50 Shades of Hospitality

In this podcast, we speak to Carmen Többen who won the WorldSkills Gold Medal for best receptionist in Lyon, France last year.  After winning the Gold Medal at the SwissSkills competition in Bern in 2022 and the EuroSkills Gold Medal in Gdansk, Poland in 2023, Carmen used those exceptional experiences to win gold in Lyon. Carmen walks us through the prestigious WorldSkills competition by describing the different tasks she had to perform and explains how she trained for these four, very intense days.   We question Carmen on how she trained and managed to stay focused under immense pressure and how these competitions demand both physical and mental preparation.   Carmen also describes the comradery that these competitions create and how being able to compete against young people from around the world was a reward in itself. By sharing some memorable moments and talking us through the past three years of intensive training, our listeners can better understand how becoming the World's best receptionist demanded perseverance, confidence and a very strong network of support not only from her family, but also from the hotels that Carmen worked in during these competitions.  While working at the Baur au Lac, one of Zurich's most luxurious hotels, Carmen received first-class job training and the staff were thrilled to learn that she had won gold in Lyon. Carmen Többen studied at the Schulhotel Regina in Interlaken, Switzerland and received a Swiss Federal certificate as a Hotel Communication Specialist and went on to work at hotels in Thun and in Zermatt.  In 2023 she joined the Baur au Lac in Zurich as a hotel receptionist and went on to become a Front Office Supervisor.  In September of this year, she will continue her education by starting a Bachelor Degree in Hotel Management at the Lucerne Hotel School.     

In this podcast, Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga shares the extraordinary history of his family-owned winery, Tenuta San Leonardo, which is an estate of historical significance where great wines are created in Trentino. It produces San Leonardo, a Bordeaux-style red wine which was described by the wine journalist, Jancis Robinson as "surely the most successful Bordeaux blend of northern Italy". For our oenology enthusiasts, Anselmo describes the kind of grapes and wines made at San Leonardo and gives a colorful historical background to this winery founded in 1724.  And for our history buffs, Anselmo shares some of the highlights of his great grandmother Gemma de Gresti's war efforts to repatriate Italian soldiers during and after the First World War and to welcome and host the neediest during this tragic conflict. The International Red Cross awarded her the highest honor, the gold medal for humanitarian valor.  Born in Rome in 1978, Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga's passions have always been linked to the countryside and animals.  He spent every summer on his family's estate in Trentino surrounded by the vineyards and then in his grandmother's garden on the outskirts of Rome, La Landriana, where she had created a magical world with help from great landscape architects of the time. It is in these places that he refined his knowledge and love for nature.After graduating in 2000 from John Cabot University in Rome with a degree in Business Administration, Anselmo traveled around trying to find out what his aspirations were. Destiny soon brought him back to San Leonardo family winery to support his father.  In fact, in the summer of 2001, he started working on the estate covering little by little all the roles from the simplest gradually to taking over the management of the company to which much of his attention and time still go. Anselmo considers being a wine producer a privilege, and he continues to pursue his father's vision focusing on quality and people with great passion, never forgetting, as their motto says, that "The Land is the soul of our work". In this podcast, Anselmo Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga shares the extraordinary history of his family owned winery, Tenuta San Leonardo, which is an estate of historical significance and an Italian wine producer in the Lagarina Valley in Trentino. It produces San Leonardo, a Bordeaux-style red wine which was described by the wine journalist, Jancis Robinson as "surely the most successful Bordeaux blend of northern Italy". For our oenology enthusiasts, Anselmo describes the kind of grapes and wines made at San Leonardo and gives a colorful historical background to this winery founded in 1724.  And for our history buffs, Anselmo shares some of the highlights of his grandmother Emma de Gresti's war efforts to repatriate Italian soldiers during and after the First World War and to welcome and host the neediest during this tragic conflict. The International Red Cross awarded her the highest honor, the gold medal for humanitarian valor.  Born in Rome in 1978, Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga's passions have always been linked to the countryside and animals.  He spent every summer on his family's estate in Trentino surrounded by the vineyards and then in his grandmother's garden on the outskirts of Rome, La Landriana, where she had created a magical world with help from great landscape architects of the time. It is in these places that he refined his knowledge and love for nature After graduating from John Cabot University in Rome with a degree in Business Administration in 2000, Anselmo traveled around trying to find out what his aspirations were. Destiny soon brought him back to San Leonardo family winery to support his father. In fact, in the summer of 2001, he started working on the estate covering little

 In this podcast, Philippe Rey-Westlund and Byron Rey-Westlund talk about their culinary adventures in Mexico and what has and continues to inspire these explorations of Mexico's culinary history. Both Byron and Philippe talk about their initial experiences with Mexican cuisineByron grew up in the Cupertino, California (Silicon Valley) surrounded by fruit orchards. Cupertino, before becoming the Apple Corp. headquarters, was a small village one hour south of San Francisco populated mostly by Italian and Mexican immigrants. There he was introduced early to the delicious tasty layers of ancestral Mexican cuisine.  Philippe discovered Mexican cuisine early on when he immigrated to the US and with Byron, they began to travel to Mexico to experience authentic Mexican cuisine in some “off the beaten paths”.  They recount one particular adventure that was harrowing but totally worth the long culinary road rarely taken. In this podcast, we speak about California's Mexican heritage and how, even today, it is still possible to find authentic Mexican cuisine. Byron and Philippe also share their advice with our listeners on how to plan a culinary trip to Mexico and how there are still so many culinary destinations in Mexico to discover. Dr. Philippe Rey is the Executive Director of ACS in the Silicon Valley, California.  He first joined Adolescent Counseling Services in 1998 as Caravan House Program Director. After three years at Caravan, he became a member of the executive team as Associate Director and has now been the agency's Executive Director since 2004.  Philippe was born and raised in the French-speaking region of Switzerland and came to the United States in 1984 to attend the University of California at San Diego. In 1997, his doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in child and family therapy was conferred by Alliant International University in San Diego. Before pursuing graduate studies and a career in psychology, Philippe graduated from business school in Sion, Switzerland.  Byron Westlund worked in technology and with the responsibilities of holding leadership positions, he was afforded the opportunity to travel the world for business. As an adventurous and curious person, Byron would explore the food scene everywhere he landed. With offices and staff he would visit, on an almost monthly basis, Grenoble, Lyon, Geneva, Mexico City, Tokyo and Singapore.  Byron would go out of his way to sample all local tastes and traditional dishes.  Upon his return home to Silicon Valley, he would spend hours recreating the flavors and structures of the dishes he so loved while out in the world. Underground Dining at Naglee Park was inevitable and for ten years, became Byron's retirement-from-technology job, but way more fun and creative. Byron always loves nothing more than welcoming friends and family to his table to share with them his passion and love for good, heart-warming, soul-lifting food and good times. With his husband Philippe, Byron operated an "Underground Dining" establishment for over 10 years, which served as a cultivation & fundraising vehicle for ACS.

Walter el Nagar is a passionate Chef with a multicultural background and a strong desire to make not only a culinary mark but a social one as well.  In this podcast, Walter describes his passion for creative culinary arts and his professional path across the globe.   Walter was born in Milan in 1981 to an Egyptian father and Italian mother, both of whom are restaurateurs. Known for his creative flair and self-taught culinary skills, Walter embarked on a transformative journey in 2008 when he traveled to Los Angeles and discovered his love for Latin American cuisine. This experience inspired him to establish his own restaurant, 'The Barbershop.'  In 2016, Walter embarked on an enriching one-year culinary world tour, discovering the flavors of Barcelona, Ibiza, Moscow, Tulum, and ultimately Singapore. It was during this journey that he introduced his innovative pop-up restaurant concept, inspired by his experiences in Los Angeles.  After a brief stint in Dubai, he felt the need to find a permanent home, and in 2017, he came to Geneva.  Taking up the position of Head Chef at the renowned 'Fiskebar' restaurant in the Hôtel de la Paix, Walter soon realized his vision went beyond culinary excellence. To prove his commitment to social issues, he founded his own restaurant, 'Le Cinquième Jour,' in Geneva. This unique establishment embraced a powerful concept of social inclusion – the kitchen brigade dedicated Saturdays to cooking for those in need, including disadvantaged individuals, refugees, the homeless, and vulnerable teenagers.  This concept continues with his new restaurant, Refettorio in Geneva.  Driven by his unwavering dedication to both gastronomy and social impact, Walter established Fondazione Mater in 2020. As the founder and executive director, he continues to merge his culinary expertise with a strong sense of purpose, creating initiatives that make a positive difference in our society.

In this podcast we speak to Bastian Barnbeck who is a social entrepreneur and the founder of Waved, a non-profit organization that empowers students from rural coastal communities in Panama, using surfing a tool for social change.  With a background in Hospitality, Management Consulting and Corporate Social Responsibility, Bastian discusses how he has used all of his experiences for this forward-looking social adventure.  We ask Bastian about his motivations for creating Waved and how his career path in hospitality, finance and education, not to mention, surfing, led to his passion for social change.  Bastian explains to our listeners how Waved connects with the local community and local community tourism to bring about positive change.  Bastian also explains why he decided to create an NGO in Panama and some of the challenges he has faced and why he wanted to be part of the growing tourism industry in Panama.  Bastian was a proud finalist for the Héroes por Panamá, “a national TV platform in Panama that not only recognizes the work of individuals, but also connects them with people and organisations willing to support their causes.  Their mission is to highlight the tireless work of people who, with their resources and big hearts, are changing realities.”  Finally, Bastian gives our younger listeners some tips and advice for getting started in the hospitality industry and how he continues to be inspired by this multifaceted industry.  He holds a BA in Hospitality Management and Marketing from the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, a Non-Profit Management Certificate from Georgetown University, a Master's in Sustainability & CSR from CMI Business School and the University of Ávila in Spain, where his thesis explored obstacles to implementing community tourism in Latin America. He was also recently awarded a scholarship to participate in the Global Business Executive Leadership Program at Georgetown University.  He is adept at navigating new cultures and skilled at learning languages rapidly, having worked and studied throughout France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and now Panama.        

