Avsnitt
-
In this podcast, Sara Abdel Masih describes her unique career path from climbing the career ladder in the luxury hospitality industry to teaching in hotel management schools and writing a book on mobbing and harassment in the workplace based on her personal experiences.
Sara has worn many hats and has studied not only hospitality management but criminology and forensic science. She is the Founder of Sensory Academy Management, a holistic approach to hospitality management through coaching, care and leadership. In this podcast Sara describes her in-depth knowledge of the hospitality industry and why she has followed different interests and paths throughout her career. She also shares her experience as an AICR jury member and why these competitions are important.
As someone who has worked extensively in the Italian hospitality field, Sara also gives us her perspectives on Italian hospitality, how it differs from other countries and why Italy continues to be a top destination for travelers around the world.
Born in Egypt and raised in Italy, Sara has forged an impressive career in the luxury hospitality industry, culminating in her role as a Hotel Manager at prestigious establishments like Cavalieri and The Square Milano. With a degree in Tourism Science, Management, Culture, and Territory from IULM University in Milan, Sara started her career as a switchboard operator at Four Seasons Hotel Milan and quickly ascended through the ranks.
Her deep insights into luxury and sensory experiences inspired her to found Italy's first Sensory Academy, blending operational skills with coaching, care, and leadership. Sara is also an author, having written a book detailing her significant experiences with workplace harassment. Additionally, she is a competitive beach volleyball player and a passionate advocate for leadership. Sara's mission is to build a network of professionals who can capture the essence of individuals and transform them into sensory talents capable of profoundly understanding their surroundings and their own inner awareness.
-
In this podcast, Clémence Gillier and Neil Beecroft from the sustainability consultancy agency, The SHIFT, now called bloomUP, talk about how businesses can develop and improve their sustainability practices. Clémence and Neil describe what sparked their interest in this important field and how their careers have evolved into creating and running this sustainability agency. They also speak about pragmatic and real-life sustainable practices that any business can adopt and how to engage key stakeholders starting with upper management. Neil and Clémence also touch on the challenges and road blocks that can make tackling the subject of sustainability difficult. They encourage organizations and businesses to define their commitment to sustainability, to develop strategies and to engage stakeholders, all the phases that the agencyis poised to accomplish as consultants.
Clémence Gillier is a sustainability and business development expert with 10 years’ experience across diverse sectors and a strong academic background in business. In 2020, Clémence had a wakeup call recognizing the critical urgency of this decade for future generations. She devoted her expertise to growing The SHIFT, a sustainability consulting agency, from its early stage, and driving projects that advance progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Clémence focuses on the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that empower businesses, organizations, and cities to adopt responsible practices while generating shared value. As a B Corp Leader, she also guides firms toward B Corp Certification and Swiss Triple Impact recognition. Among her achievements, Clémence co-authored the online course "Sport & Sustainability" for FC Barcelona's initiative “Barca Innovation Hub” in 2022 and served as the Deputy Head of Sustainability for the Tour de France stage in Lausanne this same year. Additionally, in 2023, she managed the Omega European Masters' sustainability strategy and operational implementation with her colleague Neil.
Neil Beecroft is an expert in sustainability and business innovation. He’s a Partner of The SHIFT Agency, now called bloomUp, working for international organisations and mega-events such as the Olympics. He was formerly responsible for sustainable development at UEFA EURO 2016 in France. In 2020, he was the Head of Sustainability for the Lausanne Winter Youth Olympics, and in 2022 the Sustainability Director for the Tour de France stage in Lausanne. As B Corp Leader, he encourages the way in which innovation and sustainability can positively influence the organisational model of sports and the industry. Neil is also Sustainability Director for the Omega European Masters and CoFounder of the Start Up PuraWorka and of the NGO Sport and Sustainability International (SandSI). He has achieved a certificate in disruptive innovation at IMD Business School and is blending this field with sustainability. -
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Michael Romei has been dubbed "The Ambassador of Hospitality" and he practices his brand of statecraft on both a local and global level. In this podcast, Michael invites our listeners to retrace his brilliant career as a Les Clefs d’Or concierge, and in particular, his time as the former Chef Concierge of the Waldorf Towers/Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Michael walks us through the kinds of duties performed by a Chief Concierge and relates some anecdotes with the diplomacy and discretion that is expected of someone with his experience and position. He also tells our listeners what it takes to be a great Concierge and how the position has evolved and changed over the years.
