Brookes Hospitality Leadership Forum 2012
May 24, 2012
The Savoy
London, United Kingdom
Organised by the Oxford School of Hospitality Management, in conjunction with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, the Brookes Hospitality Leadership Forum brought together industry and academic leaders to discuss overarching themes of strategic importance to the hospitality and tourism industries.
Turbulent times, driven by global economic uncertainty, bring major challenges for those in leadership. Those who predict changes in the external environment and who adapt business practices accordingly can minimise risks from the economic storm and gain competitive advantage. At the 2012 Brookes Hospitality Leadership Forum, a collection of innovative thinkers helped us understand the forces that will shape our sector in the years to come. Panel discussions focused on leadership strategies to steer organisations in times of great uncertainty.
The Forum incorporated keynote speakers and panel discussions, focused on three themes:
Leadership and Talent development - Transformation through Partnership
The potential long-term benefits of partnership between the hospitality industry and higher education are often overlooked or unrealised. A model of cooperation that goes way beyond the provision of graduate talent, to incorporate the application of research expertise across a range of disciplines, can transform business practice and can reinvigorate educational content and delivery.
In this session we examined the strategic alliance between IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Oxford Brookes University. We focussed on its true value to the company, its impact on academics, and on how it fuels the enthusiasm and motivation of students, the next generation of industry leaders. A panel discussion explored frameworks for building and capitalising on partnerships between industry and education.
Business Innovation - Reimagining the Brand
Brands are a crucial part of contemporary hospitality management and have a direct impact on profitability. The last decade has created turbulent times for the hotel sector. Internet and smart phone technology have revolutionised the media and transformed how people communicate. This, coupled with the arrival of new players and new business models, has radically changed both the competitive environment and how customers respond to brands. From a brand management perspective, established players need to be renewed to engage with today's customers and to avoid commoditisation by reimagining the brand.
In this session, we explored how an established luxury hospitality company has re-imagined their brand to communicate with existing and new target audiences. We also learned how an iconic British car was reimagined for a contemporary market, with lessons for hospitality managers. Practical examples from industry leaders helped reinvigorate thinking about brand management.
Responsible Business Practice - Moving from old to new forms of capitalism – meeting the Green Growth challenge
Historically growth has been a primary determinant of company success - in some cases the overriding factor. In the past five years this has not only been questioned but issues around, sustainability, equity, clean energy, ethics, inclusion and even societal happiness have emerged to challenge traditional assumptions.
This session looked at how these changes affect the travel sector generally and hospitality specifically. It also identified new models that are coming into play and why travel and tourism companies should be first movers.
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