Ursula Connolly is the founder and Managing Director of People Skills Business. She has more than 30 years experience in developing and motivating individuals and companies to achieve successful results.  In this podcast, Ursula tells our listeners about how she works with internationally respected organisations to help them align the development of their employees with their brand and strategic business objectives. She describes how her main focus is to help organisations engage and develop their people so that they in turn deliver great customer service and achieve desired business results. In 2004, Ursula established People Skills Business.  People Skills Business partners with companies in the hospitality, tourism and leisure industry who are passionate about equipping and enabling their people to deliver great work and exceptional service to customers. Their mission is to put learning at the heart of the business by providing bespoke leadership and executive coaching programmes that are easily accessible to all and encourage a culture of continuous learning. Ursula comments on what makes a great hospitality leader, the role of women in the current hospitatliy field, the challenges facing hospitality in the future and how businesses can attract and retain young people by providing more learning and development and not shying away from hard truths. Ursula has led multi-cultural teams and managed large-scale projects across Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America. Her breadth of knowledge of Human Resources and the international service industry make her well equipped to work with senior management to help them recognise and solve key business issues. She has been recognised and won awards for her work with Maybourne Hotel Group, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and InterContinental Hotel Group from Personnel Today and World of Learning Awards. Ursula has a Masters in Human Resource Strategy from London Metropolitan University, a Diploma in Hotel Management and Business from Technological University Dublin and is a qualified Time to Think Coach. She is also highly experienced as a programme manager, designer, facilitator and presenter. To learn more about People Skills Business click here: https://www.peopleskillsbusiness.com and here: https://vimeo.com/739985876      

In this podcast, Tobias Cornet and Raad Masarwah from The Right Balance, a hospitality consulting and training company that helps hotels across all their revenue generating departments to increase sales, enhance guest experiences and boost their team's skills & motivation. Tobias and Raad discuss their company's mission and how their experienced staff support hotels with change management, employee retention and team motivation. We ask pertinent questions about how management can invest in their teams and what are the benefits of doing so.  Tobias and Raad also give our listeners food for thought concerning the current hospitality challenges and why it is vital to attract new talents and make sure that the employment atmosphere is conducive to retention.  We discuss employee perks and benefits and how these should be clear and attractive for staff.  Tobias and Raad also give their insights into why some employees quit and how the hospitality industry should be attentive to this negative trend. Tobias Cornet is the Managing Director of The Right Balance and from the age of 14, Tobias worked in hotels and restaurants back home in Germany. After completing his degree in Hotel Management, he worked in Front Office roles for Hilton Hotels in Munich and Frankfurt. Moving to London, he was Front Office Manager at the Hilton Park Lane and then transitioned into a L&D role as Front of House Training Manager at The Dorchester.  Tobias then joined TSA as a Performance Consultant, where he trained and coached Front Office and Reservation teams on upselling and cross-selling in more than 100 hotels across 4 continents. After almost 10 years travelling and training, he decided it was time for a new approach towards upselling. ‘One size fits all' simply no longer worked, sales training needed to be more tailored and the consulting more personalised.  He set up The Right Balance to help hotels in EAME across all their revenue generating departments to increase sales, enhance guest experiences and boost their team's skills & motivation. As Managing Director, Tobias divides his time between looking after his team of Consultants, developing training programs, growing the business, and continues to deliver training to stay in touch with latest hotel trends. Tobias finds his right balance with cycling & Pilates and gets regularly involved in AICR events. Raad Masarwah is a Senior Consultant at The Right Balance.  Raad was born and raised in Jordan. After completing his studies in Hotel Management in Montreux, Switzerland, he went on to work in various Room Division & F&B positions for Le Méridien, InterContinental and Marriott, in Frankfurt, Berlin and Tampa Florida. He progressed with his career to Rooms Division Manager at the Kanuhura Maldives in 2013. In July 2014, Raad kicked off his Training and Consulting career at TSA Solutions. After 4 years of extensive traveling and training, Raad had a rare opportunity to take over a wine bar in Frankfurt. The wine bar was a success, and business was going well until the pandemic hit. The continued uncertainty in the industry was the catalyst for Raad to sell off the bar and go back to the vocation he enjoyed most, training and consulting.  Raad joined the Right Balance in 2021, enjoying the variety that this role provides, meeting and training amazing people from the hotel industry and getting to explore exciting destinations and savour the taste of new cultures. He also appreciates the work-life balance his job brings, enjoying long walks with his dog Bobby and training a youth football team.

 In this podcast, Razvan Pirjol, CEO of Turism Felix and the owner of Leading Choice, a global hospitality counselling company in Romania, answers our questions about the hospitality and tourism industry in Romania and gives his insights on current hospitality education and training opportunities.  A Glion Hospitality graduate, Razvan ended up spending several years in Switzerland and he talks to us about this unique experience, how it influenced his career choices and why he still has a strong connection to the Montreux region.   Romania is home to historically rich architecture, jaw-dropping landscapes, and gorgeous cities. It's less expensive than most European travel destinations, less crowded and it is considered one of the safest countries in Europe.  In 2019, over 13 million tourists visited Romania.  Razvan describes the growing appeal of Romania as a Central European destination and how the government and tourism boards should welcome and improve their hospitality and tourism offerings. As the former Secretary of State for Tourism, Foreign Trade & Investment, Razvan has an insider's view of the challenges that Romania faces and gives our listeners his ideas on what direction Romania is headed.   Razvan also answers our questions about why Romania has become an appealing destination for many university students and how its renowned and exceptional academic standards have made it specifically attractive with regards to its Faculty of Medicine.   Finally, Razvan gives us his suggestions for improving hospitality education and training in Romania and how he believes synergies can be created to meet the current hospitality and tourism challenge. Razvan Pirjol is the current CEO of Turism Felix and Owner of Leading Choice - Global Hospitality Counsellors in Romania.  Razvan studied International Hospitality and Tourism Management at Glion Institute of Education in Switzerland and he has 30+ years of hands-on experience in international hospitality management with a focus on operations, education, training and quality management at both the corporate and entrepreneurial levels.  In addition, Razvan was the former Secretary of State for Tourism, Foreign Trade & InvestRomania at the Ministry of Economy, Romania.

Maxime Blot, Meilleur Ouvrier de France (French Best Craftsman) for Hotel Reception, talks to our listeners about this professional honor and describes the demanding process of competing and winning this prestigious award.  Maxime has worked in some of the most prestigious and luxurious palaces in the world and in this podcast, he describes his first few years of honing and perfecting his skills.   Maxime also talks to us about his current job as a hospitality consultant and the Hospitality Insiders podcast producer and host.  We find out more about what motivated Maxime to create his hospitality podcast and why he thinks his podcasts can support and motivate hospitality professionals. Maxime also shares his ideas on the current French hospitality industry and the kinds of challenges it currently faces. For Maxime, service excellence and the use of cutting-edge technology are the keys to improving hospitality service.  Maxime Blot is a recognized leader in the world of hospitality, renowned for his commitment to service excellence and his innovative approach to guest experience. With nearly two decades in the industry, he has mastered the art of hospitality, earning the prestigious title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2023 in the category of hotel reception—one of the highest distinctions in French craftsmanship.As the founder of Hospitality Insiders, Maxime shares his expertise through consulting, training, coaching, and keynote speaking, helping professionals and businesses elevate their service standards. His deep understanding of guest expectations and operational efficiency makes him a sought-after expert for luxury hotels and high-end establishments.He is also the voice behind the Hospitality Insiders Podcast, the first French podcast dedicated to service excellence, where he interviews industry leaders and shares insights on creating unforgettable guest experiences.Passionate about craftsmanship in hospitality, Maxime embodies the idea that exceptional service is not just a profession—it's an art. Whether advising hotel brands, coaching teams, or inspiring the next generation, his mission remains the same: to redefine excellence in hospitality, one guest at a time." 

In this podcast, Brigitte Lawler from Swiss4Africa describes the work that their non-profit organization, registered in Bern, Switzerland, is currently doing in South Africa. They work with small NPO's in South Africa to break the cycle of poverty,addressing four of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. They were founded by 5 members a year ago and at the time of founding, three of its members were based in Switzerland while the other two are on the ground in South Africa.  They work with local communities to identify their greatest needs and implement a 2-pronged approach by fixing the most urgent short-term needs and building sustainable models for the long term to get them to a point of being self-sustainable.  Their self-sustainable model depends on what best suits a particular community. Swiss4Afrika has realised that these models need to have certain elements: Create an ability to generate income / provide resources to the community so they are not reliant on donations. Develops skills for members of the community that they can apply to contribute to their community well-being. These skills should be transferable so that it enables them to be employable outside of the community. Creates employment opportunities and experience building for members while they are living in the community.  One of their communities is called Soli Deo Gloria Care Centre (Soli), based in Lydenburg. Swiss4Afrika formed an alliance with a global organisation called Meals on Wheels, a type of soup kitchen for the frail and poor in the area. With this alliance, they will be able to train people in kitchen skills and provide a much needed service to the local population. Randel van Heerden, Director of Swiss4Afrika. Randel has volunteered in some interesting places around the world. In South Africa he volunteered as a policeman to assist investigations in crimes committed against children. Randel moved to the Philippines with his wife and volunteered to build a school for the poor on a garbage dump in Manila. With others, he assisted in delivering aid to affected people each time a typhoon blew through Manila.  In Guatemala he assisted an NGO called Constru Casa to build homes for the poor.  In the Ivory Coast, Randel headed up a team of volunteers who helped to renovate the Abidjan zoo. He was sponsored by the Swiss and German embassies as well as the Calao Foundation in Luxembourg, the San Diego Zoo in the USA and private donors. In 2022, Randel and his wife moved to Switzerland and started Swiss4Afrika. Brigitte Lawler, Director of Swiss4Afrika. Brigitte Lawler is the founder of Legenda solutions-focused consultancy specializing in business growth, scaling tech companies and transforming business for the digital world. Having worked in more than 30 countries and lived in 4, Brigitte has developed a global perspective to business in different markets. Brigitte is able to draw on experience as a Global Transformation Manager across several business and functional areas, as well as adapting those skills and competencies in the world of Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups. As a founding member and director of a Non-Profit Organisation, Brigitte equally applies her expertise on organizational, process and people development in an effort to alleviate poverty. Key-note speaker and author.  

In this podcast, we interview Evan Tzivanakis, author of ‘'Leading In VUCA Times''.  In this insightful work, Evan delves into the complexities of modern leadership, offering valuable strategies to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape successfully. His book has become a go-to resource for executives and aspiring leaders seeking guidance in an increasingly turbulent world. With a wealth of experience and expertise in leadership and organizational dynamics, Evan explains to our listeners how he has been instrumental in empowering countless individuals and businesses to achieve their full potential and thrive in the face of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) in today's dynamic business landscape.We discover how Evan leverages a unique blend of empathetic understanding and strategic acumen to guide and mentor leaders towards unlocking their true leadership potential and navigating challenges with confidence and poise. His remarkable insights and innovative approaches have earned him a stellar reputation as a transformative force in the field of leadership development. Beyond his coaching prowess, Evan's entrepreneurial spirit has led him to establish a successful business that addresses critical leadership needs across various industries, leaving a lasting impact on numerous organizations globally. Moreover, his passion for education and sharing knowledge has driven him to assume the role of Adjunct Lecturer at the prestigious EU Business School-Geneva, where he imparts his wisdom and cutting-edge leadership principles to the next generation of business leaders. Evan is not only an author, but a Learning and Development Manager with strong commercial experience, a strategic business consultant and a University adjunct lecturer at the EU Business School. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and an inspiring track record of driving positive change, Evan Tzivanakis continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of leadership and organizational development. His profound influence on individuals and businesses alike makes him an indispensable asset to those seeking to thrive in the face of adversity and uncertainty. 