Finally, Michael tells us more about Les Clefs d’Or and his personal dedication to this prestigious association.
Michael Romei is currently the Chef Concierge at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City and is frequent guest speaker, lecturer and trainer in the hospitality industry.
Presidents, heads of state, celebrities, and tourists from around the world have sought out Michael Romei with requests that run the gamut from getting hot tickets to a sold-out show to staging an elaborate marriage proposal. You can often find him in his hotel lobby speaking Italian on the phone, chatting with guests in Spanish and making dinner reservations in French.
Michael Romei is the insider's insider, knowing where to go and what to do in the far-flung corners of the world. Romei's frequent guests have often boasted that their favorite concierge in New York has set up a complete European vacation for them! In today's competitive luxury hotel market, that is an edge, indeed!
Michael Romei is the former General Secretary of the prestigious international organization Les Clefs d'Or and served on their International Executive Committee for 10 years. Signified by the golden keys that they wear on their lapels. Les Clefs d'Or boasts approximately 4000 members working in 80 destinations most of whom have undergone rigorous training in the concierge profession, a lot of that training done by Romei himself.
He has logged tens of thousands of miles each year conducting training sessions and seminars all around the world. Romei teaches the art of hospitality to all levels of hotel staff; from General Managers, to bellhops, to housekeepers, and of course, the concierges. He also spreads the word of just how invaluable concierges are to their hotels. Perhaps the GM of the Movenpick Hotel in Bangalore, India said it best, after one of Romei's training sessions: "The concierge is the face of the hotel. He is the one who interacts with the guests on a daily basis. So, it is vitally important to have an excellent and well-trained concierge team."
Romei has a BA from Manhattanville College, Graduates Studies degree in International Business from NYU, a former faculty member of NYU's Continuing Education Hospitality Program. Romei is founder of the “Creating Service Magic” Concierge-Customer Service Training Seminar. He served 24 years as the Chef Concierge of The Waldorf Astoria and Waldorf Towers, prior to which he served 5 years as the Chef Concierge of the Boca Raton Resort & Club. He is Past President of the Southern Florida Concierge Association, Honorary Member of Les Clefs d’Or UICH International, Les Clefs d’Or USA, Les Clefs d’Or India and Les Clefs d’Or Maroc, and the New York City Association of Hotel Concierges.
-
In this podcast, Johanna Fagerberg, who is currently the Hospitality Senior Manager at Diriyah Company, talks about working in Saudi Arabia and the vast plans that the Kingdom has for hospitality and tourism. She previously was the Guest Experience Manager at The Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Johanna also talks about her career choices and what it’s like for a European woman to work in the Middle East and in Saudi Arabia in particular. Johanna is originally from Sweden and graduated in 2011 from Glion Institute of Hospitality in Switzerland and has had, since the launch of her career, a vast international experience in multiple fields of the hospitality management industry.
Johanna also talks to us about Saudi Vision 2030, which is a strategic framework to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism.
-
Walter el Nagar is a passionate Chef with a multicultural background and a strong desire to make not only a culinary mark but a social one as well. In this podcast, Walter describes his passion for creative culinary arts and his professional path across the globe.
Walter was born in Milan in 1981 to an Egyptian father and Italian mother, both of whom are restaurateurs. Known for his creative flair and self-taught culinary skills, Walter embarked on a transformative journey in 2008 when he traveled to Los Angeles and discovered his love for Latin American cuisine. This experience inspired him to establish his own restaurant, 'The Barbershop.'
In 2016, Walter embarked on an enriching one-year culinary world tour, discovering the flavors of Barcelona, Ibiza, Moscow, Tulum, and ultimately Singapore. It was during this journey that he introduced his innovative pop-up restaurant concept, inspired by his experiences in Los Angeles. After a brief stint in Dubai, he felt the need to find a permanent home, and in 2017, he came to Geneva.
