Here we are, in the first quarter of 2025. It has been a rough year, but we have almost made it through (just kidding). There have been debates that have been flashpoints in the first quarter of the year. One that continues to play out as we honor Women’s History Month is the topic of DEI.
It was a busy Saturday night at a luxury resort restaurant. Short-staffed and overwhelmed, the Assistant Restaurant Manager, Alex, rolled up his sleeves and started bussing tables, taking orders, and running drinks. Guests were happy, and the team appreciated Alex’s effort—but when tips were pooled at the end of the shift, a server hesitated: Can Alex really take part of the tips? Isn’t he management?
Societal changes, COVID-19, talent shortages and digitalization have created a perfect storm for the hospitality industry. The pressing question now is how to exit this storm and reinvent new value propositions for the industry and its stakeholders. Could hospitality be on the verge of developing a higher purpose simply based on its innate DNA?
The hospitality workforce is evolving at an unprecedented pace. AI, automation, rising labor costs, and shifting employee expectations are forcing hotels to rethink how they manage labor. At Unifocus, we’re not just watching these trends—we’re helping hotels adapt with workforce solutions that balance efficiency, cost control, and employee experience.
As higher education institutions strive to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world, their role extends far beyond traditional teaching. Universities and colleges are now pivotal in fostering competencies, preparing students for real-world challenges, raising awareness of global issues, and integrating with industry.
What Is Psychological Safety, Really? Harvard researcher Amy Edmondson defines psychological safety as "a shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking." But what does this mean in practice?
Innovative pedagogy provides a framework for thinking and processing information that drives successful, sustainable practice. By 2030, the United Nations requires that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. As the world becomes more sustainability-conscious, higher education plays a key role in delivering education for sustainable development. The purpose is to equip students with the skills, competencies and behaviors essential for raising awareness and promoting the development of a more sustainable future.
The hospitality industry thrives on human interactions and service excellence, making well-being and happiness-centric leadership critical for success.
Ask anyone in a hospitality service or sales organization if they train their employees, and they’ll often detail their extensive orientation and classroom training programs, claiming to prepare employees to perform at an elite level. Yet, countless service experiences—from trying to make a hotel reservation over the phone or as a walk-in in addition to trying to book a meeting—suggest otherwise. Training isn’t working, and this isn’t just a post-COVID phenomenon.
Employees are fond of their leaders in the same way customers are fond of their favorite coffee shop—because of the personal connection, consistency, and warmth they experience.
Welcome to February's edition of "Plays Well With Others." This month, we're exploring trust, the invisible force that shapes every workplace interaction and relationship. While we often think of trust as something that simply exists or doesn't, it's actually being actively built or eroded with each conversation, decision, and action we take at work. Whether you're leading a team, collaborating with colleagues, or navigating complex stakeholder relationships, understanding the mechanics of trust can transform how you approach workplace relationships.
At the dawn of the 7th edition of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) conference at EHL Hospitality Business School, we take a moment to reflect on the motivations for participating in SoTL and the rich lessons we take away from each edition.
Turning priorities and goals into action is essential across all hospitality disciplines. From a people perspective, HR needs professionals who understand the company’s direction and have a vested interest in implementing it. It is all about execution.
Chuck Simikian and John Thalheimer met together on the HR Stories Podcast to tell the tale that highlights the importance of consistent policies and documentation. Listen to the deep dive in on their podcast episode.
What is Faculty Development? The knowledge and skills transfer from faculty to students forms the core of what education is all about. One of the most rewarding and important roles in a school is played by the department that strives to support those on the front line of education delivery: the teachers. Welcome to the role of faculty development!
The hospitality industry is rebounding from the effects of a tight labor market, but challenges remain across our industry. A 2024 survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) found that more than two-thirds of hoteliers were still experiencing staffing shortages. Such shortages place immense pressure on hotel owners and operators to recruit and retain top talent — all while grappling with the rising costs of labor.
You need certain skills to successfully lead a team and become a respected manager in any field. Being inspirational, having excellent technical knowledge, and being someone who could ‘get things done’ used to be prerequisites, but now what it means to be a good manager is changing.
The knowledge and skills transfer from faculty to students forms the core of what education is all about. One of the most rewarding and important roles in a school is played by the department that strives to support those on the front line of education delivery: the teachers. Welcome to the role of faculty development!
For this, new creative methods are essential for hospitality to leverage teaching excellence based on the transfer of knowledge among professionals, i.e., experts from the industry who wish to expand their professional skills to include practical facilitation and teaching.
Leadership coaching can have a profound impact when individual leader development is integrated with a team-focused approach. This dual focus leverages the interdependent nature of leadership teams, maximizing the benefits of coaching for both individuals and the organization. The foundation for these improvements lies in self-discovery, achieved through greater awareness of influence and effectiveness.