Hospitality Workplace Challenges

Clio Knowles is the Chief People Officer for Starwood Hotels, an affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group and the brand management company behind 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels, with 20 properties open or in pre-opening and 25 more in development. She leads the continued evolution of Starwood’s culture and people operations, with a focus on building a values-driven organization that celebrates and supports its teams, turning culture into a measurable operational advantage.

Prior to joining Starwood Hotels, Clio served as Chief People Person at Virgin Hotels, where she helped shape a people-first culture aligned to the brand purpose that “Everyone Leaves Feeling Better.” She previously held the role of Vice President of Global Human Resources at Kerzner International, supporting Atlantis resorts and the One&Only luxury portfolio worldwide.

Clio is passionate about creating environments where teammates thrive, perform, and have fun while delivering exceptional guest experiences. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and was one of the first to receive the Global Professional in Human Resources from SHRM.

As Chief Administrative Officer of Tao Group Hospitality, Jake Basham partners closely with the co-CEOs and executive leadership team to develop and execute the company’s overall strategy while leading the administrative and people-driven functions that enable business performance and growth. As CAO, Jake leads multiple company divisions, including Human Resources, Information Technology, Internal Communications, Talent Acquisition, Training and Payroll.

Tao Group Hospitality is a global premium hospitality company delivering distinctive culinary and entertainment experiences through its portfolio of restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, and day-life venues. The company operates branded locations across the world, featuring a collection of widely recognized hospitality brands including TAO, OMNIA, Marquee, LAVO, Hakkasan, Beauty & Essex, Cathédrale, Little Sister, The Highlight Room, Sake No Hana, KOMA, Avenue, Fleur Room, JEWEL, and more. Tao Group Hospitality is part of Mohari Hospitality, an investment firm focused on the luxury lifestyle and hospitality sectors.

Bringing a wealth of experience in human resources, labor relations, and organizational leadership, Jake previously served as Vice President of Human Resources for Loews Hotels & Co., where he led enterprise-wide HR operations with a focus on strategic HR business partnerships, labor relations, and compliance. He has also held senior HR leadership roles overseeing multi-asset regional portfolios at Hersha Hospitality Management and Denihan Hospitality Group. Throughout his career, Jake has advised real estate investment trusts, hospitality management companies, and asset owners, and he has negotiated collective bargaining agreements across major U.S. markets.

Jake holds a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Tourism with an emphasis in Hospitality Management from the University of Utah. He also maintains senior-level professional certifications from the Society for Human Resource Management and the Human Resource Certification Institute.

J. Bruce Tracey is a Professor of Management at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration. Professor Tracey has taught courses in human resources management for undergraduate, graduate, and professional audiences throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, winning several awards for his efforts. He has conducted research on a wide range of strategic and operational-level HR topics, including the roles and relevance of HR flexibility, the impact of training initiatives on individual and firm performance, employee turnover, employment law, and leadership.

Professor Tracey has presented his work at numerous regional, national, and international conferences, and his research has been published in many of the top-tier discipline and applied outlets, including the Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Journal of Management, Organizational Research Methods, Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, and the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor and Employment Law. Professor Tracey’s sponsors for research and consulting include Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts, Wynn Resorts, Hillstone Restaurant Group, and Uno Chicago Grill, and he has been cited in the New York Times, USA Today, Fast Company, and the Orlando Sentinel, among other popular press outlets.