Vanessa Kellerhals currently works in Iraq for the UNDP (United Nation Development Programme) but little in her career path would hint at her one day working in peacebuilding and development.  In this podcast, Vanessa explains how she went from working at the Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich, winning the AICR world's best receptionist in 2010 and then onto Lebanon to learn Arabic.  From there, she moved back to Switzerland to pursue her studies in Social Sciences.  After finishing her Master's degree and trying to gain a foothold in peacebuilding and development during the pandemic, she was thrilled to learn that she was chosen to work for the UNDP in Iraq. Vanessa's credo of “embrace the chaos” has been useful while working in the hospitality field and most certainly in her current position as the Programme Officer of the UNDP Social Cohesion Team in Baghdad.  Iraq's recent history has been marked by many devastating conflicts and much of the UNDP's work revolves around working with international partners as well as the government of Iraq to rebuild destroyed infrastructure, bring back displaced people to their homes, and support in laying the foundation for development in the country.  “Social Cohesion work” includes all projects aiming to support people from different backgrounds to live together peacefully and to be accepting of each other. Vanessa describes how her hospitality career prepared her for her current profession.  Shedescribes some of the hospitality transferable skills such as customer care and service, interpersonal communication, teamwork, decision making and crisis management that are skills she can use in her daily development and peacebuilding work.  

50 Shades of Hospitality is happy to introduce our new collaborator and producer, Mauricio Schüler.  Life-long Learning is Mauricio's passion and his career path has revolved around how to inspire other professionals to embrace this ethos.  For this podcast, Mauricio who is the founder of the Schulering HUB hospitality platform, responds to our questions about how hoteliers can improve and innovate in the current hospitality business environment. Mauricio's focus is on independent hoteliers, who lack resources to keep pace with rapid changes. By creating the right space and bringing the right people together, he believes we can inspire, motivate and facilitate innovation and learning.  Mauricio also describes how he came to create Schulering HUB, along with a podcast and You Tube Channel which features content dedicated to the hospitality industry.  He also discusses hospitality education and the importance of practical experience for young people entering the field.   Mauricio elaborates on what he believes is necessary to revitalise the industry by addressing critical issues such as the “Silent Resignation” that has left the industry 48% below pre-pandemic levels, leadership shortcomings, poor work culture, lack of transparency in career progression and compensation, and the discrepancy between hospitality education and industry needs. Finally, Mauricio gives our listeners his views on lifelong learning and shares some words of inspiration for young people embarking on a hospitality career path. Mauricio Schüler is the founder of Schulering HUB, a platform dedicated to helping independent hoteliers design exceptional employee experiences. He also serves as Brand and Sales Manager at Casino Ambassador in Prague, while providing consulting support for innovation and digitalization at H&Hotels Group, his family's hotel cluster.Originally from Brazil, Mauricio's career began with a degree in physical education before moving to Australia to study Commercial Cookery, where he worked alongside celebrity chef Miguel Maestro and later became head chef at an award-winning café. After a successful career change into sports business management, including leading Little Kickers to become the largest franchise worldwide, Mauricio returned to hospitality, focusing on digital marketing and brand development.In 2022, Mauricio launched Schulering, alongside The Schulering HUB Podcast, which has been ranked in the top 40 Hospitality Podcasts globally. His Schulering Learning Journey project was also a finalist in the UN Tourism Startup Challenge in 2024.Mauricio's strengths lie in relationship-building, innovation, and motivating teams. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his 5-year-old daughter, bodyboarding, and trekking in nature. He lives by Simon Sinek's philosophy: “The goal is not to be perfect in the end, the goal is to be better today.  

Jacquy Pfeiffer embodies the French pastry chef's persona with style and grace and shares his many career choices and experiences across the world.  From his native Alsace to Chicago via California, Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Brunei and Hong Kong, Jacquy has brought his pastry magic to the many places he has worked.  He explains how he started as a young apprentice in the Alsace region and the importance of hard work, a strong sense of perfectionism and a good dose of humility when it comes to creating his signature pastries.  He also describes the artistry and creative focus needed to become a sought-after pastry chef.  Jacquy has shared his pastry passion with many and has co-authored several books. In addition, he created a pastry school in Chicago with Chef Sébastien Canonne, where they trained thousands of professional pastry chefs.  Baking is Jacquy's passion. He comes from a long lineage of family bakers. He started learning the craft like many do, at a young age in his father's kitchen. This is where he learned that when you can make a beautiful croissant or a baguette, you bring joy and happiness to others.  What drives Jacquy is not just to be the best at his craft, but also to share his passion with others. Twenty-five years ago, he co-founded The French Pastry School in Chicago with Chef Sébastien Canonne.  He is happy that all the pastry chefs they have trained can, in turn, bring joy and happiness to many more people. More recently, they have taken their 25 years of instructional knowledge and have put it into an online, on-demand, educational format that allows both enthusiasts and professionals to build on their knowledge in Baking and Pastry Arts.  This is available through The Butter Book (www.thebutterbook.com) which offers an on demand online education as well as their partnership with Rouxbe (www.rouxbe.com) which offers a wide range of educational programs in Pastries and Breads.     

In this podcast, entrepreneur Brandon Burnett describes how his next generation of hotel equipment is poised to improve and transform the hotel industry.  He also describes his career path from completing a hospitality management degree in Switzerland to working for some of the major hotel chains in different capacities.  Brandon shares his views and opinions about the hospitality industry, tech trends and staffing challenges. Brandon in the founder of Abellcart LLC, a hospitality tech startup.  Abellcart's first product in the self-driving luggage cart that is trying to profoundly impact productivity in lodging properties worldwide. These self-driving luggage carts can be used by staff and guests and they operate safely and reliably, reducing the risk of workplace accidents and creating a safer environment for hotel staff.  By creating affordable connected tools to reduce the physical labor necessary to work in the industry, Abellcart allows hotels to control labor costs, optimize scheduling and gives hotel staff the ability to focus on more important guest centric tasks.  ABELLCART is customizable to the operation it serves. It is designed to withstand frequent usage and heavy payloads, providing a faster alternative to the older model bell cart. Staff can regularly spend up to 8 hours a day handling loaded carts. The design is centered on their needs, enhancing safety and drivability to create a tool that prioritizes physical well-being.  Brandon Burnett is a hospitality veteran and has held various leadership roles within Marriott and Starwood across Hawaii, Florida, and New Orleans, gaining valuable insights into the operational needs of the industry.   Abellcart specializes in autonomous cargo delivery and is fundraising to bring its innovative autonomous luggage carts to hotels across the United States, aiming to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve guest experiences in the hospitality industry.    

In this podcast we speak to Aoife McArdle, an Innovation & Disruption Expert. Aoife was an early leader in the most disruptive industries the world has seen in the last 20 years. She was a key initiator and driver of rapid growth at Airbnb (travel and hospitality), Skype (telecommunications) and Apple (music, e-commerce).  Aoife shares her personal stories as a host on Airbnb before she began working there and how the company's mission and values won her over. It's hard to think of a more quintessential story in disruption than Airbnb — the global platform that changed the way we think about staying in other people's homes, which disrupted an incumbent industry. It pivoted and thrived during the pandemic and floated 3 years ago with a market cap of over $80bn.  At Airbnb, Aoife pioneered and expanded regulations for home sharing and spearheaded cross-functional efforts that resulted in the implementation of some of the first ever home-sharing laws in the world. She shares some remarkable anecdotes with our listeners and describes some unforeseen experiences in meetings she had with city officials who were concerned with how Airbnb would change the local tourism scene.  After 4 years as General Counsel EMEA, Aoife became a founding leader of Airbnb's Experiences business, leading Business Affairs, Social Impact and Diversity & Inclusion. She also initiated, led and closed Airbnb's largest global partnership, a 10-year landmark deal with the International Olympic Committee, which will drive economic empowerment opportunities for millions of hosts, athletes and local communities during the next 4 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  She is an expert at navigating complex policy and risk for disruptive companies that are expanding globally and will share her take on what companies need to consider when they have to make difficult trade-offs between scale and risk. Aoife previously worked as European Legal Counsel at Apple and as Global Head of Commercial & Regulatory Affairs at Skype. During her time at Apple and at Skype, Aoife also saw huge growth and scale in her role including the launch of the iPod and the first partnership that enabled Skype on mobile.  Aoife is an Advisor and Board Member in the USA and Europe, as well as an angel investor. She coaches entrepreneurs and founders, prioritizing female and minority founded companies. 

In this podcast, Nicola Gryczka informs our listeners about equitable and sustainable food systems in the hospitality industry and how she became, in her words, “a change-maker, dreamer and social entrepreneur”. As co-founder and leader of the Social Gastronomy Movement (SGM), Nicola connects communities globally to drive equitable and sustainable food systems. Her background includes pioneering solutions to combat food waste, advancing educational content for underserved communities, and consulting in the social enterprise space.  The Social Gastronomy Movement cultivates connections, collaborations and partnerships that strengthen our individual and collective capacity to co-create an equitable future, inclusive society and healthy planet. SGM advocates for positive changes in local food systems so that together we move towards global progress creating a new ecosystem for change.With experience at the World Economic Forum, TIME Magazine, and Gastromotiva, Nicola brings a unique multi-stakeholder approach to her work. With a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, and an Entrepreneurship specialization from the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, a Masters in International Negotiation and Policy Making from the Graduate Institute, and an MBA with a specialization on social enterprises, her passion lies at the cross road of grass root activism and policy making, especially in fields of food, agriculture and education. Since 2016 she has started to work with innovative solutions to stop the vicious circle of food waste, such as a food surplus product line, online educational content for underprivileged communities and tech solutions to scale impact globally, involving the powerful convening power of chefs. Most of her career was in the development world, continuously focusing on solutions through a multi-stakeholder approach. She started her career at the World Economic Forum, working with Strategic Partnerships and later within the Latin American Centre for Regional Strategies, and has since worked for TIME Magazine, as the CEO of Brazilian social enterprise Gastromotiva  during the internationalization and expansion, as well acted as a consultant in a variety of areas. She sits on the board of social organizations such as Catalyst2030 in Holland and Mater Foundation in Switzerland, while actively coaching and supporting young women and social entrepreneurs around the world. Most recently she is also an entrepreneur in residence for the prestigious the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne / EHL Group.Nicola has become a motivational speaker and consultant at renowned organizations and events such as IADB, FAO Latam, WFP, WEF and SxSW among others.

