A CAREER IN HOSPITALITY

THE TOP TEN THINGS I  LEARNED IN MY 60 YEAR CAREER IN HOSPITALITY

Living and working in over a dozen countries, it has been a privilege to learn on the job, to observe how it's done, to listen to co-workers, leaders, owners, guests and suppliers. To travel and learn another language, actually two. To be exposed to other cultures, cities, countries and continents with city-centre, beach and mountain resorts and hotels.

1. HOW HOTELS OPERATE. The intricacies of how and why each department functions as one entity. The involvement of people from different backgrounds working together toward the satisfaction of our guests, themselves of different backgrounds, beliefs, customs and political parties.
2. HOW TO LAUNCH NEW HOTELS. The timing and coordination of dozens of trades to complete interlinking tasks to be completed by a date.....the opening date. And to program the recruitment, training and coordination of hundreds of employees with differing levels of understanding of the jobs they have. To ccordinate the ordering of thousands of pieces of furniture, fixtures and equipment, operating supplies, tools and medical supplies, cleaning supplies. 
3. INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL INDUSTRY RELATIONS. The local, state, national and international industry associations are in fact linked purposefully and accidentally to deal with industry issues that effect owners, operators, investors, managers, employees, suppliers, neighbours and the communities in which hotels and resorts are located.
4. CREATION OF NEW PRODUCTS . Innovation in the industry is perpetual, international and critical to the success of the industry and the satisfaction of millions of our clients who change hourly, daily, weekly and often return regularly noticing some of the creative changes made. New products hit the market hourly, weekly, monthly and yearly. Many are products, many are services, some are manufactured, others are verbal, some are tactile and others are visible.  
5. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. The introduction of villas and condos for sale and rent in to hotels and resorts has added a layer of financing to this industry's growth worldwide. Without this product mix, many or most new properties would not have been developed. Most, if not all, open the property debt-free.
6. NEW RESORT DEVELOPMENT. The assembly of seven critical elements that are critical for the success of every resort anywhere in the world. The lack of any one of them would guarantee failure.
7. RESCUE AND RECOVERY. The ability to rescue a failing project and build it back to success requires the expertise to recognise future failure approaching over the horizon and the knowledge of the means necessary to return to success.
8. PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT. Hospitality is nothing but people interacting with people. Hospitality people with the least experience are, in principle those interacting with our customers..... and the more experienced are those behind the scenes. This is the reverse of other industries where the clients are serviced by the senior and most knowledgable. For that reason alone, people development is critical to success in the hospitality field.
9. GLOBAL FRIENDSHIPS. The joy of a life in this industry is the friendships that are developed over the years with a wide range of employees whose professional trajectories in the industry are guaranteed to sprinkle them around the world to savour for a lifetime.
10. PEACE ON EARTH. An unspoken rule is that there are two subjects that hoteliers never raise or discuss. They are Politics and Religion. It is quite obvious to most of us that our clients, customers and fellow employees have differing opinions and positions on both of those subjects and to keep the peace, retain friendships and provide a peaceful night's rest for all, we need to keep our feelings and beliefs private.

Other than that, the only point left to make?

If I had the chance I would do it all again.