We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new blog series, Voices of the Future! Through this initiative, we aim to shine a light on the insights and aspirations of young, visionary leaders who will shape the future of our industry.
I entered the hospitality industry without truly knowing that this would become my passion. However during my time at the Hotel Management School Maastricht, I realised that I thrived in an environment which focused on people and that the hospitality industry was for me.
I have had opportunities whilst studying to be involved in many extra-curricular activities, working with industry experts. These cemented my commitment to progressing my career in the hospitality industry and underlined the importance of mutual exchange and life-long learning. I have supported younger students in my studies which has given me new perspectives on my career and the industry.
Whilst participating in the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge and being in the Finals in Abu Dhabi, I was honoured to be able to learn more about the importance of Planet and Place.
This experience saw my team and I diving into fruitful discussions with industry experts on how we can make our concept UKIYO, regenerative and enable it to give back to our communities. UKIYO is an “innovative, community building, lodging concept, that is luxurious, imaginative, radical, replicable, environmentally regenerative, and which is commercially and technologically sound and achievable”. In a nutshell it is an accommodation unit hidden underground in nature and emerges when the guest activates it through a key chain. Overall, the experience of consulting experts and pitching the concept has made me truly excited about the future of hospitality.
This new era will bring new solutions to the industry. New technologies will drive Net Positive but it’s important that as a sector we rethink and reconsider our choices, and the business approach. I have been honoured to work with Noelle Homsy, the Co-founder of Envi Lodges, and her team who gave me the great opportunity to dive into their business model, understanding new sustainability practices while starting up a fully eco focused business approach. From here my journey brought me to Georgia where I did my six months internship within my Bachelor study of the Hotel Management School Maastricht. This internship was focused on supporting a hotel management company through a local business advisor who started business in this pioneering and upcoming market one and a half years ago. As Georgia is building and developing new hotels all over the country the potential of integrating sustainable practices right from the start is pivotal. The growth in tourism puts emphasis on the importance on integrating sustainable practices to conserve the nature, culture and heritage of the country of Georgia. Georgia is a fascinating, hospitable and deeply rooted country, with diverse and beautiful landscapes. It’s important that the industry in Georgia ensures tourism is operating in a responsible way – giving back more to communities. Collective action and knowledge-sharing is key amongst hotel groups in Georgia.
Whilst the labor pool is sourced locally in Georgia, ensuring to give the opportunities to local experts, a few practices regarding operational processes have the potential to make a big change to moving towards a more sustainable business approach. I am interested in exploring these opportunities and changes which are not only apparent in Georgia but also in other’s areas of the world, as I embark on my Master study in Organization: Change, Management and Consultancy fitting. Managing and leading change is a big topic under discussion, and I am eager to learn how it can be facilitated better, ensuring the hotel industry operates in the interests of its people, planet, place and for prosperity. Experiences gained within my studies and by working on the ground in the hotel business enables me to learn from others and discuss these topics considering different perspectives. I have been able to learn about the experiences of a variety of people who work in the industry- from the receptionists, housekeepers to the CEOs. My ambition is to to shape the future of the hospitality industry for the better and help drive Net Positive.