With over 40 years-experience as a luxury hotel concierge, Robert Watson shares his career path and choices along with some unforgettable experiences with our listeners.  Starting as a page boy at the InterContinental Hotel in London, Robert has also worked at some of London's famous hotels such as  Mayfair Hotel, the Park Hyatt Carlton Tower and the Grosvenor. In this podcast, Robert describes what a concierge does, why this position is still important for prestigious hotels and for their role in satisfying demanding client requests.  Robert explains the importance of having a strong network that can be relied upon when a request is particularly challenging. Robert also gives our listeners an inside look into the International Clefs D'Or, (translated as The Golden Keys), a professional association of hotel concierges, with approximately 4000 members working in over 80 countries and 530 destinations, in literally every corner of the world.  In 2009, Robert became the President of this prestigious organization and he has served this organization in other positions such as the Treasurer and Delegate for Great Britain. With roots dating back to 1929, Les Clefs d'Or was officially founded in France in 1952 as a not-for-profit organisation based on two pillars: Service and Friendship. Before earning the right to wear the golden keys, those who aspire to become a member must have several years of experience as a hotel concierge, pass comprehensive testing and prove, beyond doubt, their ability to deliver highest quality of service. Joining the Willard InterContinental Washington in February of 2006, Chef Concierge Robert Watson brings to the DC landmark hotel over 48 years of Concierge service experience accrued from working in properties all over the world.  Prior to this, Robert has held Chef Concierge positions at the Grosvenor House Hotel, the Park Hyatt Carlton Tower, and the MayFair InterContinental Hotel in London England.  He has also held this prestigious position at the Hotel InterContinental in Luxembourg, the Cape Sun InterContinental Hotel in Cape Town, the InterContinental Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg both in South Africa where he aided in the hotel's opening.  His duties during this time included creating hotel policy and procedure as well as the development of their training manual for all concierges, porters, doormen and drivers.  In 2009, Robert became International President of Les Clefs d'Or.  Robert has also held the positions of International Delegate for the Golden Keys of Great Britain and Treasurer of the Golden Keys of Great Britain in addition to being a member for over 40 years.  He is currently an active member of the Les Clefs d'Or, USA. Fluent in four languages, including Spanish, French and Italian, Robert's international perspective began during his childhood where he was raised in both Uruguay and Costa Rica, and attended a French school before settling back in the United Kingdom to begin his illustrious career.  Now based in Washington DC with his wife Paula and son Brooks, Robert Watson offers each guest an in-depth knowledge of Washington DC with a professional and pleasant demeanor.  

In this podcast, we interview Estelle Vassallo, who is the General Manager of the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel in Italy.  Estelle answers our questions about crisis management in the hospitality field and about what it takes to become a GM.   We ask Estelle to describe what it is like to manage a hotel in an iconic location like the Amalfi Coast and she explains what kind of clients the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel attracts.  We also discuss the selection and hiring process for a luxury hotel GM, gender equality in the Hospitality Industry and the increasing number of women who are filling GM positions. We also discuss the importance of having a cool and calm demeanor in the face of crises such as terrorist attacks, union strikes or political instability and Estelle explains how she goes about managing these very difficult situations.   Estelle Vassallo is a passionate hospitality leader with extensive background in all hotel areas, both on-property as well as regional. Being half-German, half-French, married to an Italian and having lived in 7 European countries, she considers herself a proud and multi-lingual European. She loves every aspect of the hotel life, especially team motivation and engagement, as well as delivering quality service to her guests, always keeping innovation and change as a priority.  Estelle is very organized and has a strong orientation for results, with a lot of budgeting, forecasting and cost adjustment experience. Crisis management is one of her specialties, having had unfortunately to deal with many crises throughout her career, including various terrorist attacks, difficult union situations and strikes, and political instability.  In 2010, Estelle was the winner of Hospitality Career Award and she speaks five languages.    

Claude Achaume has been working as the private rooms manager for the exclusive 5 Hertford Street Private Club in London for several years and in this podcast, he shares his experiences and some interesting anecdotes that have made headlines!  Claude describes how his years at the iconic Connaught Hotel in London shaped his sense of hospitality and taught him the importance of discretion and tactfulness.   While working at the Connaught, Claude met actors, royalty, celebrities and politicians and he describes some of his most memorable moments.  He tells our listeners why the Connaught was unique and highly appreciated by its guests.   After the Connaught, Claude moved on to the London Ritz where he continued his Food and Beverage career there until 1991.  It was Mr. Julian Payne, the former manager at the London Ritz and a much-appreciated mentor, who introduced Claude to the London private club scene and gave him the opportunity to start working for them. Claude shares his hospitality acumen, his values and why he hasn't considered retirement as of yet.  As a Frenchman living in England for many years, Claude tells us why he appreciates London and why he decided to come back from France after working eight years at the Château de la Pioline in Aix en Provence.  Claude also tells us why it's no longer easy to find experienced and dedicated staff and how he has seen the hospitality field struggle, change and evolve. We also ask Claude to share his ideas on how the private club niche is just one of the many places young people can aspire to work and what skills are needed for this kind of employment. Finally, Claude talks about how 5 Hertford Street Private Club welcomed guests as part of the Coronation of Charles celebration in May of this year.  Understanding royal protocol is just one of the many reasons  why Claude is a very popular, admired and treasured hospitality expert.    

Claire Dupleix is a Hospitality and Hotel Reception Ambassador in France and a MOF (Mellieur Ouvrier de France / Best Craftsman of France).   She was the first to receive this prestigious honour for Hotel Receptionist in 2015.  In this podcast, Claire describes her passion and enthusiasm for the hospitality industry and elaborates on her educational and career paths. In this podcast, we learn more about what it takes to be a MOF and how this competition is run. The title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France is a unique and prestigious award in France, according to different categories of trades in a contest among professionals. This competition is organized and recognized as a third-level degree by the French Ministry of Labour. The President of the French Republic is granted honorary membership with the title MOF honoris causa. The awarding of medals occurs at the Sorbonne, in Paris, during a large reunion followed by a ceremony at the Élysée in the presence of the President of the French Republic. Claire goes on to explain that this award for special abilities is unique in the world. Created in 1924, this competition celebrated its 100-year anniversary this year in Lyon. Claire describes this historical event and why this competition continues to inspire young people. With the diversity of specialities, the list of which is regularly updated, the MOF award currently has also been awarded to more modern trades and high technology fields. Claire also describes the different competitions she has participated in including AICR and how she has gone from being a competitor to a judge and teacher. She explains her involvement in the AICR competitions and why she believes these events are relevant and important to promote Front Desk and Receptionist careers. Finally, Claire talks to our listeners about balancing her career and personal life and she shares some insights into what it takes to have a successful career in hospitality.

In this podcast, Cathleen Cain, explains why many hospitality businesses are not accessible for people with limited mobility and what they can do to improve this.  In her opinion, some simple, inexpensive changes can make a world of difference. Cathleen has travelled around the world and in this podcast, she describes the particular challenges she has had to face as a paraplegic in a wheelchair.    As a California native living in Switzerland, Cathleen went from an accessibility friendly environment in the USA to limited accessibility in Europe.  She also explains that accessibility isn't just about physical improvements, but attitudes towards people with limited mobility.  Although she has seen some major improvements, Cathleen thinks that many places need to be more pro-active and sensitive to limited mobility issues. Cathleen Cain has a Master's in Mental Health and is a certified Somatic Experiencing therapist.  After 18 years as a licensed psychotherapist in the US, Cathleen Cain moved to Switzerland in 2006. The driving force in her work is to help others find or re-find ease and comfort in their being.  Her own journey of healing after a traumatic accident 40 years ago had her searching for a therapist who had both psychological and body work skills.  As these professionals are difficult to find, studying both somatic and cognitive approaches to help others re-establish their equilibrium has been her focus. She works in English and French. With 30 years of experience in mental health as a body-oriented therapist, Cathleen enjoys creating a safe environment for explorations that lead to personal solutions. The approach she has developed taps into her clients' existing resources. Her professional training includes Somatic Experiencing, Soma Embodiment, EMDR, Solution Focused and Milne Cranio-Sacral training. Her personal interests are dance, sports, meditation, nature experiences as well as reading, bee keeping and family.   

Podcast Description: In this podcast, Chris Horn who is currently the General Manager at Gold Key Media, discusses his career path and answers our questions about the synergies between the Media and Hospitality.  Gold Key Media has a hard earned and formidable reputation for quality and credibility in the industry for providing a reliable, competitive service and consequently represent all of the world's leading hospitality brands with the world's most respected and trusted publications.  In addition to supplying some of the finest hotels in the world, the company now also supplies airlines, private jets, superyachts, private medical, Corporate HQ's, UK Armed Forces, Embassies, Private Clubs etc. We ask Chris pertinent questions about how and why he created Gold Key Media and what are its vision, values and objectives. Chris also discusses the decline of media advertising and how this is affecting current media outlets. He shares his impressions and predictions of how media outlets will continue to evolve and change. Finally, Chris discusses his involvement with AICR and his personal ties to the hospitality industry and why young people should embrace careers in this ever-changing, ever-growing field. Chris Horn began his career in the media industry back in 1991 when he joined America's largest newspaper, USA Today as Circulation Manager for Europe, before going on to become Circulation Director Asia Pacific, based in Hong Kong.He returned to the UK in 1996 to become Managing Director of Johnsons Inflight News, responsible for the distribution of international media to the world's leading airlines, including global brands such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific and others.  Chris set up Gold Key Media in 2020. Using the same “one stop shop” media distribution solution he'd successfully provided to the airline industry, Chris's vision was to create a similar business model for the hotel industry. In his previous role at USA Today, Chris had established strong links with many of the world's finest hotel concierges and had become an associate member of the prestigious and globally renowned Les Clefs d'Or, otherwise known as The Golden Keys Association. In his desire to forge a new working relationship with his new company, Chris asked the Golden Keys Association if he could call his new company Gold Key Media in recognition of the key role these individuals would play in the success of the new business. Since those early days, Gold Key Media has thrived and evolved into becoming the world's largest provider of media to the hotel industry. Supplying over 4,000 hotels globally with print and digital media solutions for their guests. Chris's first publishing client was world renowned National Geographic magazine, and his first hotel clients were Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Cliveden Hotel and The Waterside Inn. They all remain as clients today, 24 years later. A testament to the quality of service provided. Gold Key Media is proudly associated with organisations such as The Master Inn Holders, The AICR Association, Institute of Hospitality and Chris is also a proud Ambassador for the industry charity, Hospitality Action. 

Francesco Bonotto has been the manager of the legendary Venice-Simplon Orient Express for over five years.  In his own words: “I am the Hotel Manager of a 5 star hotel moving on rail tracks across 5 different countries with an international luxurious clientele looking for a lifetime experience. A very wide knowledge and a multitasking mind set are necessary tools to cover such a role. Additionally, the variables involved in the operations are many and most of the time, unforeseen.”  Francesco discusses the importance of making sure the guests have a unique, unforgettable and once in a lifetime experience.  In this podcast he shares some memorable moments and the particular challenges he has had to face. We also discuss the literary and cinematic legacy of this mythical train and what guests are looking for when they board.   Francesco describes his professional path and what led him to this remarkable hospitality position.  Several years working in China allowed Francesco to gain invaluable experience and knowledge of another culture and in this podcast, he talks about his time spent there. Francesco Bonotto in an experienced Operations Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the food & beverage industry. He is skilled in catering, the hospitality industry, multi-unit management and restaurants. He has strong business development experience and a Bachelor's degree focused on Business Administration in Hospitality from GLION institute for Higher Education in Switzerland. 

