I was contacted directly by the HR Director to come in for an interview for the Operations Manager position. When I arrived, the interviewers were completely unaware that an interview had been scheduled or why I had been invited in at all. Rather than conducting a genuine evaluation, they looked me over and suggested that if I wanted to get my feet wet in hospitality I should consider starting in housekeeping. This was said to a Hispanic professional with several years of progressive experience across events, catering, nightlife, and restaurant leadership, including managing teams of 35 or more and a current AGM role in New York City. The comment was tone deaf and inappropriate. The interview did not reflect the qualifications listed in the job posting and felt less like a professional evaluation and more like a judgment made the moment I walked in the door. I came prepared, presented my experience clearly, and was not given a fair opportunity to be assessed on my merits. The HR Director was professional and thorough throughout the process on her end. The disconnect was entirely in the room. I would strongly caution candidates from diverse backgrounds to be aware of what they may encounter here. A hospitality company of Highgate’s size and reputation should hold its properties to a higher standard than this.