Advertisement

Opinion Articles

Opinion Article

Open Innovation Through a Student’s Lens: Why Collaboration and Curiosity matter more than ever

As a young adult preparing to enter the evolving world of hospitality, I stand at the edge of a transformative era – one that demands not just operational excellence, but thoughtful action and bold responsibility. As a hospitality student, we’re taught the foundational tools: service, design and operations. But in a world, that’s ever-changing, mastering the known is no longer enough. We must cultivate a mindset that embraces the unknown, acting with agility, curiosity and intention.

Sukriti Malhotra
By Sukriti Malhotra, Student, EHL
Opinion Article

Managing Hotel Labor Costs Today

Managing labor costs in a hotel operation is crucial to maintaining a profitable business while delivering the service level that is commensurate with the scale of hotel. Finding this balance has been especially difficult in a post-COVID-19 environment, when inflationary challenges coupled with labor supply shortages have put further pressures on hotel operations. Labor is one of the most significant expenses a hotel faces, accounting for 30–45% of total operating costs.

Kasia Russell
By Kasia Russell, Managing Director and Senior Partner with the HVS Portland office, HVS
Opinion Article

Spring Break Fever: Prepping Frontline Hospitality Workers for Travel Chaos

Time off from school, warmer weather and a flurry of travel discounts drive millions of Americans to book vacations during spring break. And this year, changing vacation habits could see even more people booking getaways during this ideal travel time. Experts predict springtime travel is growing more popular as Americans begin to favor vacations in the months outside the busy summer season while also trying to prolong their trips.

Carol Leaman
By Carol Leaman, CEO, Axonify Inc, Axonify
United States
Opinion Article

The NextGen Investment Forum

With 1 million new tourism jobs predicted by 2030, the Kingdom’s hospitality sector is facing some critical challenges. First, notable skill gaps are evident in specialised areas like hospitality management, digital competencies, and vocational training in tourism. Second, only 8.1% employed in the Saudi tourism industry are women, and third, Saudi Arabia's youth unemployment rate remains around 16%, with limited vocational pathways in hospitality for young Saudis.

Jonathan Worsley
By Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO The Bench, The Bench
Opinion Article

Rethinking Inclusion in the Workplace: Gen Z at Women in Leadership

This year’s EHL's Women in Leadership (WIL) Day brought together students and industry professionals to discuss inclusion in the workplace. Gen Z participants shared their perspectives on what diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) means to them. They emphasized the importance of authentic leadership that prioritizes a sense of belonging and access to a diversity of voices across the organizational structure. Their key message was clear: the nature of the workplace is changing as a result of Gen Z’s professional attitudes and their ally, Tech, is helping them push boundaries even further.

Dr. Sowon Kim
By Dr. Sowon Kim, Associate Professor, EHL
Ad Apply Now!
Radical Innovation Hospitality TECHNOLOGY

Radical Innovation is an initiative that challenges creative thinkers and visionaries in hospitality TECH to pioneer compelling innovations that fuel the future of the hospitality and travel industries.  
Radical Innovation
Opinion Article

Why Centralized Training and Onboarding Are Essential for Maximizing PMS Technology

Hotels, often an oasis of comfort and reliable service in any market, are currently under pressure to meet guest expectations even as labor shortages persist. For independent operators, the best way to stay competitive is to invest in the right technology and ensure teams are trained to use it effectively. By centralizing hotel operations under an all-in-one PMS, hoteliers can simplify workflows, enhance service quality, and make onboarding more intuitive.

Audrey MacRae
By Audrey MacRae, Executive Vice President, Maestro
Opinion Article

Ways to Help Employees Manage Their Stress

Stress can lead to various physiological and mental strains, resulting in decreased work efficiency, increased absenteeism and voluntary turnover – which ultimately impact guest satisfaction and profitability. Thus, it is essential to maintain employees’ well-being and help them manage their stress. Some organizations even have the job position of chief wellness officer to manage staff’s mental health.

Lee-Keng Ng
By Lee-Keng Ng, Associate Professor, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Opinion Article

Pedagogical Peer Coaching: Elevating Teaching & Learning Practices

Pedagogical Peer Coaching (PPC) is a powerful tool for faculty development that offers educators a confidential and supportive space to refine their teaching practices. Through course observations, collaborative discussions and faculty-led learning communities, PPC is a source of continuous improvement without the pressure of formal evaluation or hierarchy. Thanks to fresh perspectives and targeted feedback, this collaborative peer coaching system should be seen as a major asset for steering effective teaching and learning experiences.

Karen Earl Erpelding
By Karen Earl Erpelding, Senior Lecturer and PPC, EHL
Opinion Article

Training and Hospitality Education: Trends, Methods, and Options

Training and development are an arm of a wider education umbrella and a key tool for gaining hospitality expertise and professional development progress. Training involves a combination of industry content, techniques and methods connected to operations and emphasizes learning for the advancement of the hospitality industry.

Robert O’Halloran
By Robert O’Halloran, Professor Director, School of Hospitality Leadership, East Carolina University
Ad AI Hospitality
Ernest - Lighthouse's AI for hoteliers

"Just tell me why my weekend pickup dropped." With Ernest, now you can ask your commercial data anything, and act on the answer. 
Lighthouse
Opinion Article

The Future of Hospitality: An Invitation to the Next Generation

In the fullness of one’s self-expression is one’s self-discovery. Until a person ventures into the unlimited domain of the mind, and learns to freely express themselves, such a person can never truly be free to understand themselves. So then, life’s meaning can be summated by an unyielding pursuit of the unknown and the tender connection between mind and marrow.

Viktor Okoroji
By Viktor Okoroji, Student, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management
Opinion Article

What Can Companies Do to Improve Generation Z Retention?

Generation Z is making headlines as it replaces millennials as the youngest generation in the workforce and introduces its own perspectives and approaches to work life. According to the United States Department of Labor, Gen Z accounts for almost one-fifth (18%) of the labor force, surpassing baby boomers. That number is expected to grow as more individuals from this generation graduate from college and enter the workforce.

Heather Berti
By Heather Berti, Senior Vice President of People Services, Arlo Hotels
Opinion Article

Ten Trends Shaping Corporate Communications in 2025

“In a rapidly evolving landscape…” - This Chat-GPT siren seems to be the most frequently used phrase of the past year and immediately makes me question the content that follows. However, we can all reluctantly relate to the statement and the Communications function is no exception. While the AI wave has flooded our daily lives, changing how we work and what we communicate, other societal trends and consumer behaviors continue to prompt (pun intended) fundamental changes within corporate communications.

Meloney Brazzola
By Meloney Brazzola, Chief Corporate Communication Officer, EHL