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Hospitality ConversationsTM


International Exposure Expands the Potential of Success
in Hospitality Businesses and Academics

by Dr. John Hogan, CHE, CHA, CMHS
August 17, 2011

Many of our earlier Hospitality ConversationsTM columns that have examined internships have been at major universities with traditional four year academic programs. Several of these programs have international components that may include global internships and/or students from around the globe.

This column takes a different approach  and includes feedback and observations from Sonja Holverson1, Professeur en Marketing ECOLE HOTELIERE DE LAUSANNE.  Professor Holverson has an extensive career background in both academia and in the business side of hospitality.   She has an MBA from HEC University of Lausanne, a diploma in Business Administration from the Centre romand de promotion du management (CRPM), and a BA from the University of Hawaii. Her two-decade long career in the hospitality and tourism industry includes sales and marketing positions in Hawaii, California and Switzerland in many different positions, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, travel agencies, incentive travel companies and cruise lines.

Professor Holverson’s research and teaching experience includes giving executive courses on hotel branding in China and presenting research on hotel branding and affiliations at conferences in Switzerland, the US and Dubai. She particularly enjoys interactive classes where students are very involved by contributing innovative and productive ideas to well-structured discussions and projects.

Research interests:
  • SME hotel strategies
  • Lifestyle hotel strategies
  • Strategic hotel branding and brand portfolio management
  • Hotel off and on-line distribution
Professor Holverson's2 philosophy can be found on her web site , "being a part of enabling students to develop into strategic yet creative and ethical professionals is very rewarding for me."

We combined this column with our Questions I Wish You Would Ask Me™ to get a global perspective on travel, learning and hospitality.

1. Name your favorite hotel and why it is special to you
Beau Rivage Palace, Lausanne, Switzerland.  Despite its ornate over-the top- elegance, the staff is not formal nor arrogant and make all guests feel very comfortable. It’s a wonderful escape from the daily routine.

2. Name your favorite restaurant and why it is special to you
La Poste, Grandvaux, Lavaux vineyards near Lausanne, Switzerland.    Truly amazing all glass 2-sided view from up the hill located in the vineyards overlooking Lake Geneva and the French and Swiss Alps. Besides the view, the owners are always most gracious to me and I have fond memories of family and friends who have passed on as well as those still living with whom I shared special moments here.

3. Where do you vacation the most often?
Paris or Barcelona
 
4. What is your favorite charity or cause?
Alzheimers Association

5. Name your pet service peeve, why and any ideas you may have to address it.
Not knowing the answer to my questions about a product and not offering to get the information from someone else. Training in customer service would be a logical start to correct this (although not all companies even do this) , but also it is important to know how to share information within a company and how to access it.

6. Who was the most important mentor in your life and why?
 My Father. He was courageous and taught me how to deal with difficult situations and still remain calm and resourceful.

7. In the last five years, what has been your most memorable meeting or convention experience and why?
Travelcom by the US Travel Association in Chicago 2008 when Henry Harteveldt interviewed Richard Branson. It was most inspirational and motivating to know that travel giants can also be ethical and authentic.

8. What is the one piece of advice you would offer to a graduating student with a hospitality degree?
Remain flexible, be yourself, keep your joie de vivre and then you will be able to do anything you like.

9. What is the one question do you wish someone would ask you in an interview today?
 Did you think 10 years ago that you would have accomplished all that you have today?
______________________________
1 http://www.ehl.edu/eng/Enseignement/Enseignants/Profils-des-professeurs/Sonja-HOLVERSON
2 http://ch.linkedin.com/in/sonjaholverson

We have asked dozens of people involved in hospitality businesses around the world to answer up to nine questions in this special section of HospitalityEducators.com.  If you would like to participate, please contact  [email protected] 


Success does not come by accident or chance. Contact us for assistance:

[email protected] or 602-799-5375 

 



HospitalityEducators.com was created to help hospitality businesses address problems via a training and information resource site to help you increase your Hotel's revenue, market share and profitability.  With more than 700 pages of tips, guides, best practices, strategies, plans, budgets, videos and resources, HospitalityEducators.com is the number 1 website for independent hotel owners and managers.  This site can help you solve your problems now! 

KEYS TO SUCCESS  is the umbrella title for my 2011 programs, hospitality services and columns. This year’s writings focus on a variety of topics for hotel owners, managers and professionals including both my "HOW TO" articles, HOSPITALITY CONVERSATIONS™, Lessons from the Field™, Hotel Common Sense™ , THE P-A-R PRINCIPLE™  and Principles for Success.


Feel free to share an idea for a column at [email protected]   anytime or contact me regarding consulting, customized workshops, speaking engagements … And remember – we all need a regular dose of common sense.



John Hogan is a successful hospitality executive, educator, author and consultant and is a frequent keynote speaker and seminar leader at many hospitality industry events. He is Co-Founder of www.HospitalityEducators.com , which delivers focused and affordable counsel in solving specific challenges facing hospitality today.

Consulting Expertise and Research Interest
  1. Making Cultural Diversity Real
  2. Developing Academic Hospitality programs
  3. Medical Lodging Consulting
  4. Sales Management and training
  5. Turn-around and revenue management
  6. Professional Development for the Organization and the Individual
  7. Customer Service
If you need assistance in any of these areas or simply an independent review or opinion on a hospitality challenge, contact me directly for a prompt response and very personalized attention.

www.HospitalityEducators.com  is a membership site offering a wide range of information, forms, best practices and ideas designed to help individual hoteliers and hospitality businesses improve their market penetration, deliver service excellence and increase their profitability.

www.HoganHospitality.com
Your Hospitality Resource for the Hotel Owner, Innkeeper, Manager and Hospitality Industry Associations.