Romain Faure is the founder of itsRomainFaure, an up-and-coming YouTube channel focused on personal finance in the United States. Originally from France he has spent the last decade in the US, honing his expertise in personal finance through experience with some of the largest US corporations.  In this podcast we ask Romain to describe his career path from obtaining a degree in Hospitality Management and Finance at a prestigious Swiss Hotel Management school to his current You Tube success.  Romain also explains how his background in hospitality has shaped his career and explains what motivated him to pursue a path in Finance. itsRomainFaure's  programming is available across all social media including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, as well as most importantly YouTube. Romain seeks to provide insightful financial guidance through a video podcast format called 'Finance Action'.  Through these segments, Romain delves into the finances of individuals with unique backgrounds, some with high net worth, and others with substantial debt, assessing their financial situation and providing tailored recommendations for their financial goals.  Dynamic, highly motivated, and results-driven, Romain has worked in Finance at Amazon, with a proven track record in leading business strategy and financial analytics. With over eight years in Finance and Strategy, he specialises in data analysis, forecasting, and business modeling, coupled with robust skills in business development and negotiation. An ivy-league MBA in Finance complements his expertise in driving financial plans and enhancing acquisition efforts. Committed to innovation and customer-focused strategies, Romain excels in cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment with a company's vision and mission, and impacting digital consumer behaviors.         

In this podcast, chocolatier Aditi Malhotra Ahooja shares her unique path from her childhood in New York City, to a Swiss hospitality school and onto becoming a successful entrepreneur.  Aditi talks about her family's love and support, learning to become a pastry chef, some inevitable bumps along the way and her passion for chocolate.  She describes how her labor of love, Tache Chocolates, came into being. Tache Chocolate was founded by pastry chef Aditi Malhotra Ahooja. Her delicious and unique chocolates draw inspiration from her travels around the world and her Indian background. Each bite sized treat tells a story and captivates the senses! Aditi describes them as a “Journey of the Senses”She is a graduate of The Glion Hotel School in Switzerland and The French Culinary Institute. Aditi first started her career working under acclaimed pastry chef Pichet Ong and then went on to work as a Japanese chef at Morimoto. Aditi had an opportunity to learn from a chocolatier in Paris before opening her own storefront in NYC. Since opening Tache in 2012, Aditi and her chocolates have taken the confectionary world by storm.  She was the winner of Zagat's 30 Under 30 Award and selected as one of Forbes 30 under 30 game changers in Food & Wine.  She competed twice as Forbes best young chef in America as the only dessert chef invited. All of Tache's creations are handcrafted in her mini Willy Wonkaesque factory and are handmade from the finest ingredients in the world. Tache is also famous for its chocolate-making classes, which have gained the attention from the New York Times and Time Out Kids.  Her chocolates have been featured in The New York Times, Time Out, TV Asia, The Huffington Post, The Village Voice, Business Insider, Food and Wine, InStyle Magazine, Gotham Magazine and an HSBC commercial.Tache's name comes from the French word “tache” which means spot or smudge. When it comes to Aditi, she always has a “tache” of chocolate smeared all over her chef's coat. There was no other option then to name it after the evidence of a whimsical chocolatier!

In this episode, Andrra Berisha describes how she has dynamically created an envious hospitality management path for herself after her hospitality studies in Switzerland. As the Business Development Manager at Lighthouse, the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry, Andrra uses her hospitality acumen to drive revenue growth and foster long-term client partnerships. We ask Andrra to describe her hospitality education and how it has helped her to succeed in the hospitality sector and she gives our listeners some insights on how to creatively and dynamically approach a successful management career.  Working in the luxury hotel sector gave Andrra the skills she needed to engage with demanding clients and to understand the importance of having a service-based approach to business.   In addition, Andrra understood early in her career the importance of technology and how to use it optimally. She also explains how she moved from a traditional hospitality role into a more technology-based position and the challenges she faced during this time. Finally, Andrra gives us her opinion of AI and how this new technology can improve the customer experience while underpinning her solid conviction that the human touch will always be appreciated and needed.With a proven track record in academia and business development, Andrra is a dynamic force in the field. As the Business Development Manager at Lighthouse, Andrra drives growth by forging strategic partnerships and securing enterprise-level contracts. Based in Pristina, Kosovo, Andrra excels in remote environments, leveraging strong relationships with C-level executives to expand market reach and drive sales. Previously, Andrra served as a Business & Sales Consultant for Everguest, where they pioneered entry market strategies and elevated client portfolios through innovative approaches to online reputation management. Prior to this, Andrra demonstrated exceptional leadership as the Front Office & Revenue Manager at Four Points by Sheraton, optimizing guest experiences and increasing satisfaction scores through Design Thinking methodologies. With a background spanning pre-opening project management, client experience design, and sales, Andrra brings a wealth of expertise to every endeavor. From internships at neuvoo to roles at renowned hospitality establishments like Perry Lane Hotel and Penha Longa Resort, Andrra has consistently delivered outstanding results, earning accolades for her dedication and innovation. In summary, Andrra is a strategic thinker, a dynamic leader, and a results-driven professional who continues to illuminate pathways to success in the ever-evolving landscape of business.  

In this podcast, Philippe Rey-Westlund and Byron Rey-Westlund talk about their labor of love and fine dining with the creation of Underground Dining at Naglee Park in the Silicon Valley.  We learn about how this idea was born, how it blossomed into a full-time job for its creative chef Byron and how Philippe's family history of running a hotel and restaurant in Crans-Montana, Switzerland helped him to become the welcoming host for an eclectic clientele. Both Byron and Philippe talk about their travel and dining experiences and how cuisine from different places influenced Byron's culinary explorations and dishes.  With humour and a touch of irreverence, they describe some of their underground dining events, give advice to people who may be interested in creating an Underground Dining venue and their favourite places to go for Underground Dining. Byron Westlund Jr. grew up in Cupertino, California surrounded by fruits orchards. Cupertino, before becoming the Apple Corp. headquarters was a small village one hour south of San Francisco populated mostly by Italian and Mexican immigrants. There he was introduced early to the delicious tasty layers of ancestral Mexican cuisine.  After college, Byron worked in technology and with the responsibilities of holding leadership positions, he was afforded the opportunity to travel the world for business. As an adventurous and curious person, Byron would explore the food scene everywhere he landed. With offices and staff he would visit, on an almost monthly basis, Grenoble, Lyon, Geneva, Mexico City, Tokyo and Singapore.  Byron would go out of his way to sample all local tastes and traditional dishes.  Upon his return home to Silicon Valley, he would spend hours recreating the flavors and structures of the dishes he so loved while out in the world. Underground Dining at Naglee Park was inevitable and for ten years, became Byron's retirement-from-technology job, but way more fun and creative. Byron always loves nothing more than welcoming friends and family to his table to share with them his passion and love for good, heart-warming, soul-lifting food and good times.  Dr. Philippe Rey is the Executive Director of ACS in the Silicon Valley, California.  He first joined Adolescent Counseling Services in 1998 as Caravan House Program Director. After three years at Caravan, he became a member of the executive team as Associate Director and has now been the agency's Executive Director since 2004.  Philippe was born and raised in the French-speaking region of Switzerland and came to the United States in 1984 to attend the University of California at San Diego. In 1997, his doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in child and family therapy was conferred by Alliant International University in San Diego. Before pursuing graduate studies and a career in psychology, Philippe graduated from business school in Sion, Switzerland.  With his husband Byron, Philippe operated an "Underground Dining" establishment which served as a cultivation & fundraising vehicle for ACS since 2011.

In this podcast, Philippe Clarinval discusses the role of the Hotel GM and what makes this role appealing and challenging.  He also shares his passion for life-long learning and why continuing educational pursuits are important in our ever-changing world. Philippe's role as General Manager of the Carlton Hotel in St.-Moritz Switzerland and the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel allowed him realise the importance of transformational leadership.  In this episode, Philippe delves into what transformational leadership looks like and how the hospitality sector must encourage and support service excellence by inspiring and cultivating their employee experiences. We also ask Philippe to share his rich educational and career path and to comment on the current lack of qualified hospitality staff.   Philippe explains why hospitality education must continue to adapt if they want to inspire and prepare a new generation of hospitality employees. Finally, Philippe shares his thoughts on what makes a great GM and encourages young hoteliers to continue learning and pursue their dreams. Philippe Clarinval started his career in the United States and Asia with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. He is a luminary in the international luxury hospitality industry. He is renowned for his roles as the Managing Director of The Omnia Mountain Lodge, General Manager of the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz, and, most recently, the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel. His transformational leadership is characterised by a steadfast commitment to service excellence, uncompromising engagement, inspiration, and the cultivation of a refined employee experience, making his hotels bastions of luxury. A solid academic foundation, with degrees from Ivy League Universities and Management Schools such as the Glion Institute of Higher Education, underpins Clarinval's journey in hospitality. His commitment to excellence has garnered industry accolades and recognition, affirming his status as a thought leader in hospitality. Beyond his professional endeavours, he contributes to the academic sphere, offering insights into leadership, service quality, and management. As such, he is the Vice Chairman of the Hoteliers Guild Academy of Hospitality Arts, a member and author of the Forbes Business Council and a former Board Member of Swiss Deluxe Hotels. His influence extends across other industries, inspiring professionals on executive boards and students alike.  

