We recently had the chance to connect with Steven Lambert and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Steven, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Riding my Indian motorcycle throughout St. Pete in all the neighborhoods and alleys….amazing city called home! From Southside to Jungle Prada, the neighborhoods and connecting rides are unique and a great way to end anyone’s “work day”. Catch my small hobby of shooting a ride reel a day -@bosteven and know how re-imagining the next day that much more energizing occurs!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the GM of the Cambria Madeira Beach – we have an exciting rooftop bar and an amazing crew of 75 local hospitality gurus who make this one of the best rated Cambrias in the 80+ system across USA. My story is one of this hotel industry being a meritocracy. Started as a meeting room setter who dreamt of being a bellman, dreamed of working way up in hotels like a Forrest Gump; I and anyone can do it, as I owned a few four diamond Inns and cooking school and now rejoined a friend’s company as we open up 3 more boutique resorts in this unique and beautiful city of St. Pete and Madeira Beach! Ps. the meritocracy line holds true as my roots were as a Foster kid in Boston area from 6 months to 17 years old and designated the Class Clown in High School! Hospitality asks alot and offers alot more in rewards!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was a joking and not applying myself in high school and in my senior year, I decided I should get serious and thought I would choose a college. With 0 money and 0 support my Principal in High School outside of Boston laughed at my college aspirations and asked if I was still a Bellman at the Sheraton in town. I replied ‘yes’ and he said, ‘ Stick to hotels because you have a nack for people and you’ll find people will eat out of your hands with that talent’…..that was more powerful to hear than he ever would know!
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
This time demanding vocation of hotelling absorbed those precious years of my 3 children growing and although we were and are close knit – the cliche about the importance of the journey vs. the reaching is so true. I miss those golden years of my kids’ in those formative years themselves…
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
No matter your position in life; lend a hand and help that person who isn’t asking or could use the help. Whether it be in the career realm of at the Positive Impact Food Bank where we provide food and bridge the hunger gap as much as we can. Stay on it until there is no need –
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
Our laughs, our re-visiting since their last stay at the hotel AND having a commonality no matter what state they come from and visit at! Look for the connections is a fun game I have and like 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon, practice this when meeting guests from anywhere in our country.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.memorablepics.com
- Instagram: @bosteven
Image Credits
all are my images
