Marcia Skyers-James: Hotelier to the diaspora

Marcia Skyers-James, the director of sales and marketing at the Kimberly Hotel in Manhattan, New York, is one of many examples of barrier-breaking Jamaica-born woman in the United States (US).

Skyers-James has defied trends in the hotel industry, especially in New York, by being an upper echelon hotel administrator for as long as she has, in an industry which has very few people of colour, especially women of colour, in senior management positions.

According to a 2022 study by Penn State School of Hospitality Management (the latest available such study), people of colour, especially women of colour, are underrepresented in top management in hotel management in the US.

The study points out that, of more than 6,000 people in top management positions in the hotel industry, only 3.2 per cent are women of colour.

Skyers-James has defied the statistics with a career that has spanned more than 30 years at one hotel.

In addition to the Kimberly, she has worked at some of the other top hotels in New York, including the Hilton and The Waldorf Astoria, rising through the ranks to become a highly respected and well-known hotelier, not only in the US but across the globe, her work having taken her to a number of countries throughout the world.

Despite all her successes, Skyers-James told The Gleaner that she only got into the hotel industry by chance.

“I had moved to the United States from France, where I taught English in high school, to pursue my master’s and a MBA degree, and needed to work. So I heard about an opening at the Hilton Hotel and applied,” she said.

“[It] turned out that the position I was applying for was already filled but the gentleman who interviewed me conducted the entire interview in German when he found out that I speak German. So, while I did not get that position I was employed to the Hilton and so began my hotel industry career.”

During her career, she has welcomed a number of Jamaican political leaders to the Kimberly and is often referred to as the hotelier for the diaspora.

“Among the Jamaican prime ministers who have stayed at the Kimberly were P.J. Patterson, Portia Simpson Miller and the current prime minister, Andrew Holness. Both the late prime ministers, Edward Seaga and Michael Manley, have also stayed at the Kimberly but not while they were prime minister,” she told The Gleaner.

According to Skyers-James, Simpson Miller used to refer to the Kimberly as her home away from home.

But not only prime ministers have stayed at the Kimberly, according to Skyers-James.

“We have hosted many government ministers as well as other Jamaican delegations, including the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB),” she said.

Convenient meeting place

The Kimberly, under her diaspora outreach, has also played host to functions put on by Jamaican organisations, providing a convenient meeting place for some of the diaspora’s biggest names.

Skyers-James has also been deeply invested in the Jamaican diaspora, serving for many years as an integral part of the planning committee of the Jamaican Independence Ball and Mustard Seed Communities.

Skyers-James credits the late Marie Dibble, who at the time worked with the JTB in New York, with paving the way for her entry into the Jamaican community, as well as the wider Caribbean community.

“[Dibble] would invite me to functions and would tell people that they had to stay at the Kimberly, and this opened many doors for me,” she said.

Even when she worked at the Waldorf, she welcomed Jamaican delegations who stayed at the hotel.

Noel Mignott, head of the PMI Group and former director of the JTB in New York, said he has had the privilege of knowing and working with Skyers-James since her early days at the Waldorf, and for the past two decades during her tenure as sales director at the Kimberly

“Throughout her career, she has been a steadfast supporter of Jamaica’s tourism sector, ensuring that those promoting the island always had not only a welcoming place to stay in New York City, but also an affordable venue to host meetings and events at the highest standards of hospitality.

“Her support was so extraordinary that we shared her contact with colleagues across the Caribbean, and today many government leaders and private-sector executives from the region choose to stay at The Kimberly,” said Mignott.

He said Skyers-James’ generosity extends beyond hospitality.

“She has also given her time and resources to charitable causes, most notably through the Mustard Seed committee in New York, supporting children in Jamaica. Her contributions leave an indelible mark and stand as an inspiring example of leadership and goodwill,” he said.

It all began for Skyers-James in Port Maria, St Mary, where she was born. She attended Fellowship Hall Primary School and later Jack’s River Primary. From there, she went on to St Hugh’s High School for Girls and attended The University of the West Indies where she focused on languages and literature (Spanish, French and German).

She also did course work at the University of Nice in France.

Skyers-James holds an MBA in Marketing and Management from Pace University in New York. She also holds a certificate in hospitality management from Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland.

Skyers-James told The Gleaner that it was her father, who was headmaster at Jack’s River Primary, who insisted that she attend St Hugh’s.

Boarded with family

She said that, while attending St Hugh’s, she boarded with family friends but would go back home during the holidays to be with her family.

Reflecting on her early life, Skyers-James said she was somewhat tomboyish growing up, because of the influence of her older brother.

“I would play cricket and marbles with him, as he was always telling me that he wanted me to play for the girls’ cricket team,” she said.

At St Hugh’s, Skyers-James had no interest in the sciences, so she took to languages, she said.

Skyers-James credits the influence of her parents, both educators, with instilling in her the thirst for knowledge.

“They had the biggest influence on me. They taught me the value of treating people with value and respect, the qualities that I still bring to bear in my everyday life,” she said.

Skyers-James said she would encourage young women looking for a meaningful career to consider the hospitality industry.

“One reason for success in this industry is not letting boundaries hold you back. You have to break the glass ceiling. But you also have to love people and understand the value of teamwork. I could not have achieved what I have had it not been for the team with which I work. Also, find a mentor, as this will help immensely,” she said.

In her position as director of sales and marketing, she has been fortunate to travel to many countries, fostering long-lasting relationships while ‘selling’ the Kimberly.

She has won many awards and accolades, including the WorldHotels Collaboration Award 2003, New York’s Consul General of Jamaica Award 2007, the Victoria Stennett Realty Award for Community Service 2015, The Jamaican Woman Pinnacle Award 2025 and Children of Jamaica Outreach’s Distinguished Service Award 2025.

editorial@gleanerjm.com