THE AMBER WEITZER PODCAST SILHOUETTES OF SUCCESS
ELIZABETH HALL | EPISODE 14 | SHOW NOTES
FEATURED GUEST
Elizabeth Hall, current Chief Operating Office of John Hall’s Alaska, has worked with the family business since 2001.
She currently oversees all tour, team and guest operations for both Minnesota and Anchorage offices.
In addition, Elizabeth works closely with partners around the world to develop and implement the small group exclusive and elevated travel experience John Hall’s Alaska is known for in Alaska, however with the same standards around the world.
During the last 5 years, Elizabeth has helped develop and implement programs outside of Alaska packaged tours including group receptive services, transportation operations and transportation maintenance services of JHA Transportation Services in Anchorage. As a result, the organization has grown from a seasonal business to year round diverse operation.
Elizabeth started in 2001 as a high school part time position.
After graduation high school, she entered a clerical position full time and while working her way through both a Bachelors and Master’s program, continue to climb the ladder to eventually oversee all operations as of 2011.
Elizabeth’s primary goal is to maintain the core values of the organization started by her father, including excellent product, customer service, creating personal lifelong relationships with industry partners and guests and elevating the guest travel experience standards.
In a world driven by technology and having access to anything at any time, balancing and embracing new opportunities while cradling close the foundation which build the family’s business creates obstacles everyday.
Elizabeth Hall has served on the Alaska Travel Industry Association Board of Directors since 2014, serving as Chair at the age of 33 from 2018-2019. In addition, Elizabeth serves as the current Women in Buses chair, a council within the American Bus Association and has held leadership positions since 2014.
Other philanthropy efforts including event chairmanship roles with St. Jude and vice chair of Melby Memorial Charities, a local Minnesota based 501C3.
CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS
Humanity | Diversify | Family
Humanity: If there ever was a year to reflect and slow down to remember that we are all human, it was this past year. Elizabeth is on point when she reminds us that tomorrow is not guaranteed, so enjoy life and each other. Over the pandemic, it has allowed her to lean into relationships with vendors or association partners for a deeper connection than what might have been in years past. The emotional connections for their commonalties grew stronger and comraderies strengthened.
She speaks about “we are people at the end of the day.” To remember that behind every business are human beings…behind every phone call or interaction we have…at the other end is a human being with emotions and heart.
Diversify: Elizabeth expands on diversification, it’s a great element of this episode that everyone is able to relate to within their own life, business or profession. She reviews the lineage and evolution for her father’s family hospitality and transportation businesses as they have evolved and diversified over the generations…even recent months for growth and sometimes survival. She talks about the hospitality, tourism and trucking industries adjustments that she’s been along for the ride since her youth to see the changes firsthand-invaluable opportunity. In this, she now holds a very unique perspective with enriched insights that sparked her to take hold and in addition to her leadership roles, she’s also a staunch advocate for her industry. Elizabeth talks about her curiosity for the importance of estate planning for small business to help secure their livelihood and help sustain them for years to come as she sees potential at the federal or individual level(s).
Family: Long legacy of strong examples of pioneers in the industry, exceptional tales of her spirited Grandmother’s interactions as a hotelier, her mother’s strong role with amazing advice, living through example plus with the close relationships of her father and older brothers in addition to her professional family. Supportive relationships are very important, which is apparent in talking with her! She has shared with us such a bright and luminescent glow on how valuable our family or business family truly is.
INTENTIONAL INSPIRATION
Don’t Give Up…Put Yourself out there! Volunteer…get your name and reputation known to grow and be known.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ELIZABETH HALL
RESOURCE LIST
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