Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara Federici.
Cara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My career in hospitality (and love for it) began over 15 years ago when I graduated from Tulane and moved to Los Angeles. I was actually pursuing a job in Broadcast Journalism hoping to be the next E! News Anchor but needed quick cash to support myself in the meantime.
My sister told me about a hotel called The Standard, which she described as a hot spot with an awesome design. I noticed they were having an open call for servers and hostesses, so I immediately applied. I was hired shortly after and never turned back. I couldn’t believe people got paid to work in such an exciting environment and I felt so lucky.
Meeting new people every day, making others smile, and being part of a team that worked hard 24/7 was a career opportunity I could not have imaged, without seeing it happen in real time! It was such an inspiring moment in my life. A time where my creative expression was embraced, and my hard work truly paid off – ultimately leading to multiple promotions during my time there.
From then on, I dropped journalism and made hospitality my baby. I managed numerous hotel properties across the country, working in all disciplines to gain a full understanding of the business – leading teams and creating compelling, innovative brands.
Today, I am proud to have a team of my own at The Madison Melle Agency. We are a hospitality consultancy with a knack for creating and operating one of a kind hospitality brands and come with a proven track record of success for our clients, and ourselves.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Great question. The launch of The Madison Melle Agency has been smooth, mostly attributed to the great network of friends and collaborators in the close-knit hospitality community – and a very thoughtful strategic plan.
That being said, launching our agency meant leaving a full-time, C Level career with a very steady income. As a mother of two, this was somewhat daunting and risky, yet, it was the best decision I ever made…for myself and for them. I’m excited about our success and our future growth.
The Madison Melle Agency – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Madison Melle Agency is an expert hotel & residential consultancy with a talent for creating and operating one of a kind hospitality brands. We specialize in branding, strategy and technical infrastructure to successfully create, manage and scale bespoke hospitality brands in competitive markets. The agency consults on four phases of a project timeline: real estate development, pre-opening, operations, and sales and marketing.
Insider strategies founded on collective experiences across authentically curated hotel brands and mixed-use assets offer a unique understanding of complex stakeholder needs, while comprehensive methodologies maximize awareness, drive revenue, and increase profitability.
Marquee services include owner representation, market studies, partnership acquisition, turnaround management, brand and concept creation, design, OS&E (Operating Supplies and Equipment) and FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment), food and beverage infrastructure, budgeting, asset management, technology solutions, digital marketing, sales lead generation, revenue management, recruitment, training, and process documentation.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in our city?
West coast is the best coast, of course, ha!
But seriously, Los Angeles is a vibrant community of thought leaders and a perfect place for entrepreneurs of any kind. My advice for someone starting out here is to build a network and read… a lot. Also, try a co-working venue for an office. They’re relatively inexpensive and offer a brimming environment to meet others with similar interests, as well as offering an opportunity for potential collaborations and new lead generation.
Contact Info:
- Website: madisonmelle.com
- Phone: 310.525.4367
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
