Is a career in hospitality right for you?
Is a career in hospitality right for you?
In this episode, Mr. Sarosh Daruwalla shatters the myopic viewpoint held by most and explains how hospitality prepares you for careers in the global experience economy. Mr. Daruwalla has worked with leading hotel and restaurant brands, and currently plays the role of Country Head for Les Roches, Glion and Ecole Ducasse.
Welcome to The Zista Podcast!
In this episode, we will hear from Mr. Sarosh Daruwalla, Country Head, Les Roches, Glion & Ecole Ducasse. He is widely regarded as a hospitality education counseling expert and is also a Les Roches alumnus.
Sarosh shatters the myopic viewpoint held by most and explains how hospitality prepares you for careers in the global experience economy. A hospitality degree can be viewed as a business management degree with a hospitality orientation. The skills you learn in hospitality are transferable to other service industries.
Key takeaways:
- The Hospitality industry provides students with skills for the global experience economy and a career path with endless possibilities.
- A positive attitude, interpersonal skills, and a desire to provide outstanding client service are required for success in the hospitality industry.
- Technology and AI are transforming the hospitality industry, creating better guest experiences and building customer loyalty.
- Digital marketing is crucial for building brands, reaching potential customers, and increasing bookings.
- The hospitality industry has a promising future with good growth potential and a supply-demand imbalance, creating numerous opportunities for students to pursue a rewarding career.
Q: What do students need, to succeed in the hospitality industry?
A: A good attitude, a love for being around people, good interpersonal skills, a sense of adventure, a willingness to work hard and a drive to deliver excellent customer experiences. One can derive emotional satisfaction by serving others and making them happy. This is all essential in the hospitality industry as it is a people-centered business, focused on delivering outstanding customer experiences.
Q: Is technology and artificial intelligence being used in the hospitality industry?
A: Technology has always played an important role in the hospitality industry, but post-covid, it has become even more critical. Guests today don’t need to go to the reception desk for information and can manage things at the touch of a button. The use of AI helps to capture data points on guest preferences, and it is used wisely to enhance their future stays, which in turn helps build customer loyalty. For example, the use of virtual reality and augmented reality allows guests to have a virtual tour of the property or check out a new room before they arrive.
Q: Can you give an example of how the hospitality industry is leveraging data and AI?
A: The hospitality industry is leveraging data and AI by using it to create better guest experiences. For example, guests can use their mobile phones as keys and complete their check-in before arriving at the hotel. They can get information at the touch of a button, which they would normally have to go to a concierge to get. The industry is also using AI to gather data on guest preferences and using that information to provide customized services, enhancing their overall experience.
Q: How is technology affecting the hospitality industry from a student’s perspective?
A: From a student’s perspective, technology is affecting the hospitality industry by making it imperative for them to think digital but act analog. The industry is a people business, and the role of technology is to create better guest experiences, but the personal touch still matters. Students need to learn how to use technology to improve guest experiences, but also how to balance that with the human touch that is essential in the industry.
Q: How important is digital marketing in the context of the hospitality industry?
A: Digital marketing has become incredibly important in the hospitality industry. Before staying in a hotel, guests often check out TripAdvisor, comparison websites, and other platforms to see where they can get the best deal. Digital marketing helps hotels, resorts, restaurants, and bars to reach more potential customers, build their brand, and increase bookings.
Q: What is the growth potential of the hospitality industry?
A: Hospitality is the second largest employer globally and is growing at a steady pace. It has a good compounded annual growth rate projected up to 2030, and there is a supply-demand mismatch, which means that there is more demand for students in the industry than the actual supply of students who are graduating. The revival of the travel and tourism industry post-covid has created more opportunities for students looking to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.
