EDITOR ’ S DIARY
PASSION FOR HOSPITALITY
Gen Z will make you a
BETTER MANAGER
Being the father of a precocious 16-year-old young woman ready to apply for her first summer job , I can say with a great deal of certainty that this month ’ s special report about how to work with emerging Gen Z workers is spot on . HOTELS Contributor Judith Crown hit all the high notes : the importance of technology ; your honest commitment to environmentally friendly business practices ; willingness to be flexible with scheduling ; and an understanding and acceptance that their upbringing with technology makes Gen Z more logical , yet less
Editor In Chief patient . Let me expand based on my experiences .
If you are not tech-literate you are best served to learn at least basic communication skills using a smartphone , or you will be shamed and ridiculed – and at this stage rightfully so . Devices are ubiquitous in every form of communication , and Gen Z will not accept working in a strict analog environment — unless it is related to guest engagement . Despite the impression that they always have their faces buried in technology , so many of my daughter ’ s peers have what feels like a natural air of confidence and pride in their idealism , and they are actually very keen to show off their maturity . They can , in fact , make great brand ambassadors in a 21st-century way . I know I lacked that emotional exuberance as a youth .
I have also learned Gen Z will compromise more if they are respected . After stubbornly trying to get my daughter to communicate with me on my dated terms , I finally grew tired of being ignored and came around to connecting based on what she knows and likes . We now have more open-ended and constructive dialogue where I can share my emotional intellegence and subtly use persuasiveness to negotiate preferred outcomes .
Gen Z , we should all hope , also is more committed to saving the world by addressing climate change . I am constantly reminded about how , as a baby boomer , I have destroyed the planet and it is now my responsibility to fix it , or at least be part of the solution . May I suggest taking smaller steps that can be proven with honest and easily quantifiable results because Gen Z can sniff out greenwashing like no other . They will call you out on your promises , so be prepared to deliver — even if it is based on smaller KPIs .
Gen Z also is willing to work hard , but they are not at all interested in being a slave to one task or opportunity . They are multi-taskers and experience seekers who are better at living in the moment , and I won ’ t tell you how jealous I am of that trait . They will give you their best work if you are prepared to schedule hours that better suit their lifestyles . I know this is a tough ask for hospitality , but consider talking to department heads and team members about potential options and alternatives solutions . At the very least , try to better understand the needs of your high achievers so they don ’ t leave for someplace more willing to accommodate them .
Read the Special Report about Gen Z ( p24 ) and take the advice to heart . The status quo no longer applies .
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein , Editor In Chief 1.312.274.2226 E-mail : jweinstein @ hotelsmag . com Barbara Bohn , Managing Editor 1.312.274.2209 E-mail : bbohn @ hotelsmag . com Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com Steve Vanden Heuvel , Vice President / Creative Director 1.312.274.2218 E-mail : svandenheuvel @ mtgmediagroup . com Brittney Hackbart , Associate Art Director 1.312.274.2216 E-mail : bhackbart @ mtgmediagroup . com Carolina Martinez , Freelance Design E-mail : cmartinez @ mtgmediagroup . com Bill McDowell , Vice President , Editorial Director 1.312.274.2201 bmcdowell @ mtgmediagroup . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Judith Crown , Megan Rowe , Juliana Shallcross , Erin Sund
PUBLISHING David Wood , Publisher 1.312.274.2225 dwood @ hotelsmag . com Bill Kinross , Vice President , Group Publisher 312 / 274-2214 bkinross @ meatingplace . com
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India Stephen Bartolin President , Broadmoor Sea Island Co ., Colorado Springs , Colorado Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director , Middle East and Africa , Marriott International , Dubai Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton Worldwide , McLean , Virginia Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta Paul Sistare President and CEO , Atlantica Hotels International , São Paulo Susan Terry Vice president of culinary and food and beverage operations , Marcus Hotels & Resorts , Milwaukee , Wisconsin
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6 hotelsmag . com March 2020