Briefing: Routes to a successful hospitality career

The Guardian has ranked the University of Surrey no1 for hospitality courses in the UK, with a satisfaction score of 93.1%. Traditionally hoteliers start at the bottom of the ladder and work their way up, learning on the job. Today, Surrey is just one of many universities that are offering aspiring hospitality professionals a chance to learn before starting their career path with the company that’s right for them. Many hospitality brands also have programmes to train young people and graduates into the industry.

In these videos our experts discuss learning and development, and finding career success:

Many young people in the UK will be heading to university come September, some to hospitality courses, and they will have plenty of choice as to where they can study.

Surry gained top rank within the hospitality, event management & tourism subject area, from the Guardian newspaper. 93.1% of final year students who completed the National Student Survey were satisfied with the course and 68% had a job in the area or were in higher education after 6 months. Other top universities for hospitality include Coventry, Robert Gordon, Oxford Brooks, and Derby, which had top place in last year’s ranking.

Some students may venture further afield to the top ranking universities on an international level. École Hotelière de Lausanne won best hospitality management school 2014 at the Worldwide Hospitality awards. This Swiss university has been around since 1893.

After university, or in some cases instead of, young people may enter the industry through a programme with a hotel brand.

Hilton is an active graduate recruiter globally, they run formal entry programmes for graduates in Europe and visit key hospitality schools and campus events.

Marriot also has a Leadership Development Program for graduates called Voyage which is available in more than 30 countries.

A great career takes planning and thought, and it can be beneficial to start gaining the experience you need as early as possible. For those who have been in the industry some years there will still be scope for development and much to learn, they should think carefully about their next steps. There is of course no substitute for experience, a passion for the business, and finding the right fit for you.

If you’ve been sent to this page and you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Video clips produced by yBC for the Hospitality Channel, including interview from industry conferences such as the IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.

Briefing: lifting the lid on the industry’s biggest event

As you know, we have been sending you regular briefings featuring key people from right across the hospitality industry. These briefings are produced in conjunction with our good friends, yourBusinessChannel who launched The Hospitality Channel 3 years ago. A channel which we have been a key partner for since the outset. We have had some great feedback to these interviews.

One of the great opportunities for the yourBusinessChannel team to capture a lot of this content is the annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) held in Berlin each year. This week’s briefing is a video that they put together from comments people made about last year’s conference as they thought it would be interesting for those who have never been IHIF conference to understand why people attend.

These comments are not scripted and yourBusinessChannel’s interviewees were not expecting to be asked this question so it’s a great insight into why people attend the conference and why there is so much buzz and business done over the 3 day event.


Briefing: sourcing and incubating talent

For those who were not able to attend IHIF last month, our own Peter Malone facilitated a session which focused on sourcing and incubating talent. He was joined by:

  • Srdjan Milekovic, VP – Human Resources, Hyatt International (EMEA) LLC
  • Pierre O. Botteron, VP – Human Resources, Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts
  • Franco Valletta, Chief Officer – Organisation Development & HR, Corinthia Hotels
  • Tony Voller, SVP – HR Asia, Middle East, Africa & Europe & Global Resourcing, IHG

The panel discussed sourcing, incubating, retention and technology in relation to hospitality people, and naturally provided an interesting range of experience and expertise.

Despite the impressive line-up, Peter decided even more expertise would be useful to the audience, so he arranged for another 15 people from the industry, with great experience and perspective of talent, to share their “pearls of wisdom” in relation to recruiting and retaining the best people.

The four short videos below are the result of Peter’s request for help, and are a great resource for anyone in the industry who needs to focus on getting the best from hospitality people.

 


If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Briefing: the hotel industry in the UK

The hospitality industry in the UK is not a unique one. However, the gap between London and the rest of the country is seemingly getting larger. In fact the BBC reported this week that ‘London’s top ten boroughs alone are worth more, in real estate terms, than all the property of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, added together.’

Where is the future of the UK market? How has it been impacted by the continuing lack of deal-making? What hotel product will work well in this market? All questions raised and answered in this week’s briefing, with:

  • Chris Boulton, CEO of yoo on the UK polarisation
  • Joe Stenson, of Queensway Group and the growth in the budget sector
  • Peter Malone, Managing Director of Madison Mayfair on the UK fragmentation
  • And John Brennan, CEO of Jurys Inn Hotels on what he understands the UK market to be like
 


If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Video clips produced by ybc.hpgcms.wpengine.com for the Hospitality Channel, including interviews from industry conferences such as the most recent IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.

Briefing: preparing leaders for new world of work

Today’s business leaders are seemingly battling with multiple decisions all at the same time. Leaders are managing ‘Generation Y’ as they enter the workforce, digital technologies requiring a business to be working 24/7, as well as trying to comprehend macro-economic conditions, to name but a few.

