Chicago—June 25, 2012—Kendall College, Hotels Magazine and the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association welcomed author and hotelier Chip Conley to its Global Hospitality Spotlight Series last week, where he shared his expertise on business and psychology gained from more than two dozen years in the industry. Conley, founder of  boutique hotel company Joie de Vivre (JDV) and author of New York Times bestseller Emotional Equations: Simple Truths for Creating Happiness + Success, shared how psychology is an important element in running a successful business.

Key learnings from Conley’s presentation,“The Powerful Intersection of Psychology & Business,” include:

• Once you understand your consumer, you’ll be able to meet their expectations and deliver on their desires (desires exceed expectations).
• A great CEO is the “Chief Emotional Officer” and recognizes the wants and needs of their employees and consumers. When staff is treated well, employees are happy which positively impacts the guest experience.
• When asked what piece of advice he’d give students and young professionals entering the hospitality industry, Conely said, “People won’t remember what you said but how you made them feel. All they want is to be respected, so address  problems as quickly as possible to let them know you’re listening.”

Watch Conley’s full presentation on Kendall College’s website at http://hospitality.kendall.edu/spotlight.

“Chip Conley is such an influential figure in the hospitality industry, and Kendall College was thrilled to host him as part of our Global Hospitality Spotlight Series on June 15,” said Emily Williams Knight, president of Kendall College. “This was an opportunity for Chip to share his expertise with fellow hospitality industry colleagues, as well as Kendall students, providing an invaluable opportunity for them to learn about the relationship between psychology and business from an industry icon.”

The School of Hospitality Management launched the Global Hospitality Spotlight Series in 2011 to bring together industry thought leaders and trendsetters to share ideas and insights on the hospitality industry’s critical issues. For more information about the series visit: hospitality.kendall.edu/spotlight.

In 1987, former CEO Chip Conley started his own hospitality company, Joie de Vivre (JDV), and, for two dozen years, grew it into the second largest boutique hotel company in the United States. At the age of 26, Chip transformed a seedy 1950’s “no-tell motel” into the world-renowned Phoenix Hotel, a legendary rock n’ roll destination catering to the likes of David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt and Nirvana. JDV has since expanded into a collection of over 35 award-winning hotels, restaurants and spas, with more than 3,000 employees. Chip and his company’s time-tested techniques and transformational leadership practices have been featured in The New York Times, TIME, USA Today, Fortune and the Wall Street Journal. Conley has also been honored with the highest accolade in the American hospitality industry, the coveted ISHC Pioneer Award.

About the Kendall College School of Hospitality Management:
Kendall College, founded in 1934, is located in Chicago, Illinois. Kendall offers undergraduate degrees in business, culinary arts, early childhood education and hospitality management to a diverse and passionate community of more than 2200 students. The curriculum combines strong academics with practical experience and international educational opportunities that help give students in business, hospitality and culinary arts programs the skills and expertise to be leaders in their professions. Kendall College was ranked the number one program in Chicago for preparing students for careers in hospitality management and culinary arts in a survey of management at Chicago's leading hotels and Michelin Guide restaurants (ORC International – 2011 Survey). The School of Hospitality Management focuses on the art of hospitality and the science of management – the European tradition of superior customer service with American managerial know-how. Kendall College, a member of the Laureate International Universities network, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org. For more information, visit www.Kendall.edu.