In this podcast, Mohammed Marghalani, currently the Saudi Chief of Franchised Assets Operations for PIF Hospitality Projects, talks to us about the enormous changes that have occurred over the past five years in the Saudi hospitality field.  With over 18 years in the hospitality field and an MBA from the Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne, Mohammed also discusses Swiss Hospitality education and how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is bringing best educational practices to hospitality schools there. Mohammed also shares his passion for hospitality and describes how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is moving quickly to meet the hospitality and tourism demands that the country is facing.  The Vision 2030 project is focusing on opening up new destinations for tourists and creating unforgettable experiences for them.   Finally, Mohammed discusses the efforts the Kingdom has made to be more open and to project a more modern image of their country. He also discusses the work opportunities for women in Saudi hospitality and what is being done to promote their employment. Mr. Mohammed Marghalani is currently the Saudi Chief of Franchised Assets Operation at one of the PIF hospitality projects. He has more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He was the former Cluster General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh and Jeddah where he managed and oversaw the overall operations and strategic direction of the five-star property that consists of 493 rooms and suites, including its nine dining outlets.  Mohammed joined The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh as a member of the pre-opening guidance team in 2011 in the role of Assistant Director of Finance. Prior to this, he had a progressive and successful career with other well-known luxury brands. In January 2020 Mr. Marghalani became the General Manager for the iconic property and drove it successfully through the Covid -19 crisis and the return to its normal phases while achieving impressive results financially and qualitatively.  He was recently awarded the best General Manager in Ritz-Carlton globally for 2023.  Marghalani began his educational career by acquiring a bachelor's degree in hospitality and tourism management in 2006 from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. After that, Mohammed went on to advance his knowledge in the field by obtaining his MBA with a concentration in hospitality management from the Ecole Hotelier de Lausanne in Switzerland. He was also enrolled with the Marriot Ascent Leadership Program at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in the United States to thrive and grow his leadership skills.  Marghalani has several leadership qualifications, as he is a member of the Saudi Council of Leaders,  and he has been one of the participants in the first version of the Leaders 2030 Program for the MiSK  Foundation. This program has over 1000 leaders who contribute to achieving the goals and strategies of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Rebecca Li is a force to be reckoned with and some of the many hats she wears include entrepreneur, hospitality expert, investment banker and educator.  Rebecca was born into a Chinese hotelier family and left China in 2003 to pursue her studies in England and China.  In 2011 she became an investment banker and returned to China in 2014.  In this podcast, Rebecca shares her educational and career path choices and how she juggles her career with having two young children. Rebecca also describes her family's hotel business and how it has evolved over the years.  As an entrepreneur, Rebecca is constantly looking for ways to grow and improve her family's businesses and she recently visited Switzerland to discover Swiss hospitality and Swiss hospitality education.  After commenting on her impressions of Switzerland, she describes the hospitality sector in China and how China is meeting the ever-growing hospitality needs through education, technology and innovation. Finally, Rebecca discusses some of the challenges that the Chinese hospitality market is currently facing and conveys the need for more hospitality education and training. She addresses the ever-changing travel and hospitality market and how hoteliers can better meet these challenges. Rebecca Li is a seasoned hotelier with a rich background in the hospitality industry, stemming from her family's heritage business. She grew up in Beijing and was immersed in the hospitality sector through her family's 140-key Palace Hotel in Lijiang, China.  Under her leadership, the Maple Palace Hotel Group has expanded to own and operate 16 properties across Yunnan, Hainan, and Thailand, encompassing various types of accommodations, including business hotels, resort hotels, and boutique hotels. Rebecca pursued her education abroad, studying in the UK and Canada. She began her professional career as an investment banker in Toronto before returning to Asia to contribute to her family's business. To further enhance her expertise in hospitality management, she obtained a master's certificate from Cornell University. As the Chief Director of Corporate Development for Maple Palace Hotel Group, Rebecca is dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the hospitality industry. She co-founded InnCube, a co-working space in Beijing, and Les Petite Ecuries, a French fusion restaurant in Yunnan, while also expanding operations to Thailand. In addition to her role in hospitality, Rebecca serves as the Executive Director of the Yunnan Association for International Science and Technology Cooperation. In this capacity, she supports regional development initiatives in her hometown and has established an international innovation and entrepreneurship platform (YiiEC) with a presence in countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, France, Canada, and the US. Driven by a passion for hospitality and a commitment to innovation, Rebecca Li continues to build upon her family legacy while exploring new opportunities for growth and collaboration in the industry.

In this episode, we talk to Yannick Bouyidou, whose hospitality career with Ritz-Carlton led him to work on four different continents in different leadership positions.  Currently, Yannick wears several hospitality hats including entrepreneur, mentor, guest speaker, philanthropist and educator.  Yannick has a 360 -degree vision of the current hospitality trends and business stakes and understands how business, performance, excellence in customer service, technology, and innovation can go hand in hand with philanthropy and giving back to society. Yannick also discusses how to interest and motivate young people to join the ever-changing hospitality environment and best practices when it comes to training and retaining young talents.  Yannick has an contagious passion for hospitality training and education while recognizing the importance of matching knowledgeable and dedicated hospitality educators with young minds. Yannick Bouyidou, MBA, is a driven, multi-lingual hospitality professional turned entrepreneur who holds a bachelor's in Hospitality Management and an MBA in Business Transformation & Entrepreneurship. Yannick worked for over a decade for the luxury hotel chain The Ritz-Carlton, holding various leadership positions on 4 continents tasked with improving customer experience, employee engagement, and ultimately financial performance. Today, Yannick decided to reinvent himself with a vision of giving back by sharing his passion and expertise in customer success strategies and entrepreneurship with recipients such as industry experts, startup founders, and students around the world.  Yannick co-founded two companies and is actively involved in the Swiss start-up ecosystem, working as a judge & mentor for MassChallenge Switzerland, leader in helping startups across Europe grow their businesses by accelerating nearly 400 startups across multiple industries (+CHF 196M in funding).  Today, Yannick's mission is to create an ecosystem of products and services that allows individuals and companies to achieve their personal goals by collaborating and sharing a meaningful journey together.     

In this podcast, Olivier Bracard, the co-founder and CEO of the highly successful hospitality recruitment platform Hosco, describes how this platform was born and why it is the go-to website for people looking for job offers in the hospitality field.  As an EHL graduate, Olivier describes his time at the famous Swiss Hospitality School and how his international networking skills began there. He also gives insights on Hospitality Education in Switzerland and apprises us on the current educational trends.  In addition, Olivier discusses the fallout from the COVID pandemic, how the hospitality industry was strongly hit, and why it has become more challenging to find qualified talent in an ever-growing competitive field.  Obviously, Hosco has had to navigate these challenges, and Olivier explains how the recruitment process has evolved over the past few years.  Finally, Olivier describes the current hospitality recruitment trends and how he sees the field's future changing and evolving. In his opinion, it is still a great industry that allows young people to travel to widen their horizons and to be part of an industry that allows for rapid development and career growth.  Olivier Bracard co-founded Hosco in 2011 with Carl Julien, whom he met at the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). After graduating in 2007, Olivier joined Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels (JLLH) in Spain, overseeing hotel financial valuations, feasibility studies, and management negotiations for nearly four years.  During his time with JLLH, Olivier was asked to help recruit junior talents from several hotel management schools. After realizing how time-consuming the process was, he imagined a central meeting point for top talent and recruiters in the industry: Hosco was born.  

Tim Oberli is currently the Front Desk Manager at the world famous Bürgenstock Resort near Lucerne, Switzerland. He is also the current World Skills Vice Champion of Hotel Reception.  In this podcast, Tim describes first becoming the Swiss Skills champion and subsequently his participation in the World Skills competition last year in October in Montreux, Switzerland.   Tim describes his experience in Montreux and the lasting impressions he has from participating in this important event.  He recognises the importance of his support team and family during a increasingly demanding preparation for this three-day event. He also talks about the mental and physical challenges of competition and how he learned how to overcome moments of doubt and stress.   Finally, Tim talks about the support he received from his team at the Bürgenstock and how his employment at the reception desk was a vital part of his competition performance.  He also shares his impressions of meeting competitors from around the world and the lasting friendships that he developed with the other contestants. 

In this podcast, Robert Recupero shares his extraordinary career path with our listeners and explains how this path led to the creation of Moomenti, a high-end marketplace for booking luxury hotel experiences.  This entrepreneurial adventure was Robert's answer to making hospitality luxury easier to navigate and enjoy. Early in his career, Robert worked at Swissport, which enabled him to learn essential service and leadership skills that have helped him throughout his career and triggered his passion for travel and hospitality.  His move to Thomson Reuters, the multinational information corporation, as the Senior Vice-President of Sales and Services allowed him to hone his leadership skills and he brought these skills to JP Morgan Private Banking.  In 2021, Robert started his own company, Moomenti and he explains his reasons and motivation for moving into the Luxury Hotel Experiences sector. Robert also describes how the hospitality sector is an ever-changing landscape that is creating new avenues and why technology is at the forefront of this movement.  Robert's broad experience allows him to evaluate and understand what travelers and guests are looking for and how to meet their growing expectations. Finally, Robert explains his bold decision to become an entrepreneur and what he has learned so far. Robert Recupero is an expert in organizational design, technology metrics, and user experience/customer experience (UX/CX). With an impressive career spanning senior leadership roles in banking, finance, and technology, Robert brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to his current endeavors.  As a former Managing Director at JP Morgan Private Bank and Senior Vice President at Thomson Reuters, Robert has demonstrated exceptional leadership in banking technology operations and high-end client service. His strategic vision and expertise have driven significant advancements in these areas, making him a respected figure in the industry.  Following his tenure in banking and finance, Robert transitioned to a successful career as a Senior Independent Consultant. In this role, he advised numerous organizations on organizational design, IT leadership, and governance, helping them navigate complex challenges and achieve their strategic objectives.  Currently, Robert is the founder and CEO of Moomenti, a high-end marketplace for booking luxury hotel experiences. Launched in Switzerland, Moomenti is now expanding to Asia, Latin America, and the United States, reflecting Robert's innovative approach and global vision.  Don't hesitate to reach out to him should you want to know more about Moomenti.  Robert holds a Finance degree from the University of Geneva in Switzerland. His academic background, combined with his extensive professional experience, positions him as a thought leader in the fields of finance, hospitality and technology. 

This podcast was by far one of our most popular and features Tom Su, a former hotelier who has found a unique way of combining music with hospitality.  After working several years in the hospitality industry in Taipei, Tom chose a different path in telecommunications.  But his love for music and his desire to share this passion has finally led him to bringing musical joy to hospitals and senior care facilities.  Listen to this episode to learn how he combines music, hospitality, communications, counselling and volunteering in his life. Tom Su is a musician, a hotelier, a telecommunication manager, a life counsellor and a volunteer. He was born in Taiwan and has a fine arts bachelor degree in violin. He also graduated from GlionHotel School in 1996. He later became the director of sales and marketing at The Ritz Taipei at the ageof 30. In 2003, he emigrated to Canada where he earned an MBA at the University of Victoria, specializing in Service Management. During the pandemic, he recognized the mental health crisis, so he went back to school and got his certifications in Life Coach and Life Counseling. Currently Tom is working at Telus, a telecommunications company in Canada. Since 2006, he has also been playing the violin with the West Coast Symphony. Most importantly, he is an active volunteer in senior care facilities, hospitals and his community.  Recently, Tom was awarded as a Local Hero from the mayor of Burnaby in June 2023, to recognize his contribution to the community and an article about his volunteer work was featured in Pancouver, a local Vancouver publication.(https://pancouver.ca/violinist-tom-su-spreads-joy-and-builds-empathy-by-taking-his-music-to-the-people/). 

