Olaf Growald
Jada Nicome
Jada Nicome may have only moved to Fort Worth last February, but she’s no stranger to the city. Originally from Washington, D.C., Nicome spent most summers growing up visiting family and even recounts learning how to drive here. When the opportunity came, she uprooted her life in D.C. to return to the heightened sense of community she’s always adored.
“It’s been interesting rediscovering Fort Worth — the entrepreneurs, creatives, and how much the city has evolved,” she says.
Currently, Nicome serves as the general manager at Hotel Dryce. When pandemic shutdowns were picking up in D.C. early last year, she found herself starting to lose a sense of connection with people. As someone who seems up for almost anything, Nicome was eager for a change of pace and pursued an unfamiliar role with a burgeoning business where she was able to be intimately involved in the whole process.
“There’s picking specific artwork for the hotel,” she says. “Picking every single detail for it with intention and integrity to make something that’s different.”
Alongside a heavy hospitality background, Nicome admits she also relies on her travels to help her manage the business. Because her dad worked with American Airlines, Nicome was able to stay in an array of hotels across the world. In almost a full circle fashion, boutique hotels were the earliest and only experience she had with the industry before starting her new role.
“When traveling, my mom would specifically try to choose the boutique hotels because she believed they were a really cool way to be introduced to a new city,” Nicome says.
It seemed travel was not only a source of inspiration for her role with Hotel Dryce but the foundation for her retired freelance photography career. Throughout high school and college, Nicome dabbled in wedding, fashion, and travel photography under the brand, Jada Roams.
“I haven’t picked up my camera in a hot minute,” Nicome says. “But I eventually realized it was mainly about making people happy.”
When “running a business that doesn’t sleep,” Nicome doesn’t find much free time. But in those rare spare moments, she looks to friends, family, and music to keep her grounded.
“Music helps to remind me I’m a human being,” she says.
Nicome’s contagious curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit have helped her find a new home in Fort Worth. “It’s been 10 months but felt like 10 years … a good 10 years.”
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Jada Nicome
Jada’s dog, Bunny Rabbit, enjoying the sunshine.
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Jada Nicome
Hotel Dryce has become like a second home where she can come to relax with friends.
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Jada Nicome
Jada and her team testing out the amenities. “The team is really a community that builds each other up,” she says.
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Jada Nicome
One of Jada’s favorite places to take a break is on the balcony of Hotel Dryce overlooking the city’s skyline.
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Jada Nicome
Jada’s friends keep her plugged into the community, with one running the “Unofficial Fort Worth” Instagram page.
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Jada Nicome
Placing the final few touches on the hotel sign which belonged to the original dry ice factory.
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Jada Nicome
On top of music and photography, Jada has found an interest in fashion over the last few years.
Top 3 Travel Destinations
When considering this question, Nicome says her favorite locations are places where it’s easy to get around and she doesn’t necessarily feel like a tourist.
North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii – “Everyone is so happy and welcoming. The energy on that side of the island is just calming.”
Belgrade, Serbia – “It’s one of the most underrated places in the world.”
Trinidad and Tobago – “My dad’s part-time job with American Airlines gave him flight benefits that allowed him to fly back and forth from Trinidad, which is where he’s from.”