Taking up the position of Head Chef at the renowned 'Fiskebar' restaurant in the Hôtel de la Paix, Walter soon realized his vision went beyond culinary excellence. To prove his commitment to social issues, he founded his own restaurant, 'Le Cinquième Jour,' in Geneva. This unique establishment embraced a powerful concept of social inclusion – the kitchen brigade dedicated Saturdays to cooking for those in need, including disadvantaged individuals, refugees, the homeless, and vulnerable teenagers. This concept continues with his new restaurant, Refettorio in Geneva.
Driven by his unwavering dedication to both gastronomy and social impact, Walter established Fondazione Mater in 2020. As the founder and executive director, he continues to merge his culinary expertise with a strong sense of purpose, creating initiatives that make a positive difference in our society. -
In 2016, Vasily Grogol was hired by an investor to create a feasibility study on a hotel project in Kyiv, Ukraine. In 2017 he moved to Kyiv and worked on opening not only a boutique hotel called BURSA but also a gallery for young, Ukranian artists. At the age of 24 he became the Executive Director of BURSA Hotel and gallery and his goal, in his own words “is to change the perception of Ukraine on the international level. BURSA design is simple and unpretentious, yet our service is friendly and tactful. We want everyone who comes to Kyiv to experience the city as we see it, and to feel the spirit of our community.”
In addition to finding investors, Vasily personally interviewed and hired everyone that works with BURSA, from architects and designers to the constructors. He hand-picked vintage furniture from Amsterdam, Paris, Guangzhou and Oslo for BURSA’s restaurant and library and he made sure to implement sustainable policies, such as recycling, sustainable heating and chargers for electric cars. In addition, he led partnerships with local talent and family businesses, including White Sprut, which produces our 100% organic toiletries, and Ukranian designer Slava Balbek.
And then COVID hit and like many hoteliers, it was a challenging period for Vasily and his team.
Just when the COVID pandemic began to subside, war broke out in Ukraine and Vasily has now spent the last years trying to run a hotel in a war zone while finding ways to support the war effort. In this podcast he describes the nightmarish reality of waking up to the sound of bombs and having to quickly find solutions for their guests while protecting the hotel itself.
This is the story of a young man who is tireless, upbeat and a hopeful optimist and we are sure that his story will inspire and impress our listeners.
-
In this podcast, Lucy Grace Maliki, a dual citizen of Kenya and Switzerland, describes her career path from teaching French and English in a Swiss Hospitality Institute to becoming an entrepreneur in Kenya. Her years of living and teaching in Switzerland brought her to appreciate the fine art of making chocolates and when she moved back to Kenya a few years ago, she decided to create her own chocolate company, Grace Chocolaterie.
Lucy also answers our questions about hospitality in Kenya and the some of the challenges the hospitality and tourism sector currently faces. As one of Africa’s most popular destinations, Lucy describes the Kenyan approach to welcoming guests to their country. She also talks about hospitality education and training in Kenya and what the government could do to improve this.
Finally, Lucy explains some of the challenges she has had to face in Kenya in terms of running a company, finding the best sources for quality chocolate and navigating the differences between her native home, Kenya and her adopted home of Switzerland. She is still coming to terms with being back in Africa and finding ways for her company to thrive.
-
Ivan Artolli is the kind of hotelier you dream of meeting in a luxury hotel. He shares his lifetime experience with our listeners and talks about the people who have been role models in his life. He is charming, cultivated and he talks candidly about his youth and his dream of one day becoming a General Manager.
A lifetime career of working in some of the most luxurious hotels in Europe, Ivan has comprehensive international experience at senior levels in planning, marketing, sales, administration and direction of operations in a wide range of luxurious properties. He also has experience in hotel openings, hotel renovations and repositioning with a reputation for top quality service standards and strong trouble-shooting abilities.
With strong leadership abilities and a history of recruiting, developing, training, supervising and motivating high performance teams. Ivan is well-versed in intercultural communications and negotiations. He is fluent in English, French, German and Italian.
-
Chantal Wittmann is an educator, a hospitality expert, a competition judge and received the MOF (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) Maître d’Hôtel award. In this podcast, Chantal gives our listeners some background information about the French MOF competitions and what this means for the people who have been given this title. Chantal has taught in some of the most prestigious hospitality institutions including Lycée Hôtelier de Strasbourg, the Glion Institute of Higher Education, the Ecole Ducasse. In addition to teaching, Chantal also teaches Master Classes around the world and has participated as a judge in dozens of competitions.
