointment brings over two decades of hospitality expertise to the Hilton Chicago. Her impressive career spans across the U.S. and Korea, showcasing a versatile background in operations, sales, marketing, room and revenue management. Kong has held leadership roles in a variety of hotel settings, including resort, airport, and luxury accommodations, with notable positions at JW Marriott Seoul, Marriott Seattle, and Marina del Rey by Marriott.
In 2022, her exceptional leadership earned her the title of “Outstanding General Manager of the Year” by Hilton and the California Hotel & Lodging Association. Kong’s career is decorated with numerous accolades for operational excellence, profitability, environmental initiatives, and she recently received the California Hotel Lodging Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for the first time.
“It is a great honor and milestone to be appointed as the first female general manager at Hilton Chicago and cemented within its long history, especially during National Women’s History Month,” said Kong. “I am excited to take this step into the next iteration of my career with Hilton and continue to lead with Conrad Hilton’s vision of spreading the light and warmth of hospitality, while fostering the already strong foundation of diversity, equity and inclusion with the Hilton Chicago team. I look forward to leading the operations of this highly regarded hotel in Chicago, and to sharing my passion for mentoring and development, creating revered guest experiences and exceeding ownership expectations.”
Kong is a Penn State University alumna with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of hospitality leaders, with a number of mentees under her guidance. Outside of her professional life, Kong cherishes time with her daughter Katie, who is also pursuing a career in hospitality. A devoted dog lover, Kong looks forward to exploring Chicago with her 160-pound Saint Bernard, Noah, who has quickly become Hilton Chicago’s beloved VIP (very important pup).
Saturday, April 27, 2024
