Her extraordinary journey from a rural Taiwanese village to building a $700+ million multistate U.S. hotel portfolio reflects the holiday’s themes of resilience, reinvention, and new beginnings, offering a powerful narrative of possibility and perseverance.
Born in a small village, Kitty’s childhood was defined by responsibility and grit. By six, she was caring for her younger brother, biking before dawn to buy groceries, cooking midday meals, and washing clothes late into the night. At eight, she worked muddy fields after school, experiences that instilled a work ethic and determination that would later shape her entrepreneurial path.
That resilience followed her to the United States, where she immigrated while pregnant with no English fluency or safety net. Starting over from zero, Kitty earned a business degree while balancing motherhood, work, and school, turning adversity into momentum and redefining what new beginnings can look like.
In 2012, Kitty co-founded Manhattan Hotel Group with the purchase of a struggling New Jersey hotel. Refusing to outsource the turnaround, she rebuilt operations herself, creating a repeatable growth strategy that led to ownership and operation of 14 hotels across both coasts, with seven successful exits and partnerships with major brands including Marriott and Hilton.
Equally central to her story is her commitment to paying opportunity forward. Through the MHG Foundation, Kitty mentors students and funds hundreds of scholarships annually, pairing financial support with hands-on guidance for young people from underserved communities and reflecting the Lunar New Year values of generosity, hope, and legacy.