In this podcast, Chantal explains the French “Arts de la Table” or how to prepare and present food following very strict guidelines and etiquette. This tradition goes back to the time of Marie Antoinette, when the French nobility created extravagant table settings and service to impress their guests.
For anyone who has had the pleasure of eating in a French gastronomic restaurant, this art can be described as a culinary ballet. "Arts de la Table" is a French custom of refinement, elegance and rigor regarding the dining experience and it is a unique way of approaching the presentation of a meal. Finally, it creates a particular ambiance and sets the tone for the entire dining experience.
Chantal also describes the challenges she has faced in a hospitality field that is predominantly masculine. With candour and passion, she takes our listeners on an exploration of the Maître d’Hôtel profession and describes why she followed this career path. She also explains her desire to transmit the values of this important profession to younger generations so that the Arts de la Table does not become a lost art.
-
William Mackay is an internationally experienced executive with over 45 years of experience in luxury hotel, spa and F & B management, operations, and development. He has a proven track record of assembling and leading highly motivated, diverse, and mutually accountable teams and a true passion for quality as the primary means to profit.
We have invited William as our guest because he has a great understanding of European, Asian, and Middle Eastern culture and business protocols with considerable breadth of global expertise, gained through numerous leadership positions with some of the world’s finest hospitality brands including Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts. In this podcast, William talks about his global career and the changes he has seen over the years.
William was responsible for multiple hotel openings, including the Four Seasons, Hong Kong, which was the first hotel in the world to boast two Three-Star Michelin restaurants (hotel-managed) and four Forbes Five-star designations.
He is a former Board Member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board from 2010 to 2014, and Chairman of its Staff and Finance Committee from 2013 to 2014. Member of Advisory Boards and Guest Lecturer at Chinese University Hotel School (HK), and Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel & Tourism Management.
William Mackay is ready to offer advisory services to business owners, boards, and developers in the hospitality, tourism, and service Industry. He is a recognised speaker at industry events with a wealth of worldwide hospitality and tourism contacts.
-
In this podcast, Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga shares the extraordinary history of his family-owned winery, Tenuta San Leonardo, which is an estate of historical significance where great wines are created in Trentino. It produces San Leonardo, a Bordeaux-style red wine which was described by the wine journalist, Jancis Robinson as "surely the most successful Bordeaux blend of northern Italy".
For our oenology enthusiasts, Anselmo describes the kind of grapes and wines made at San Leonardo and gives a colorful historical background to this winery founded in 1724. And for our history buffs, Anselmo shares some of the highlights of his great grandmother Gemma de Gresti’s war efforts to repatriate Italian soldiers during and after the First World War and to welcome and host the neediest during this tragic conflict. The International Red Cross awarded her the highest honor, the gold medal for humanitarian valor.
Born in Rome in 1978, Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga’s passions have always been linked to the countryside and animals. He spent every summer on his family’s estate in Trentino surrounded by the vineyards and then in his grandmother's garden on the outskirts of Rome, La Landriana, where she had created a magical world with help from great landscape architects of the time. It is in these places that he refined his knowledge and love for nature.
After graduating in 2000 from John Cabot University in Rome with a degree in Business Administration, Anselmo traveled around trying to find out what his aspirations were. Destiny soon brought him back to San Leonardo family winery to support his father. In fact, in the summer of 2001, he started working on the estate covering little by little all the roles from the simplest gradually to taking over the management of the company to which much of his attention and time still go.
Anselmo considers being a wine producer a privilege, and he continues to pursue his father's vision focusing on quality and people with great passion, never forgetting, as their motto says, that "The Land is the soul of our work".
In this podcast, Anselmo Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga shares the extraordinary history of his family owned winery, Tenuta San Leonardo, which is an estate of historical significance and an Italian wine producer in the Lagarina Valley in Trentino. It produces San Leonardo, a Bordeaux-style red wine which was described by the wine journalist, Jancis Robinson as "surely the most successful Bordeaux blend of northern Italy".
