The Story Of Us

Built To Inspire

人 · rén — is the Chinese character for “person”. It forms the center of our logo and people are at the center of everything we do.

Vision & Mission

Vision

To inspire hospitality in others.

Mission

To build boutique hotels that lead with hospitality:

  • Unforgettable experiences for guests
  • Strong results for investors
  • Career growth for employees

Our Values & Approach

  • Genuine Care

    Truly care about people.

  • Knowledge

    Seek inspiration through lifelong learning.

  • Integrity

    Conduct ourselves in a way we can be proud of

  • Passion

    Love what we do and have fun doing it!

Our Journey

  1. 2018

    Founded in Shanghai, China

    After 15+ years working in hospitality leadership roles in the U.S., Middle East and China, Elizabeth Espinosa founded the company with a mission to “inspire hospitality in others.” IH began as a hospitality management and training consultancy and welcomed K11 Artus as its first client to develop the ARTISAN Service Culture and pre-opening services.

    Hospitality leaders in conversation at an early Inspire Hospitality networking event

  2. Early Years

    Crafting Service Cultures & Developing Hospitality Leadership

    As IH expanded, we took our bespoke service culture, training programs and L&D philosophy to the community and hosted the Inspire Women in Hospitality Forum (2019), the Ignite & Inspire Hospitality Forum (2021) and partnered with Sommet Education for the Stay Inspired Interview Series. These initiatives brought together executive leaders, entrepreneurs, students and educators from across mainland China.

    Delegates of the Inspire Women in Hospitality Forum gathered in a ballroom beneath purple lanterns

  3. Expansion

    A Hands-On Operational Partner

    Six Arts Museum Hotel investment group engaged Inspire Hospitality as their hotel management company to provide hands-on operational support, drive hotel performance, and develop guest programming. IH Founder, Elizabeth Espinosa, developed further hospitality educational and operational initiatives with Polk County Public School System (Florida, USA), Boca West Country Club (Florida, USA), and Cipriani Academy & Locanda Punta del Este (Uruguay).

    The Six Arts Museum Hotel complex, its grey-brick heritage halls and tiled rooflines beneath the SIX ARTS gable

  4. Long-Term Vision

    Boutique Hotels that Inspire

    The ambition comes full circle: to own and operate boutique hotels that deliver transformational experiences, develop local talent and drive long-term value creation for our investors.

    A dusk-lit boutique hotel courtyard framed by a stone arch
Elizabeth Espinosa, founder of Inspire Hospitality

Elizabeth Espinosa
– Founder & CEO

Elizabeth Espinosa started her career in hospitality in 2004 as a Walt Disney World College Program Intern with a dream to own boutique hotels. Twenty years, 6 countries, and 12 hotels later, she has become a global hospitality leader with deep expertise in luxury hotel operations, service culture, learning strategy, and talent development.

She founded Inspire Hospitality in 2018 to support the rapid growth of the hospitality industry in greater China by advising owners, creating and implementing service cultures and by inspiring the next generation of hospitality talent through hospitality education initiatives. Elizabeth has always believed that hospitality is the greatest expression of humanity.

Connect on LinkedIn