By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff

Twelve years ago, a young man from a small village in Ethiopia walked through the doors of the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook, Illinois. He didn’t wear a suit. He didn’t know who owned the building. He only knew one thing: he wanted to be part of something great. That young man was Tekste Gebreslasse, and what began as a chance job interview would spark a story of vision, loyalty, and a shared dream that now stretches from the Midwest to the Horn of Africa.

At the center of this story is Jim Nagle, owner of The Drake Hotel Oak Brook, a former attorney and seasoned real estate developer with a track record of investing in post-conflict regions. When Gebreslasse walked in looking for work, Nagle didn’t just see a potential employee—he saw drive, humility, and something rare: a deep love for one’s homeland. That instinct proved right. The two forged a powerful mentor-mentee bond that would endure for over a decade, culminating in one of the most ambitious hospitality ventures on the African continent.

But the roots of this story run even deeper—through time and history, all the way back to the original Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. During World War II, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia stayed at the Drake while raising funds and support to fight Mussolini’s fascist invasion. He famously sourced much of his armament from South Chicago and Gary, Indiana. That connection wasn’t lost on Gebreslasse—nor on his family. His father, an Orthodox priest and scholar, knew the Drake’s significance well. When Gebreslasse called to say he had been hired at the hotel, his father, stunned, reminded him: “That’s where the Emperor stayed.”

Gebreslasse’s middle name, Haile, is a tribute to the very monarch who helped preserve Ethiopia’s independence during a century of African colonization. It’s no coincidence that the modern-day Drake expansion into Africa begins in Addis Ababa, the very capital from which Haile Selassie governed and where the African Union now resides.

The Long Run

Gebreslasse’s story is one of both endurance and faith—qualities he first developed as a distance runner. After arriving in the U.S. as a high school exchange student, he enrolled at Wheaton North High School, where his natural athletic ability quickly emerged. During a P.E. class, the teacher asked students to run a few laps. Gebreslasse completed them in under three minutes. “Have you ever heard of cross country?” the coach asked.

Within weeks, Gebreslasse was running varsity. He earned a full athletic scholarship to John Brown University in Arkansas, where he ran track and cross-country for four years. It was there he also studied international business, with a minor in international relations—fueled by his desire to one day be a bridge between Ethiopia and the West.

Bridging Continents Through Hospitality

Together, Nagle and Gebreslasse are bringing the Drake brand to life in Ethiopia, beginning with a flagship luxury hotel in Mekele in the heart of Tigray. The property includes not just five-star accommodations but a full entertainment campus: an amphitheater, music venue, indoor natatorium, water park, and more. Guests of the hotel receive complimentary access to the adjacent amusement park, making it a destination for locals and international travelers alike.

This is the first of several Drake-branded developments planned across the continent under the leadership of Nagle and the parent company Drake Oak Brook Autography Collection Hotel and the Drake Luxury Yacht Collection. Various projects are underway in Botswana, Rwanda, and other key locations. Each project is rooted in economic partnership and cultural respect with local firms responsible for massive infrastructure projects like Ethiopia’s hydroelectric dams and airports—partnering on the ground. Together, the teams formed a minority-owned company that handles the intricate interior finishing and branding to maintain the integrity of the Drake name.

“The hardest deal is the first one,” Nagle says. “Once people see what we’re building—what we’re bringing to the table—the phone starts ringing.” That has proven true. Interest has surged not only from across Africa but also from brands like Marriott, Burberry, and luxury retail partners eager to connect with a vision that blends elegance with historical resonance.

A New Era for African Hospitality

What sets this endeavor apart isn’t just ambition—it’s authenticity. Gebreslasse is more than the Managing Director of African Markets for Drake Luxury Brands; he’s a cultural bridge. Born in the highlands of Ethiopia’s Tigray region, his family has deep roots in both the land and its complex history—from church leadership in the era of feudalism, to resistance against communist regimes, to the hope of rebuilding after civil war.

His early belief in Ethiopia’s tourism potential was born from a simple realization. He recalls, “People knew about castles in Scotland, but not about the ones in Ethiopia built in the 4th century.” He saw firsthand how his homeland was misunderstood. “They thought we were from the jungle,” he said with a laugh. “They didn’t know about the Queen of Sheba’s palace being near my village.”

Now, he’s leading the charge to change that narrative.

Ethiopia, with a population of over 130 million and a median age under 20, is positioned for an economic renaissance. The nation was never colonized—giving it a unique cultural identity in Africa. It’s the birthplace of coffee, a founding member of the United Nations, and a geopolitical hub connecting the Middle East, East Africa, and Europe.

As Gebreslasse puts it, “Africa is young. Seventy percent of the continent is aged between 18 and 36. That’s a massive opportunity—for business, for innovation, and for the future.”

Legacy, Loyalty, and Vision

What makes this story so moving isn’t just the scale of the development or the depth of the history—it’s the people. Nagle and Gebreslasse are bonded by shared values: loyalty, vision, and the belief that business should elevate communities.

During COVID, when others laid off staff, Nagle kept his team employed, investing in the Drake even when returns weren’t guaranteed. He believed in people. That same belief extended to Gebreslasse, even when he left for a time to pursue opportunities elsewhere. They always stayed in touch. And when the war in Ethiopia ended, they both knew—it was time.

From the corridors of Chicago to the peaks of East Africa, the story of the Drake is no longer just about a hotel. It’s a story about rebuilding, reimagining, and reconnecting. It’s about honoring history while creating something entirely new. As visionary architects, Nagle and Gebreslasse showcase the power of dreams, discipline, and a long run uphill—one that starts with a leap of faith and ends with something truly extraordinary.