-
With over 20+ years experience in the hotel industry, Annie Boslem has been working for some of the most prestigious international companies such as Starwood, Inter-Continental, Shangri-La and Taj Hotels. She also works with many small and exclusive privately-owned properties, both in the UK and overseas. She moved from luxury hotels into hospitality recruitment in 2000 and works closely with many of the major 5-star hotel properties in Europe, Middle East and Asia - specializing in management recruitment for deluxe hotels.
Her passion for the hospitality industry is contagious and she shares her experience and insights with us on how the industry leaders can face the current staffing challenges and inspire young people to join the industry. Annie’s background in recruitment has allowed her to understand the importance of mentoring, and finding the right people to fill the mentor’s shoes. She also discusses the importance of training and finding a good work-life balance for people in the business.
Annie is currently the Vice-Chargee de Missions, Bailliage of Scotland, Chaine des Rotisseurs - http://www.chaine.co.uk/bailliages/scotland . Annie is also a Past President and Honorary member of the AICR – Amicale Internationale des Sous Directeurs et Chefs de Reception des Grand Hotels - http://www.aicr.co.uk .
With a great love of good food and wine her life’s motto is “May the only pain in your life be champagne”.
Today’s episode is being sponsored by Jorizon Education Consulting, China.
-
Amna Alyamani has turned her childhood passion into a successful career and she is a woman fueled by her passion for baking, which she discovered at the tender age of 7. She has since pursued her dream, scaling heights and enjoying success in the culinary industry. In this podcast, Amna retraces her passion for baking and answers our questions about entrepreneurship, the current situation in Saudi Arabia for young female entrepreneurs and how she manages the everyday stress of running a business.
Growing up, Amna always knew that she wanted to open a bakery, and by the time she was 12, she had already set her eyes on achieving this goal. She was determined to make her dream come true, and so she focused her education towards pursuing a career in the hospitality industry. Amna was one of the first Saudi women to graduate from the prestigious Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, specializing in hospitality management (2010). She also received pastry training from Cordon Bleu in Paris (2013) and an MBA from IESE Business school (2019) to learn how to realize that dream.
Fast forward to 2020, and Amna has finally achieved her lifelong dream of opening her own bakery. Her passion for baking, coupled with her education in hospitality, has enabled her to create a unique and successful brand. She has since scaled her business, offering her customers delicious, fresh, and high-quality baked goods, while expanding her skillset in the field of culinary arts. In 2023, Amna learned how to- and launched 14 virtual brands across 7 cloud kitchens in a span of 10 months. Her inspiration comes from her grandfather, who instilled in her a love for cooking that has only grown stronger over the years. Amna is a true inspiration, a testimony of what hard work, determination, and passion can achieve.
-
In this podcast, Peter Cross talks about the challenges of working in the Sport Management field and specifically, Mega-sporting events like The Olympics, Youth Olympics and FIFA World Cups. He also discusses his personal and professional impressions and experiences in Qatar, Russia, France and Switzerland. Finally, he talks about the Sport Management field and gives advice to young people who are interested in this field.
Peter is British and was born London in 1963 and grew up in Northern Ireland. Since 2016 Peter has worked on a range of consultancy contracts including the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, the 2020 Youth Winter Olympics in Switzerland and recently for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
From the mid-80s until the mid-90s Peter worked in tourism and hospitality management primarily in France, Switzerland and Canada. In 1992 and 1994 he worked at the Albertville and Lillehammer Winter Olympics for CBS Television as a logistics manager and consultant.
From the mid-90s Peter focused specifically on hospitality management in the French Alps, moving to Switzerland in 1998. In 2001 Peter started teaching hospitality and business management, prior to setting up and managing a new sport and event management program in 2002. In 2009 Peter moved into the leadership and management of student services at the Glion Institute of Higher Education, where he eventually became the Director of Campuses, covering both student services and campus operations from 2013 until 2016.
In his spare time, he is a keen skier, walker and mountain biker, having cycled the west coast of North America in the summer of 1992. He has also played top class rugby in England and briefly represented the Swiss national rugby team in the twilight of his playing career in the late 90s.
In his spare time, he is a keen skier, walker and mountain biker, having cycled the west coast of North America in the summer of 1992. He has also played top class rugby in England and briefly represented the Swiss national rugby team in the twilight of his playing career in the late 90s.
-
In this podcast, John Lohr, who is currently theDirector of External Affairs at Dusit Thani College in Bangkok, talks to us about Thai hospitality and hospitality education in Thailand.
