We Believe In Creating ‘Hire-To-Retire' Experience For Our Employees

Lara Hernandez, Senior VP, Human Resources, Hilton in Asia Pacific, in a conversation with People Matters, talks about her journey into HR, trends in hospitality industry, and Hilton's talent management strategies

- Mastufa Ahmed

Lara Hernandez is a strategic global leader with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry across the Americas, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. Currently based in Singapore at Hilton’s Asia Pacific headquarters, Lara oversees talent development of over 50,000 Team Members, with a focus on People and Culture.

Lara has led and overseen multiple disciplines in the hospitality industry around the world. Lara believes that HR serves as the business partner to the wider organization, enabling the building of a strong culture focused on robust purpose-led talent strategy.

In a conversation with People Matters, Lara talks about her journey into HR, trends in hospitality industry, and Hilton's talent management strategies.

In your career spanning 25 years in sales & marketing within the hospitality industry, what sparked the shift from marketing to HR?

I’ve always loved hospitality and have been in the industry since I entered the working world. Hospitality is a special business – one that can be likened to a ‘street corner business’ that opens doors to the communities in which we operate in. More importantly, it is one of the few industries which offer an accessible entry point to the working world, regardless of one’s background and educational level. It is highly resilient and adaptive, and has the capability to provide individuals with a breadth of opportunities to accommodate multiple career trajectories, including lateral changes.