Her Story
About Ginny
Ginny Hussey is an award-winning hospitality leader and General Manager of the Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront in Portland, Maine. With more than 20 years of experience in hotel operations and guest services, she has built a career centered on delivering elevated guest experiences and cultivating strong, people-first workplace cultures. A graduate of the University of Denver with a degree in Hospitality Management, she began her hospitality journey through Vail Resorts’ Management Associate Program, where she developed a strong foundation in hotel leadership across multiple properties and regions. Over the course of her career, Ginny has led high-performing teams across premier hospitality brands and properties, steadily advancing into senior leadership roles.
Since taking on the role of General Manager at Canopy Portland Waterfront, she has guided the hotel to sustained operational excellence and national recognition within the Hilton brand. Her leadership has contributed to multiple honors, including Hilton’s Connie Award, and repeated Make It Right Award, and Award of Excellence distinctions, along with her own recognition as Canopy by Hilton General Manager of the Year in 2023 and 2024. Beyond her operational achievements, Ginny is widely recognized for her authentic leadership style and commitment to community engagement. She serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine, supporting youth mentorship and local impact initiatives.
Her leadership philosophy emphasizes transparency, empowerment, and meaningful connection—values she integrates into both team culture and guest experience. Through her work, she continues to champion hospitality as a force for community building and lasting positive impact.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ginny
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute a lot of my success to the people that I was surrounded by over the first several years of my career. I was really fortunate to work with strong general managers who set a great tone of having fun in the workplace, being personal, being genuine, being authentic, just showing up as yourself.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice was from a mentor during the opening process for Canopy: recognize that your day is not really within your control, you need to give yourself to the day that's ahead of you, and be open and ready to flex with whatever is grabbing your attention first.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The industry can be very demanding which can easily cause burnout and stress, so ensuring work-life balance is important. I focus on truly understanding my team members, personally and professionally, to give them balance in the day to day.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me, both professionally and personally, are building meaningful relationships, fostering collaboration, and creating a positive, authentic environment where people feel supported and valued. I believe in being present and available for my team, embracing flexibility, and prioritizing staff well-being and work-life balance, because strong connections and a healthy culture are the foundation of both personal fulfillment and organizational success.
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