John’s decision to study hospitality at a prestigious Swiss hospitality school enabled him to understand the importance of a solid, practical and multi-cultural hospitality education and he has successfully used this experience on his career path. He also shares his experience of being an American studying in Switzerland and discovering classmates that came from over 90 different countries.
After several hospitality positions in several countries, John chose to follow a hospitality education path for several years and joined HOSCO, the world's largest hospitality network, in 2015. He became HOSCO’s Director of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation in 2021. Working in the hospitality recruitment field allowed John to follow this rapidly changing market and he comments on the challenges that hospitality recruitment faces today. Most importantly, John speaks frankly about how the hospitality field is not always ready to face these challenges and what he thinks companies can do to improve this.
Dusit Thani College in Bangkok, is Thailand's first and largest hospitality school. John currently drives international partnerships sales and strategies in his position as Executive Director External Affairs.
Earlier in his career, John worked with IHG hotels in Thailand and India and served as the Director of Business Development for the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) in Europe. He has also held various board positions for EuroCHRIE, the Council of Hospitality, Tourism and Event Educators and is a member of multiple global hospitality education and training associations. He is a global citizen, a graduate of Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, has lived in over seven countries and currently resides in Bangkok, Thailand with his family.
-
To celebrate our one year anniversary, 50 Shades of Hospitality producer, Egidio Marcato is re-releasing his podcast.
The global hospitality industry is still feeling the effects from the COVID pandemic and trying to find solutions to the many challenges that it is facing. Lack of qualified staff as well as staff retention have been causing havoc in many hotels and restaurants. But are we doing enough to face these challenges? Egidio analyses the current situation and pinpoints the lack of vocational education and training for young people interested in entering the field.From the Veneto region of Italy, Egidio Marcato has had a prestigious career in hospitality and hospitality education. Egido studied hotel management in Aban Terme and received a Master in Business Administration from Endicott Collegein the USA.
He has worked for over four decades to promote the profession of hotel receptionist and co-founded the Swiss AICR competition for best receptionist known as the Bucherer Trophy. In 2015 he was appointed president of the jury of the David Cambell Trophy (world’s best receptionist award).
In recognition of his vast experience and expertise, SwissSkills appointed him Swiss expert/coach at WorldSkills and EuroSkills for the profession of hotel receptionist. In 2020, he founded his own company, the Swiss Hospitality Guild, a training centre for those wishing to excel in the art of hospitality.
-
With a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality from a prestigious Swiss hotel school, Alvin Liu has followed an atypical career path. Over the past years, when his day job as a Senior Recruitment Consultant for a Data and Analytics company allows him, Alvin hones his stand-up comedian talents and regularly hits the stand-up comedy circuit in London and other British destinations, including the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh.
In this podcast, Alvin talks about his inspiration for his comedy sketches and what it is like for a Chinese native to break into the stand-up comedy world in Britain. We talk to him about his inspiration for his comedy shows and how being a Chinese ex-patriot fuels some of his best jokes.
Alvin also talks about his educational experience in Switzerland as a Chinese foreign student and why it is vital for young students to leave their home countries to experience a global educational environment. In addition, Alvin explains how a hospitality background can be a starting point for many kinds of careers and how the soft skills learned in this field of study are transferrable.
Alvin Liu was born in mainland China and studied at Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland where he was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management. Since graduating, he has worked as a Talent Recruitment Consultant for several companies in China and London and recently has specialized in Data Talents.
-
With over 40 years-experience as a luxury hotel concierge, Robert Watson shares his career path and choices along with some unforgettable experiences with our listeners. Starting as a page boy at the InterContinental Hotel in London, Robert has also worked at some of London’s famous hotels such as Mayfair Hotel, the Park Hyatt Carlton Tower and the Grosvenor.
In this podcast, Robert describes what a concierge does, why this position is still important for prestigious hotels and for their role in satisfying demanding client requests. Robert explains the importance of having a strong network that can be relied upon when a request is particularly challenging.
Robert also gives our listeners an inside look into the International Clefs D’Or, (translated as The Golden Keys), a professional association of hotel concierges, with approximately 4000 members working in over 80 countries and 530 destinations, in literally every corner of the world. In 2009, Robert became the President of this prestigious organization and he has served this organization in other positions such as the Treasurer and Delegate for Great Britain.
