For Sandy Banks, president, NEWH Inc., hospitality means community. Banks joined NEWH—an international community connecting the hospitality industry, providing scholarships, education, leadership development, recognition of excellence and business development opportunities—in 1984 as one of its early members and currently serves on its international board of directors.
She’s has been instrumental in developing NEWH‘s mentoring and scholarship programs and paving the way for future women leaders in hospitality. Hotel Business spoke with Banks about her career journey and what’s on the horizon for NEWH:
Why hospitality? Why are you so passionate about the industry?
My journey into the hospitality industry was quite serendipitous. Forty years ago, I was hired as a salesperson for P. Kaufmann Inc., covering three states across retail, manufacturing and hospitality. At that time, hospitality was just beginning to take shape at the firm, and I was the only woman on the company’s sales team. During this period, I had the privilege of meeting Dorrit St. John and Sheila Lohmiller, who were pioneering the idea of an organization to support women in our industry. I joined them and a dozen other women to help establish NEWH.
Eventually, I shifted my focus exclusively to the hospitality industry, leaving retail and manufacturing behind. My passion for hospitality grew and has remained with me ever since. I cherish being part of the design community and collaborating with many brilliant, creative individuals, some of whom have become lifelong friends. This is the essence of NEWH.
Why is hospitality such a great industry for professionals and how do we attract young professionals to the industry?
The hospitality industry continues to be a vibrant community of bright, creative and passionate individuals from all walks of life. It offers a welcoming environment, particularly for young professionals entering fields such as design, architecture, culinary arts, procurement and other areas of opportunity. NEWH is dedicated to supporting and guiding these emerging talents as they navigate their paths in our industry. We offer a variety of programs, events and initiatives designed to benefit our members and help them thrive.
What has your experience been like being a woman in the industry?
Being a woman in this industry has been both eye-opening and a continuous learning adventure. From the beginning, NEWH provided a supportive and communal environment for everyone. Despite navigating a predominantly male industry, I grew and evolved. This journey has been an invaluable education, significantly contributing to my personal, business and professional successes.
What advice do you have for women hospitality professionals who want to advance their careers?
Never give up. Stay committed and embrace every experience as a learning opportunity. Stay true to your goals, and your career will flourish. Also, get involved with NEWH and make the most of it.
How can other hospitality professionals help develop women’s careers?
Our mentorship program will open for new applications in September. Whether you’re interested in becoming a mentor or a mentee, we encourage hospitality professionals to apply. There’s always space for conversation and kindness in our industry. Reach out to those who might need support or guidance. They could greatly benefit from your help.
What’s new for NEWH? What are you excited about this year?
NEWH continuously seeks opportunities to support and celebrate our community, and I’m thrilled to share some exciting developments. We are currently planning two Leadership Conferences: one in Paris in June 2025 and another in Washington, DC, in March 2026. Both events promise to be inspiring, educational and incredibly enjoyable.
In addition, we’re introducing a new award, NEWH SOHE (Structures of Hospitality Excellence), to honor excellence in the construction sector of our industry, which will be presented at ALIS DESIGN+ next January in Los Angeles, along with two scholarships. This award is particularly exciting as it shines a light on an often-overlooked area of our field. The NEWH SOHE Scholarships will be for students majoring in architecture, construction management, project management, and the construction trades. The $10,000 and $5,000 scholarships will be sponsored by Delta Faucet Company and ALIS DESIGN+. These initiatives are incredibly exciting for NEWH, for me, and for our industry as a whole.