Contact:

John Hogan, CHE CHA CMHS    
United States - Phoenix, Phone: 602-799-5375
www.hoganhospitality.com
 [email protected]

http://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnhoganchache



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Also See: Keys To Success - Answers and Practical Solutions from Readers on The Value of Hoteliers Helping Hoteliers / Dr. John Hogan / August 2011

Keys To Success™ - The Value of Hoteliers Helping Hoteliers / Dr. John Hogan / July 2011

Recommended Reading From HospitalityEducators.Com; Swim with the Sharks: Without Being Eaten Alive; Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate and Outnegotiate Your Competition by Harvey MacKay / Dr. John Hogan / July 2011

Are you prepared to be a "Top Ten" Player in Your Hospitality Marketplace or are you going to continue to be one of the "other" statistics? / Dr. John Hogan / July 2011

Lessons from the Field: Lessons in Leadership / Dr. John Hogan / July 2011

Lessons from the Field: If I Only Knew Then.... / Dr. John Hogan / July 2011

Reflections / Dr. John Hogan / July 2011

Lessons from the Field™ A Training Exercise and Tips for Ways to Reduce Wasting Time in Hotels, Restaurants, Inns and Hospitality Businesses / Dr. John Hogan / June 2011

Tips for Small Hotels, Inns and Hospitality Businesses - A Baker's Dozen of Savings in the Office / Dr. John Hogan / June 2011

Look Who's 40! - A Most Unique Recommended Reading / Dr. John Hogan / June 2011

A Baker's Dozen of Formulas to Thrive (and not merely survive) in the Service and Hospitality Industry! / Dr. John Hogan / June 2011

Growing Talent Does Not Happen Without Focused Effort in Hospitality (Part 2 of Meeting the Need for Talent) / Dr. John Hogan / May 2011

A Quiz on Effective Hospitality Marketing in 2011: Understanding and Using Complementary Tools / Dr. John Hogan / May 2011

Hotel Common Sense™: Meeting the Need for Talent: A Baker's Dozen of Questions (Part 1 of 2 ) / Dr. John Hogan / May 2011

Hotel Common Sense™: Questions I Wish You Would Ask Me™: Karl Ruether CHA, CFBE, International Hotelier / Dr. John Hogan / April 2011

Hotel Common Sense™: Stronger Hiring Outlook Means Hospitality Employers Must Step Up Recruitment Efforts; The job markets are changing and candidates will soon have choices again. / Dr. John Hogan / April 2011

Hotel Common Sense™: Five Common Sense Steps to Stronger Public Relations / Dr. John Hogan / April 2011

A Smile from HospitalityEducators.com - April 14 - International Moment of Laughter Day / Dr. John Hogan / April 2011

Lessons From the Field™: Communications 101 – How to effectively use the telephone / Dr. John Hogan / March 2011

Principles of Success: Fine Tuning Your Hospitality Business Strategies for A Measurable Competitive Advantage - Part 2 / Dr. John Hogan / March 2011

Principles of Success: Fine tuning Your Hospitality Business Strategies for A Measurable Competitive Advantage - Part 1 / Dr. John Hogan / March 2011

Hotels Were More Interesting than Selling Insurance: An Unexpected Career; A Professional and Personal Tribute to Neil Salerno, CHME CHA / Dr. John Hogan and Howard Feiertag / March 2011

Principles of Success: Evaluate Your Hospitality Business Strategies to Create a Real and Measurable Competitive Advantage / Dr. John Hogan / March 2011

Sales Blitzes: A Look At the Benefits of Team Efforts / Dr. John Hogan / March 2011

Principles for Success: No Nonsense Benchmarking for Hotels and Hospitality Businesses / Dr. John Hogan / March 2011

Principles for Success: What we have here is a FAILURE to COMMUNICATE! / Dr. John Hogan / February 2011

Making This New Year's Hospitality Resolutions Last - Part 3; Real and Practical Action Steps #13-28 / Dr. John Hogan / February 2011

Making This New Year's Hospitality Resolutions: Real and Practical - Sales Action Steps #1-12 / Dr. John Hogan / January 2011

Making New Year's Hospitality Resolutions Real and Practical; A “Fresh Air- New Ideas” Perspective / Dr. John Hogan / January 2011

Keys to Success: Be Aware of and Work with the Law; Do Not be Afraid of it / Dr. John Hogan / December 2010

Keys to Success: Make Your Hotel More Profitable and Successful – 2011 is the critical time to invest in Your Talent and Your Team / Dr. John Hogan / December 2010

Keys to Success: A Common Sense Approach to Success in the Hospitality Industry; 13 Best Practices for Hospitality Training Managers & Directors / Dr. John Hogan / December 2010

Hospitality Conversations – Looking Ahead! / Dr. John Hogan / November 2010

Learning from The Greatest Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century / Dr. John Hogan / November 2010

Five Considerations in Hiring a Hospitality Consultant; Understanding the Qualifications for Effective Hospitality Consultants / Dr. John Hogan / November 2010

5 Reasons Using A Qualified Consultant Could Make a Huge Difference in Your Hospitality Business / Dr John Hogan / October 2010

Half Luck and Half Brains - Kemmons Wilson's 20 Steps for Success / Dr John Hogan / October 2010

Ten Quotes Addressing the Topic of SERVICE / Dr John Hogan / October 2010

Hospitality Conversations - Understanding the Developing Perspectives in Quality Assurance (Part 2 of 2) / Dr John Hogan / October 2010

Hospitality Conversations – Understanding the Developing Perspectives in Quality Assurance Part 1 of 2 / Dr John Hogan

Hospitality Conversations: Examining the Learning Options Available in the Hospitality Field / Dr John Hogan / July 2010
..
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