With roots dating back to 1929, Les Clefs d’Or was officially founded in France in 1952 as a not-for-profit organisation based on two pillars: Service and Friendship. Before earning the right to wear the golden keys, those who aspire to become a member must have several years of experience as a hotel concierge, pass comprehensive testing and prove, beyond doubt, their ability to deliver highest quality of service.
Joining the Willard InterContinental Washington in February of 2006, Chef Concierge Robert Watson brings to the DC landmark hotel over 48 years of Concierge service experience accrued from working in properties all over the world.
Prior to this, Robert has held Chef Concierge positions at the Grosvenor House Hotel, the Park Hyatt Carlton Tower, and the MayFair InterContinental Hotel in London England. He has also held this prestigious position at the Hotel InterContinental in Luxembourg, the Cape Sun InterContinental Hotel in Cape Town, the InterContinental Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg both in South Africa where he aided in the hotel’s opening. His duties during this time included creating hotel policy and procedure as well as the development of their training manual for all concierges, porters, doormen and drivers.
In 2009, Robert became International President of Les Clefs d’Or. Robert has also held the positions of International Delegate for the Golden Keys of Great Britain and Treasurer of the Golden Keys of Great Britain in addition to being a member for over 40 years. He is currently an active member of the Les Clefs d’Or, USA.
Fluent in four languages, including Spanish, French and Italian, Robert’s international perspective began during his childhood where he was raised in both Uruguay and Costa Rica, and attended a French school before settling back in the United Kingdom to begin his illustrious career. Now based in Washington DC with his wife Paula and son Brooks, Robert Watson offers each guest an in-depth knowledge of Washington DC with a professional and pleasant demeanor.
-
Vadim Bekker is currently the Managing Partner at Vibe Hospitality in Bangkok, Thailand. In this podcast, Vadim talks about his experience in the Thai hospitality field and why he has no plans to leave this beautiful country. After working in the Maldives as a Guest Relations Officer, Vadim chose Thailand to pursue his career path and has been working there for over 10 years. He describes the hospitality scene in Thailand and why the country continues to attract tourists from all over the world.
Vadim also explains the reasons for creating his own company and pursuing his entrepreneurial goals with the creation of Vibe Hospitality, a service provider and advisory specialised in food and beverage for new and existing businesses in South East Asia. Vibe Hospitality offers practical solutions based on a company’s needs, budget, expectations and objectives. The company’s core value is to create strong concepts, competitive business models and genuine success.
Finally, Vadim talks about the importance of maintaining his alumni connections in Thailand and why he still enjoys frequent get-togethers with his former classmates. In addition, Vadim gives our listeners advice on pursuing a global career in hospitality and the many reasons why he is happy to have embraced this career path.
Vadim Bekker is a graduate of Glion Institute of Hospitality in Switzerland and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration. He has worked in Food and Beverage in The Maldives and Thailand and has held several management positions. In 2020, Vadim became a managing partner at Vibe Hospitality.
-
Andrew Parshukov is currently the Head of Business Growth at JetRockets, a forward-thinking company specializing in custom web and mobile application development across various industries. In this podcast, Andrew talks about his career path from studying hospitality in Switzerland and working in the hospitality field to teaching in Vietnam and developing his passion for technology and AI.
Andrew gives our listeners some insight into how AI is revolutionizing the hospitality field and what to expect in the coming years. Andrew assures our listeners that AI will never replace the “human touch” that so many customers value but instead will improve customer service and make travel and tourism more appealing.
Andrew is a versatile professional known for his determination and commitment to finding solutions. With a unique approach to problem-solving, he embraces challenges head-on, vowing to find answers when faced with uncertainty. Currently, Andrey serves as the Head of Business Growth at JetRockets. In this role, he dedicates his efforts to elevating business processes, assisting clients in launching new projects, and contributing to the company's overall growth.
His enthusiasm for his work is palpable, and he enjoys surrounding himself with like-minded tech enthusiasts. Andrey's professional journey has been marked by significant achievements and diverse experiences: 10 years in hospitality worldwide, English teaching in Vietnam, and Business Development in the Tech industry.
- Visa fler
