After enduring the worst part of the pandemic, independent hotel owner, operator and manager Provenance Hotels is stronger and continues to weave its mantra of "illuminating originals" throughout its people, properties and experiences, President and CEO Katherine Durant said.

The company had to shrink in terms of staffing during the pandemic but was able to rebuild "stronger and more nimble" thanks to its team, Durant said.

She said she's appreciative of the staff across Provenance's portfolio and how they helped the company get through "the worst thing [the industry] has ever seen."

Durant started in her role as president and CEO at the beginning of the pandemic. She is also president of RTG Property Management and managing partner at Atlas Investments, "a diversified real estate development and holding company, overseeing and executing development endeavors, investor relations and income property due diligence for acquisitions and dispositions," according to the Provenance website.

Durant said the team at Provenance jumped in and performed different tasks to help her with the transition to president and CEO.

At the height of the pandemic when there were more restrictions on travel and daily life, Provenance removed minibars from rooms, offered touchless check-in and scaled back on some other in-person services, Durant said.

As the industry starts to recover and COVID-19 restrictions lift in different places, Durant said minibars are returning to guest rooms. Touchless check-in is still available at some hotels, but it's back to in-person check-in for the most part.

Ralph Aruzza, chief marketing officer at Provenance, said touch points are back in the form of happy hours and other complimentary services. He added that Provenance also offers a virtual concierge system, which allows guests to interact with the hotel completely via text if that's their preference.

Provenance currently owns, develops and manages 14 independent hotels, but Durant said there's room for growth.

She said the portfolio is currently at an "awkward size," and the company is touring hotels and "actively getting bigger."

The company's most recent hotel opening was The Bradley in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which opened on July 15. The 124-room hotel was created in partnership with Provenance and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of fashion label Vera Bradley.

Provenance has hotels located in Washington, Oregon, California, Louisiana, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Indiana.

Diversity is an "exceedingly important" part of the Provenance identity as it makes the company stronger, more profitable and nimble, Durant said.

The company has established a companywide diversity committee made up of representatives from each hotel and corporate office "to engage with all team members and offer a safe space for conversation, communication, questions [and] feedback," according to its website.

Durant said Provenance also offers paid time off to employees annually to volunteer in their communities with any organization registered as a 501(c)(3).

The website also states that the company supports businesses in local communities where its hotels are "through company initiatives, partnerships and patronage," has ongoing diversity training for team members and ensures "vendors and partners align with our diversity policy that promises equal opportunities for all members of our communities."

Provenance Hotels created a loyalty program a few years ago, but revisited it in the past year to determine the best ways to recognize its best guests, Aruzza said.

He said the company is moving away from a points system and focusing on experiences through different programming and partners in a destination. These exclusive experiences could include wine tasting or a bayou tour depending on the destination.

Aruzza said Provenance plans to relaunch its membership program in the fall, when demand is expected to return.

We want to "do what we need to do to recognize best guests and have it speak to our mantra of illuminating originals," he said.