We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Haley Payne a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Haley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

Hospitality has always been my passion—it’s where I thrive. I started out as a General Manager for a franchise organization that owned and operated hotels. They placed me at a property that was… let’s just say, “well-loved” and in desperate need of renovation. The location was fantastic, but the product? Not so much. Every day was a new adventure in guest complaints. People loved where they were, but not where they stayed. Fun times (cue the eye roll).

Eventually, the hotel was sold, and I was told I’d be relocating from sunny Fort. Lauderdale to Atlanta. My reaction? “Wait, what??” Trading the beach for a sea of interstates wasn’t exactly my dream move.
Around that time, Pure Wellness was testing rooms at some of our hotels and had caught wind of my less-than-thrilled relocation. Pure was still in its early stages and didn’t yet have a solid strategy for supporting hotels. And if you’ve ever worked in hospitality, you know the idea of leaving a hotel to join a vendor feels like crossing enemy lines.

But something about the opportunity intrigued me. Pure was a startup, and I saw the chance to build something from the ground up. That idea lit me up. I joined the team and began developing a program to support hotels and train staff—keeping one foot in the hotel world without the chaos of covering shifts when someone called in sick.

To my surprise, I absolutely loved it. Being part of a startup was energizing. We got to experiment, innovate, and even fail with purpose. I used to say working with Pure would make me a better operator when I returned to hotels full-time. That was 20 years ago. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I still wake up every day grateful for the opportunity and the impact I get to make. It was a classic case of being in the right place at the right time—and thank goodness for that.

Haley , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been in and around hospitality my entire life. My family was in the hotel business, so I grew up immersed in the energy of the industry, busing tables as early as six years old. That early exposure shaped my love for hospitality and laid the foundation for my career. After college, I officially entered the field and eventually became a General Manager, a role I held for about 12 years. I thrived on the energy and the satisfaction that came from taking care of people. During that time, I gained a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver an exceptional guest experience, something I’ve always been passionate about.

Today, I work with Pure Wellness, a company that brings wellness-centered solutions to the hospitality space. When I was first approached about making the shift from hotel operations to vendor services, I was hesitant. But the CEO helped me realize that our mission was still the same: taking care of people. That’s what hooked me. I may not be running a hotel anymore, but I get to support the industry I love in a new way, by helping hotels create healthier, more comfortable environments for their guests.

What sets us apart is our focus on wellness as a core part of the guest experience, not just a trend or amenity. We provide patented air and surface purification technology that transforms hotel rooms into Pure Rooms, spaces that promote better sleep, support well-being, and reduce exposure to allergens and irritants. In a world where health and wellness are top priorities for travelers, we help properties meet that demand in a meaningful, results-driven way.

I’m most proud of the impact our work has on people. Whether it’s a guest with allergies who finally gets a good night’s sleep or a hotel that sees higher satisfaction scores and repeat business, we’re improving lives and elevating hospitality. And that’s something I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of.

At the end of the day, everything I do comes back to a core belief: great hospitality is about care. Whether through operations or innovation, I’m here to support that mission, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Managing a team in hospitality, and now in wellness, has taught me that morale is rooted in two things: clarity and care. One of the best lessons I’ve learned came from a former general manager who used to start every staff meeting with the 7P’s, but I’ll condense it to 6 for the sake of this article: ‘Poor Prior Planning Promotes Poor Performance.’ This mantra has stayed with me over the years, serving as a reminder to always plan ahead for optimal outcomes. I’ve found that applying this principle has greatly benefited both my personal and professional endeavors. Perhaps I should take a moment to track him down and express my gratitude for imparting such invaluable wisdom.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

For a long time, I found myself answering questions based on speculation rather than solid facts. I genuinely wanted to be helpful, but if I’m honest, part of it was also wanting to have an answer—especially when I was seen as the subject matter expert. There’s a certain pressure to be the SME when you’re expected to have all the answers.

But over time, I learned that speculation can backfire. When you’re wrong, it not only undermines your credibility—it chips away at your confidence. One leader in our organization used to ask, “Are you saying more than you know?” It used to frustrate me, but eventually, it stuck. That question became a checkpoint for me: do your homework before you speak.

This experience taught me two powerful lessons. First, I’m not as intuitive as I once believed—and that’s okay. Second, when you stop trying to be the one with all the answers, you start listening more. And in that space, you discover that others have incredible insights, too. That shift has made me a better collaborator and a more thoughtful leader.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pureroom.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purerooms/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PureRooms/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purewellnessrooms/?viewAsMember=true