This altering world means leaders need to be prepared and multifaceted, and it doesn’t seem like the role of CEO, Chairman and Managing Director are going to get any easier. In this briefing we hear from leaders as well as hospitality experts on the changing dynamic they are seeing. Including:

  • Richard Branson on keeping tabs on everything and everyone.
  • Debrah Dhugga, General Manager of Dukes Hotel on preparing new leaders.
  • Peter Malone, Managing Director of Madison Mayfair on the multi-dimensional aspect of leaders
  • And Graeme Codrington, Futurist at TomorrowToday on changes in leading organisations in this new world
 


If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Video clips produced by ybc.hpgcms.wpengine.com for the Hospitality Channel, including interviews from industry conferences such as the most recent IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.

Briefing: providing value for money in low cost hotel operations

One trend in hospitality has not changed for over 2000 years – people want a good bed, a decent shower and somewhere safe to sleep the night. The growth in the low-budget sector has been testament to this.

Hotel brands still need to deliver value for money, but if the above components are at the core of any offering, the likelihood is that the perceived value of the product is high.

Many believe there will be continued growth in the budget sector with new innovations allowing the best use of space.

Experts in this week’s briefing include:

  • Joe Stenson, of Queensway Group on the transparency needed with hotel products.
  • Peter Malone, Managing Director of Madison Mayfair on delivering a great service at a reduced cost.
  • Andrew Sangster, Editor of the Hotel Analyst on the 2,000 year old trend.
  • And John Brennan, CEO of Jurys Inns Group on targeting customers at the right price.

If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Video clips produced by ybc.hpgcms.wpengine.com for the Hospitality Channel, including interviews from industry conferences such as the most recent IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.

Briefing: the modern-day leader

Any leader of an organisation has to command with confidence and assertiveness. To pursue a company’s vision, mission and values. The most successful leaders become synonymous with their brand. Richard Branson is a fantastic example of a charismatic leader who fills his staff with the belief needed to fulfill the ambitions of the Virgin empire.

What can the hospitality leaders of today learn and how will they ensure the successful stewardship of their respective businesses?

In this week’s briefing we hear from industry experts, including:

  • Richard Branson on one of the reasons he has become so successful.
  • Peter Malone, Managing Director of Madison Mayfair, on the multidimensional personality leaders must now have.
  • Sir Nigel Knowles, co-CEO of DLA Piper, on leaders of today becoming closely associated with their brands and organisations.
  • And Debrah Dhugga, General Manager of Dukes Hotel, on preparing a new generation of hospitality leaders.

If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Video clips produced by ybc.hpgcms.wpengine.com for the Hospitality Channel, including interviews from industry conferences such as the most recent IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.

Briefing: global market conditions for deal-activity

Confidence in the hospitality deal-making market seems to be picking up. The volume of deals has lagged in the past few years, but has hospitality finally turned a corner? Many believe the industry is now slowly picking up again. The relief for all is paramount.

What markets will see the quickest growth in activity? Have we seen the worst of a flat market? What are the market conditions required for deal-activity? These questions are all answered in this week’s briefing, including comment from:

  • Frank Croston, Partner at Hamilton Hotel Partners, on what markets he sees picking up first.
  • Peter Malone, Managing Director of Madison Mayfair, on deal-activity finally being seen in the marketplace.
  • Clive Hillier, CEO of Vision Hospitality Asset Management, on the market that is no longer falling.
  • And James Chappell, Global Marketing Director at Horwath HTL, on the continued need for confidence in the hospitality market.
 


If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Video clips produced by ybc.hpgcms.wpengine.com for the Hospitality Channel, including interviews from industry conferences such as the most recent IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.

Briefing: understanding the impact of the Olympics

The imminent arrival of the Olympics in London is getting closer and closer, 15 days in fact! But what impact will the Olympics have on the UK and the continuing developments in hospitality.

Will the Olympics position London for future events, or will the legacy of the Games have little effect on the industry in London? These thoughts are discussed in this week’s briefing, including comment from:

  • Peter Malone, Managing Director of Madison Mayfair on how he believes that the initial positive impact will have little longer term effect.
  • Debrah Dhugga, Managing Director of Dukes Hotel on the plans needed for 2013 in London.
  • Joe Stenson, Director of Hotels for Queensway Group on the real impact from the Games being seen in 6 months time
  • And Colin Stanbridge, Chief Executive of the London Chamber of Commerce on what opportunity there is for the future of London after being in the spotlight.

If you’ve been sent to this page but you’re not yet on the circulation list to receive these regular briefings and you would like to sign up, you can do so here. It’s free.

Video clips produced by yBC.tv for the Hospitality Channel, including interviews from industry conferences such as the most recent IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.

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