Hospitality is the process of building relationships — that's why it's applicable to any field.

Bingqing (BQ) Liu is a student at Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration. A filmmaker whose work has screened at Oscar-qualifying festivals, a social entrepreneur, and a hospitality researcher, he brings a creative perspective to the industry.

While “hospitality” is often equated to the service industry, I have come to see it as the most powerful business differentiator that’s applicable in every venture. Hospitality is a way of approaching business that puts consumer values, connections, and emotions at the core of all strategic decisions. When consumers believe that your brand’s values align with theirs, we are able to not only build lifelong relationships but also loyal promoters. I believe that the most successful innovation happens when diverse perspectives are unified by a common empathy grounded in placing our people first.

Bingqing is panel expert of the Student Voices panel.