In this podcast, Razvan Pirjol, CEO of Turism Felix and the owner of Leading Choice, a global hospitality counselling company in Romania, answers our questions about the hospitality and tourism industry in Romania and gives his insights on current hospitality education and training opportunities.  A Glion Hospitality graduate, Razvan ended up spending several years in Switzerland and he talks to us about this unique experience, how it influenced his career choices and why he still has a strong connection to the Montreux region.   Romania is home to historically rich architecture, jaw-dropping landscapes, and gorgeous cities. It's less expensive than most European travel destinations, less crowded and it is considered one of the safest countries in Europe.  In 2019, over 13 million tourists visited Romania.  Razvan describes the growing appeal of Romania as a Central European destination and how the government and tourism boards should welcome and improve their hospitality and tourism offerings. As the former Secretary of State for Tourism, Foreign Trade & Investment, Razvan has an insider's view of the challenges that Romania faces and gives our listeners his ideas on what direction Romania is headed.   Razvan also answers our questions about why Romania has become an appealing destination for many university students and how its renowned and exceptional academic standards have made it specifically attractive with regards to its Faculty of Medicine.   Finally, Razvan gives us his suggestions for improving hospitality education and training in Romania and how he believes synergies can be created to meet the current hospitality and tourism challenge. Razvan Pirjol is the current CEO of Turism Felix and Owner of Leading Choice - Global Hospitality Counsellors in Romania.  Razvan studied International Hospitality and Tourism Management at Glion Institute of Education in Switzerland and he has 30+ years of hands-on experience in international hospitality management with a focus on operations, education, training and quality management at both the corporate and entrepreneurial levels.  In addition, Razvan was the former Secretary of State for Tourism, Foreign Trade & InvestRomania at the Ministry of Economy, Romania.

In this podcast, Marina Franolic talks about hospitality in Croatia, a popular Mediterranean destination with rave reviews.  Marina explains why Croatia has become a favourite tourist destination and why so many tourists return there for their holidays. Marina also discusses her work at The Bench, a global investment event organization and hospitality trends and innovations such as long-term stay that are focused on travellers that would like to be more comfortable in their accommodation, or are staying for a week, a month or more in the city.  Marina also speaks about lifestyle hotels that are particularly attractive to younger travellers who want to experience the local atmosphere even within the hotel. Lifestyle brands bring the community inside by creating different rooms and social spaces and also serving the local clientele. Finally, Marina talks about the future of hospitality and the importance of sustainability and gender equality and what the industry needs to do to improve on these vital topics.Marina Franolic is the Managing Director at The Bench, a global hospitality investment event organiser. Marina joined in 2019 when her Adria Hotel Forum – now IDEEA Hospitality Investment Forum, was acquired by The Bench. Marina began her hospitality career at the Glion Institute of Higher and the Hotel Savoy, Rocco Forte group, in Florence. After several years outside of the hospitality industry, in 2012, she established her company with the goal of bringing global trends to the regional industry. In 2013, Adria Hotel Forum was launched with the idea of showcasing world trends, sparking the creation of new ideas and partnerships and overall development of the hotel industry. Within years, AHF was confirmed to be the only internationally recognized hotel investment conference within South-Eastern Europe whose partners were global companies. The company then started another unique event with the goal of bringing trends into everyday hotel operations – HOW /Hotel Operations Weekend/ Festival that gathers every year more than 500 participants. In 2018, the company was rebranded as HESA Group and served as the connoisseur of the regional market and opportunities. In addition, Marina serves as the Industry Advisory Board Member at Glion Institute of Higher Education and holds both Croatian and Italian citizenship.

In this podcast, Lama Jammal Houssami describes her educational and career path and why she was inspired to create a cooking school, Mamalu Kitchen, in Dubai.  Mamalu Kitchen was inspired by her 3 boys and the need to help fellow mums and families simplify their day-to-day lives without having to worry about feeding their family fuss-free healthy food.  The first concept launched under the Mamalu Kitchen brand in 2016 was cooking classes for nannies and housekeepers. Using recipes in their native language from traditional Arabic cuisine, Lama taught them how to cook for the ultimate dinner party. That was shortly followed by cooking classes for mums/children, schools, couples, corporations & even husbands who also wanted to learn how to create delicious, all-natural food for their families. Mamalu Kitchen has created a cooking movement under the slogan #feedingfamilies.  In line with her cooking movement in 2020 she started Eazy Freezy; an all natural, easy to cook frozen food product line for families on the go. Hassle free yumminess without the bad stuff. The products are available online and across Spinneys & Waitrose outlets all over the UAE.  By engaging every single member of the household/family and various members of the community, to be involved and empowered by cooking, Mamalu Kitchen is enabling lifestyle changes in the region. This ‘cooking movement' is leading families to live a healthier and happier life.  Born in Lebanon and raised most of her life in the UK, Lama has always had a passion for cooking since the age of 6. By shadowing her mother from a young age she acquired the knowledge of all of the classic Arabic dishes. Her specialty is family food, large beautiful mouthwatering dishes to be shared amongst friends and family in a fuss-free way.  Her love of cooking led her to study at Glion Hotel Management School in Switzerland and she earned a Hospitality & Tourism degree.  She gained experience with some of the top 5 star luxury hotel groups such as Four Seasons, Rocco Forte and Hyatt hotels in London, Paris and Rome.  Mamalu Kitchen is not Lama's first entrepreneurial venture, she has had over a decade of experience in the fashion industry under her independent private label. She has opened two concept stores in Beirut, Lebanon {Ribbon & Lace and Birdcage} She has also been a part of the prestigious London & Paris Fashion weeks for 7 consecutive years and has extensive experience as a designer for high end clothing brand, Mojo World.   

In this podcast, Mary Mayenfisch-Tobin discusses gender equality, sustainability and corporate responsibility in the hospitality and tourism fields.  Using her lifetime experience as a lawyer, educator and activist, Mary looks at the current global situation with a critical eye and explains why it is in the interest of hospitality and tourism companies to ensure that they put ethical and sustainable business practices into practice.   Mary also touches on why it is important for business to be inclusive and the disastrous consequences of making decisions without all the stakeholders around the table.  Finally, Mary stresses the importance of including law and human rights courses in hospitality, event, tourism and sport management curriculum. Mary Mayenfisch-Tobin is a lawyer and accredited mediator with substantial experience in private practice with corporate in-house capacity. Mary has a lifetime of experience in Business and Human Rights, Corporate Social Responsibility and issues pertaining to male/female equality. She is an expert in issues relating to Hospitality and Tourism Law and in matters relating to Common law succession and contract law.   Mary formerly worked as Law Professor at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne lecturing in Hospitality and Business Law and went on to become Director of the Pepperdine University program in Lausanne, where she established the campus in Switzerland in 2006. She also lectured on International Business law with a focus on human rights.   Mary is experienced in matters of education, works in the area of student counselling, stakeholder relations and outreach, business development, as well as the organisation of internships.  She is a specialist in the area of Business and Human Rights, she has worked, lobbied and lectured in the Swiss Romand area since 2005.  

Filippo Perricone is the co-founder and Managing Director of Back label, a line of Italian lounge, athletic and leisure wear sold exclusively in luxury hotels and resorts.  In this podcast, we ask Filippo about his educational and career path from a History and Philosophy student to working in the textile industry in Hong Kong.  In 2010, Filippo co-founded Back Label with his wife Amy and they have successfully continued to grow their company with exclusive clothing lines for the luxury hotel and resort sector around the world.   Filippo explains why quality lounge, athletic and leisure “slow fashion” wear made in Italy are a reference in the fashion world and therefore greatly appreciated by hotel and resort clients. Free from polyester or any other toxic substances, Back Label brings out the pureness of its natural fabrics through an unprecedented sensorial experience on the body. Filippo's dedication to running a sustainable and ethical company is discussed as well as his desire to keep his company in line with equitable principles.  Filippo explains that Back Label's “purpose is to actively contribute to the creation of a sustainable economic system and business that regenerates society and the environment. We want our workplace to have a positive impact on our employees, the city and the environment around us, in the hope that other companies will join us on this virtuous path. Because the future is now. Unlock the Change.” Filippo also describes the hotel retail niche and why his company chose this industry to market and sell their clothing line.  Given Filippo's Italian background, he possesses a thorough comprehension of not only the culture of Italian craftmanship but also its market dynamics.  Filippo Perricone was born in Bergamo in 1978. After completing his scientific studies, he earned a master's degree in Modern History and Philosophy. In 2004, upon finishing his studies, he moved to Hong Kong where he worked for two major companies in the textile industry. It was only in 2010 that he moved back to Bergamo with his wife Amy and founded Back Label. Together, they started the first offices and soon after, the first production chain. Before long, they were joined by a wonderful team of innovators.  In 2016, Back Label began its exclusive journey dedicated to the Hospitality sector and gradually moved away from the mainstream fashion world. Since 2016, Filippo has remained firmly at the helm of Back Label, continuing to lead the company towards new innovations and successes in the Hospitality sector. 

Andrea Obertello is currently the General Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel in Milano, Italy.  In this podcast, Andrea talks about her career choices and how she became General Manager in an industry that is predominately male.  She talks about working in the iconic Milano Four Seasons Hotel, located in a 15th century convent, the second oldest Four Seasons hotel in Europe.  Andrea compares hospitality in Italy to other places she has worked and analyses the changes she has seen in the hospitality industry over the past 10 years Originally from Argentina, Andrea has worked at Four Seasons Hotels in Miami, Doha and Marrakech but she feels at home in Italy where her family originated from.  Andrea is upbeat and positive when she talks about the challenges she has had to face in the hospitality industry and she shares some of her success stories and emphasizes the importance of creating and welcoming opportunities.  Finally, she gives our listeners insight into her leadership and communication styles and shares some of her hospitality philosophy and anecdotes. Andrea holds a degree from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland and began her career with Four Seasons as a receptionist in Uruguay. She has worked in many hotel positions during her career, which has led to her understanding of the many faceted aspects of running a successful hotel.  She has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities Four Seasons has given her to work in different places such as South America, North America, the Middle East, Europe and North Africa.     

Khulan Berger is currently the Regional Director at MY BLUE PLANET and the Swiss Coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Europe.  In this podcast, Khulan explains why sustainable tourism has become such an important endeavour and how MY BLUE PLANET is working closely with companies to transition and implement sustainable practices.   Khulan describes what tools are being used to engage and inspire the hospitality and tourism sectors and what areas are particularly challenging.  She also explains why it is important to reduce CO2 emissions before trying to compensate for them.  In addition, Khulan explains how being more sustainable supports employee engagement while giving her insights into the limitations that the hospitality and tourism sectors face. Finally, Khulan explains why sustainability is so important and why the hospitality and tourism sectors should make it a priority. Khulan Berger is the Regional Director at MYBLUEPLANET and the Swiss National Coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Europe. Leading a dedicated team, she focuses on scaling impactful climate projects and programs in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. One of MYBLUEPLANET's programs includes ClimateActions4Companies, whereby her team works closely with companies from the touristic sector to implement climate actions, serving the transition to sustainable tourism. Her commitment lies in making a practical and tangible difference in the ongoing transition to a more sustainable future.

