Hotel Hero Awards

Michael Pace, W San Francisco

Michael Pace’s passion for hospitality is positively contagious.  Constantly networking with guests, he is always looking for ways to showcase the W Brand and talent.  Animated, engaging and innovative, he motivates his team to become the best practitioners of customer service.  A veteran of over twenty years in hospitality, he first made a name for himself with the Kimpton Group, and became known, both locally and nationally, as a leader in the environmental movement and “green” lodging long before it became popular.  Michael is truly a community leader in sustainability.  He is a member of the Mayor’s Committee to explore the use of wind energy.    Under Michael’s stewardship, the W achieved LEED certification in 2010 and won the corporation’s award for sustainability in North America.     

Michael is the president of the Hotel and Restaurant Foundation (HARF) Scholarship Board.    He has worked to completely reenergize the scholarship program from how the scholarships are awarded to the main event…the Scholarship Dinner.  He actively engages students and talent by sponsoring networking events and takes the time to know each nominee.  He is committed to seeing that the student’s needs are balanced with their ability to represent the organization as a scholarship winner.  His excitement for this process has motivated many of his team to volunteer for HARF.  Michael also sits on the San Francisco State University’s Advisory Board, and at least two times a year, the students tour the W and have lunch with Michael.  Michael’s enthusiasm and knowledge of environmental issues resonates quite powerfully with the next generation of hospitality leaders…and they all “want to be like Michael!”  And that’s a very good thing…for all of us!