As a bartender and server at the Guest House at Graceland, Lolita Suggs is often the first person a visitor to Memphis meets when they arrive in our city.

In 2019, the 123-room Central Station Hotel opened, inviting guests to stay in the historic train station. The fully renovated and innovative hotel houses Bishop, a French-inspired restaurant, as well as Eight & Sand, a cocktail bar and lounge that is home to a Memphis-inspired collection of vinyl albums. Guests can enjoy the wide-ranging collection of music in the Listening Room, hidden behind the bar. Most nights, guests can enjoy live music at El Mertha, the hotel’s DJ booth and mixing table.

Jennifer Carrasco is just 16 and working at Incredible Pizza is her first job. She admits to some nerves, but says the environment is so much fun and her co-workers are, too! Plus, she has learned some important lessons in the six months that she has worked here.

When artist Andreanna Hood is not creating acrylic paintings, ink drawings, and other styles of art that capture her fancy, she is charming guests at Dixon Gallery and Gardens.

Harvey Grillo has only been with The Memphian for a few months as the Food & Beverage Manager, but he’s made a big impression in a very short time. In fact, one guest went so far as to call him the “guardian angel” of property!

The hospitality and tourism industry in Memphis attracts people from all over the United States and from across the globe. One Memphis landmark, the National Civil Rights Museum, brings more than 300,000 visitors annually to our city. The history of the civil rights movement, especially the events that took place in and around Memphis, continue to shape our current societal landscape.