Arian Röehrle is the former president of AICR, The International Association for Deputy Managers and Front Office Managers of Luxury Hotels.  In this podcast, Arian tells our listeners about this important networking organization and how it has grown into a well-established professional and educational entity.  He discusses the importance of networking in the hospitality industry and why AICR has its place in this ever-changing field. Arian also talks about his own career choices and path and why young people today should embrace the hospitality field.  He gives our listeners insight into some of the challenges the field is currently facing, why training, mentoring and education are so important and how hospitality leaders and managers can improve their communication and leadership styles.  He touches upon managing culturally diverse teams and how to create effective and motivated teams.  Finally, Arian discusses the challenges of working in the hospitality field and having a healthy work / life balance.  After being employed in the hospitality industry for the last 15 years and working his way up from pageboy to general manager in 11 hotels across five countries, Arian and his wife Anja have founded A&A Hotel & Gastronomie Betriebs-GmbH.  They plan on continuing to surprise and delight guests and staff by creating lasting relationships and memorable moments. 

In this podcast, Marie-Berengère Chapoton, who is currently the General Manager of the award-winning Raffles Al Areen Palace in Bahrain, describes her global career path and how she met not only challenges but opportunities that came her way.  Marie-Berengère's career path has led her toNew York, Montreal, Paris, Milan, Rome, Uruguay, The Bermudas, Rio de Janeiro and now to Bahrain.  In this podcast, Marie-Berengère tells our listeners about her move up the hospitality management ladder and how she has embraced the role of a General Manager in a luxury hotel.  Marie-Berengère also explains how her passion for hospitality was sparked, and how her hospitality studies in Switzerland set her on a successful career path.  She answers our questions about the evolution of women working in top hospitality management positions and why it has become easier for women to aspire to a General Manager position in hotels and resorts. Finally, Marie-Berengère shares some personal insights into working in the hospitality field and navigating a global career that requires and open mind and flexibility.  It is for this reason that she encourages young people to embrace this exciting and potentially global career path. Marie-Berengere Chapoton is a French citizen and the General Manager at Raffles Al Areen Palace in Bahrain.  She has more than 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. With a background in hotel management from a prestigious school in Switzerland and an MBA from IMHI Cornell-Essec Business School, she has managed hotel openings & repositioning projects across North & South America, Europe, Asia, and now in GCC with Sofitel, Fairmont & Raffles as well as Corporate exposure. With a global mindset, she fuses various cultures to provide unique customer experiences and her tenure at Raffles Bahrain is a testament to her dedication to excellence.

In this podcast, Luiz Prebianca discusses how he ended up working in Australia, what he loves about working there and how Australian hospitality differs from other places.  Originally from Brazil, Luiz moved to Germany as a teenager to attend high school and then onto Switzerland to attend a Hospitality Management school.  He has worked in Brazil, the USA, Dubai and began working in Australia in 2010.  With his signature sense of humour, he discusses what kind of tourists come to Australia and the how the Crocodile Dundee effect has made Australia such a popular destination. Luiz also gives his advice on leadership and successful hospitality management strategies. He shares his insights into how hospitality managers can motivate and inspire their staff and why training and communication is key. Finally, he talks about how the hospitality industry has changed and what future challenges will look like for many hospitality businesses. Luiz is passionate about the hospitality field and thoroughly enjoys interacting with people from different cultures.  He is currently the Hotel Manager at the Riverside Hotel Southbank in Brisbane, Australia and oversees many departments in this 4-star Strata Titled Hotel.  Luiz was brought on board right after the floods that devastated Brisbane - his mission was to “recreate” the Hotel.  He was given full authority to apply change, so he and his team were able to “recreate” the entire way the Hotel approaches marketing, sales, reservations and business relationships along with implementing new standard operating procedures, uniforms, furniture, online marketing approach, customer service practices and more.   

In this podcast, Victor Mogilev speaks to our audience about Hospitality HR recruitment in South East Asia and explains how this region has its unique challenges and opportunities.  Victor traces his educational and career path to explain how his Swiss hospitality management background allowed him to pursue a global career and landed him today in Bangkok working as a partner for LHC International.  LHC is an international hospitality and operating real estate executive search firm with a core team of professionals focusing on recruitment of senior management roles.  He also shares his insight into key trends for management positions in the South East Asia region and what kind of profiles HR recruitment businesses are looking for.  Additionally, he describes how technology and digitalization have impacted the recruitment process for hospitality roles and provides valuable advice on how to navigate working in this region for young talents looking to expand their horizons. Victor Mogilev is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry. Originally from Russia, Victor has immersed himself in diverse cultures, having lived and worked in Asia for more than a decade. A graduate in Hospitality Management from the esteemed Glion Institute of Higher Education, Victor's journey in the industry has been marked by significant contributions. He has held number of roles in the Corporate Office of a well-established regional hotel brand and spent several years with a leading Inbound Destination Management company in Asia. For the past 5 years, Victor has joined forces with a close friend and business partner,  Garry Levin (another graduate of Glion Institute of Higher Education) to spearhead the development and growth of LHC International. This hospitality-focused executive search firm operates across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, reflecting Victor's commitment to shaping the future of the industry through talent acquisition and strategic leadership. LHC International has established itself as one of the leading recruitment firms across the hospitality industry with offices in Berlin, Singapore, Bangkok and Palma de Mallorca.

In this podcast, Sophia Mounib talks about recruiting and retaining talent in the hospitality and luxury sectors in Morocco.  Sophia gives our listeners insight into running a hospitality / luxury sector talent business in Casablanca and the challenges she has faced, especially after the COVID pandemic.  In addition, Sophia talks about the hospitality and tourism industry in Morocco and how it differs from other North African destinations.  Finally, Sophia shares her experiences with associations that she is actively involved in including AICR Morocco and Disciples Escoffier. Sophia is the Managing Partner at Talent Advisor in Casablanca, Morocco.  Talent Advisor is a platform that enables hoteliers and people in the luxury sector to unlock their talents, build a network and hire the absolute best in Morocco.  She is also the Founder of Hospitality Connect, the first recruitment fair exclusively dedicated to service, hospitality, restaurant and fine jewelry professions in Morocco.  Beyond recruitment, Hospitality Connect stands out as a dynamic platform for exchange and sharing within a passionate community.  The first edition took place in October 2023 in Casablanca, and the second edition is planned for September 2024. Sophia started her hospitality career in 2012 after graduating from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. Her first experience at the President Wilson Hotel, Geneva, for an F&B Management traineeship was soon followed by a role with Hyatt in human resources. But with a need to understand and master the operational side of the hotel industry, she took on guest-facing roles with Four Seasons, Sofitel and Ritz Carlton before realizing that her true passion for people was in human resources.  

Xavier Rambaud describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur” and in this podcast he speaks to us about his latest entrepreneurial adventure, Maison Epigenitic in Paris, France. Maison Epigenitic's mission is to keep people in good health and it is a place dedicated to the adoption of an epigenetic lifestyle, a preventive and holistic method that encourages individuals to become actors in their own well-being and health. This approach aims to personalize health strategies based on each individual's unique needs to optimize health and performance. After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management and Real Estate & Revenue Management, he went on to work in several luxury hotels before developing his first entrepreneurial ideas. In this podcast, Xavier explains how his hospitality background has helped him in his current role as CEO of Maison Epigenitic. Xavier Rambaud is the co-founder and CEO of Maison Epigenetic, a company at the forefront of the healthcare and wellness industry. Since its opening in March 2021, Maison Epigenetic has been pioneering a unique concept centered around epigenetics, a science that demonstrates the significant impact of our environment and lifestyle on our health. This Paris-based enterprise is dedicated to offering ultra-personalized preventive health programs, leveraging data-driven results through the advanced science of epigenetics, acknowledged as a critical component of longevity science. Xavier's journey in entrepreneurship and his passion for integrating science and wellness into practical applications began soon after his graduation from Glion in 2016. His educational background, coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit, equipped him with the necessary tools and insights to quickly immerse himself in the world of startups. Maison Epigenetic is his second startup venture, after Triptwin which was a "travel matching app". Maison Epigenetic, co-founded by Xavier Rambaud along with Doctor Valerie Leduc and Henri-Nicolas Olivier, represents a new, integrative approach to health. It is both preventive and personalized, aiming to impact health, beauty, and well-being by merging the best of scientific and technological innovations. The company is described as a ‘blue zone' committed to the harmony of body and mind, underscoring its holistic approach to wellness. 

In this podcast we talk to Yahya Shakhshir about Hospitality education and training in Vancouver, Canada.  Yahya is currently the President at Cornerstone International Community College of Canada, one of the top private Colleges located in Vancouver.  He is a passionate, driven and dedicated hotelier with 18 years in the Hospitality and Education industry. He has international experience in 9 different countries, with expertise in the field of Rooms Division.  Yahya shares his experience in hospitality education and his insights into how hospitality education in Canada is different from other countries, and how private hospitality colleges differ from public institutions.  With a pragmatic approach to hospitality training, Yahya explains why practical training is so important for young people entering the hospitality field today.  He also touches upon micro-credentials, a way for working adults in the hospitality field to pursue life-long learning.  Finally, Yahya talks about why immigration is so important, not only for Canada's hospitality and tourism sectors, but for their technical and IT sectors as well. Yahya is a member of the British Columbia Hotel Association BCHA, Customer Advisory Board member and Faculty member of AHLEI (American Hotel Lodging Educational Institute) and he has successfully taught 20+ Hospitality and Business courses to hundreds of students throughout his career. In addition, he has helped create and develop new programs and courses and ensured instructors are all well-trained and evaluated to maintain quality standards.  Yahya has recently launched a Hospitality training and consulting firm focusing on improving operational and conceptual skills within the Hotel Industry.  

In this podcast, Sara Abdel Masih describes her unique career path from climbing the career ladder in the luxury hospitality industry to teaching in hotel management schools and writing a book on mobbing and harassment in the workplace based on her personal experiences. Sara has worn many hats and has studied not only hospitality management but criminology and forensic science. She is the Founder of Sensory Academy Management, a holistic approach to hospitality management through coaching, care and leadership.  In this podcast Sara describes her in-depth knowledge of the hospitality industry and why she has followed different interests and paths throughout her career.  She also shares her experience as an AICR jury member and why these competitions are important. As someone who has worked extensively in the Italian hospitality field, Sara also gives us her perspectives on Italian hospitality, how it differs from other countries and why Italy continues to be a top destination for travelers around the world. Born in Egypt and raised in Italy, Sara has forged an impressive career in the luxury hospitality industry, culminating in her role as a Hotel Manager at prestigious establishments like Cavalieri and The Square Milano. With a degree in Tourism Science, Management, Culture, and Territory from IULM University in Milan, Sara started her career as a switchboard operator at Four Seasons Hotel Milan and quickly ascended through the ranks.  Her deep insights into luxury and sensory experiences inspired her to found Italy's first Sensory Academy, blending operational skills with coaching, care, and leadership. Sara is also an author, having written a book detailing her significant experiences with workplace harassment. Additionally, she is a competitive beach volleyball player and a passionate advocate for leadership. Sara's mission is to build a network of professionals who can capture the essence of individuals and transform them into sensory talents capable of profoundly understanding their surroundings and their own inner awareness.