Her Story
About Leona
Leona Muriqi is a luxury hospitality professional currently serving as Dining Room Manager at The Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia, where she helps deliver exceptional guest experiences at one of the country’s most celebrated fine-dining destinations. Since beginning her hospitality career in 2020, Leona has developed extensive experience in restaurant operations, private dining, catering, and high-volume restaurant management. Her previous leadership roles at Landry’s and AMBAR strengthened her expertise in team coordination, event execution, guest relations, and operational efficiency. At The Inn at Little Washington, she collaborates with culinary and service teams to uphold the highest standards of luxury hospitality, personalized service, and attention to detail.
Leona’s educational background includes fashion-focused studies and a degree in business administration, complemented by studies in business analytics at the University of Virginia. She has also pursued further business education at Southern New Hampshire University. Her professional approach reflects a commitment to continuous learning, leadership development, and operational excellence. Drawing inspiration from her Albanian cultural heritage, Leona views hospitality as more than a profession; it is a way of life rooted in generosity, genuine human connection, and making others feel valued. Her experience in prestigious dining environments has reinforced her dedication to maintaining exceptional service standards while fostering meaningful relationships with guests and colleagues.
Beyond her operational responsibilities, Leona is passionate about mentoring and guiding others, particularly women aspiring to leadership positions in the hospitality industry. She believes resilience, determination, independence, strength, and adaptability are essential qualities for professional growth and effective leadership. As a mother of two, she also values the importance of balancing career ambitions with family life. Outside of work, Leona enjoys wellness, hiking, Pilates, and personal development. Through her leadership and commitment to service excellence, she continues to contribute to memorable guest experiences while encouraging others to pursue their potential and build successful careers in luxury hospitality.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Leona
01What do you attribute your success to?
My background growing up in Albanian culture has helped me a lot along with resilience, determination, independence, strength, and adaptability.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Believe in yourself and always be yourself no matter what. Never try to change yourself. My first leader told me just be yourself and people will love you and see you for who you are.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Follow your heart. Be strong-minded. Pursue your dreams. Keep being rooted in generosity and warmth and always welcome others.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
As a woman and single mom in a male-dominated workplace, I always have to prove myself in leadership, leading staff, and creating the best guest experiences. The reward is when guests ask for my personal phone number because they felt so welcome.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In luxury hospitality, high service standards and Forbes standards are key. Personally, I want to show my kids what it means to work hard, be independent, and provide for everything they want and more.
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