Viewpoint: Let's be braver in 2022, says James B Clarke
Hoteliers are going to need to be bolder and better if they're to make it through the coming year with confidence, says James B Clarke
Hospitality has taken an absolute battering over the past 18 months. But as an eternal optimist, I believe that we can all emerge from this daunting scenario stronger if we're prepared to do three things – be bolder, braver and better. If you are a hotelier you might not feel very much like pushing forward, but we all have to change – and quickly, because the environment around us is changing fast.
Bolder
Being bolder means being willing to take risks. In the current climate we have to be agile and respond to change faster than ever if we want to survive in this sector and be confident about who we are. This is a great industry to step into. You can build a career here and aspire to greatness by working in our industry, but as hoteliers we need to demonstrate that and show how great it is and can be.
Braver
Yes, we have endured a lot of pain over the past 18 months and it's not going away overnight. There are more hurdles to come, adding to those we are already leaping over – like finding fantastic team members and dealing with supply chain issues – so we're going to have to be brave to get through and to set a vision for the next few years.
Better
Finally, we must be better. Our customers demand better, as do our team members in terms of how we look after them. We must question ourselves. Are we sustainable? Are we using technology to the best of its ability? Are we developing our people? Are we listening to them and taking care of their wellbeing and mental health? It's by asking those questions – and finding answers that work – that we will become stronger and thrive again.
Lead from the front
If you are committed to making this happen, then it's imperative that you lead from the front. How can you expect your team members to be out front dealing with your guests if you don't show willingness to be out there too?
That is why I am encouraging hotel managers to attend the Master Innholders' hotel leadership conference on 17-18 January 2022.
I have set the conference theme of ‘bolder, braver, better' because I want to help us to be stronger and better as an industry. I have been bolder with the programme, braver by choosing new speakers from different walks of life, and I am always striving to provide a better industry for the people who work in it. Because that is my goal with this conference: to develop the pipeline of talent. When hoteliers attend it means we can give back to our community and create more scholarships to do just that.
James B Clarke is general manager at Hilton Bankside and a member of the Master Innholders' executive committee
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