SPECIAL REPORT
“
IT WILL BE THE YEAR OF THE SMALL GUY …
BEING ABLE TO READ AND REACT IN SUCH A RAPIDLY CHANGING TIME IS REALLY AN ADVANTAGE .
what it means to be a brand . It really is an evolve or die world . How do I place my skill sets to make sure I ’ m relevant for the next 20 years ?
Korosec : Staffing . Keeping my team happy and challenged and cared for ... I definitely spend most of my time brainstorming on how I can help my team do the best job they can .
Catherine Driscoll : I want to see this industry be able to keep up with the many changes in technology . I want to see us be able to keep up with the changing needs of consumers .
Andrea Olshan : Every day a new flag is competing with us … The gradations are so fine now that I don ’ t know if the consumer gets it — and that makes it hard . Then you have Airbnb , and no one has resolved how to deal with that .
H : Make a prediction about your discipline in the coming year .
Michael Fuerstman : As operators we will continue to be asked to do more with less . We will need to find ways via technology , smarter systems and operations to create better guest experiences , drive more profit and do right by our associates with even less resources than before . That ’ s just the nature of the industry .
Anderson : A lot of autonomous jobs are going to get washed away quickly . Keep that skill set fresh and brushed up , and embrace your creative and visionary sides , because that ’ s the skill set of the future .
Govindani : We aren ’ t moving fast enough as an industry . Many people will still be obsessed with Alexa and Cortana , and we are
”
– ANDREA OLSHAN
chasing down these consumer technologies that have no use in a hotel room .
Innocentin : European privacy legislation , General Data Protection Regulation , will force hospitality companies to revisit data policies even if they are not based in the EU . Olshan : It will be the year of the small guy … Being able to read and react in such a rapidly changing time is really an advantage — it ’ s no longer ‘ You ’ re too small ,’ now it ’ s ‘ We ’ re so nimble .’
Nicole Young : You will see markets globally that haven ’ t been exposed to revenue management now utilizing this in their operations , in larger South American city centers such as Mexico City and Rio and in parts of Asia such as China and Thailand .
H : What ’ s your best advice to the next generation ?
Megan Carlson : Be authentic , be passionate about your life and what you do in this life .
Ho : They need to work hard , not give up so easily , have more passion about their job and work with their heart . I know that ’ s not easy . But there are no shortcuts .
Innocentin : Get active in their organizations and in the industry . If you want to get ahead it is important to have a strong network .
Korosec : If you come in in the morning and you don ' t want to come to work , you ' re never going to be happy . We ' re in an industry where we take care of people . I don ' t think that you can take care of people if you don ' t love what you do .
JAI GOVINDANI CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER RED PLANET HOTELS , BANGKOK
DANNY HO EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF HOTEL ICON , HONG KONG
MICHAEL INNOCENTIN VICE PRESIDENT , E-COMMERCE AND DIGITAL ACCORHOTELS , TORONTO
ANTONIA KOROSEC RESORT MANAGER OCEAN HOUSE , WATCH HILL , RHODE ISLAND
AMRUDA NAIR CEO AND JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR AIANA HOTELS & RESORTS , DOHA , QATAR
ANDREA OLSHAN CEO OLSHAN PROPERTIES , NEW YORK CITY
NICOLE YOUNG CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF REVENUE MANAGEMENT ROSEWOOD HOTEL GROUP , WEST HOLLYWOOD , CALIFORNIA
30 hotelsmag . com May 2018