50 Shades of Hospitality

Celine Maier, the EuroSkills Gold Medalist for Culinary Arts, decided after winning Gold to embark on a global, culinary journey.  Since 2024, she has been a culinary globetrotter, traveling through Europe, America, and Asia to explore the diversity of international cuisines, learn new techniques, deepen and expand her network, and experience cultural influences firsthand. In this podcast, Celine talks about the competitions she has participated in and how, during her journey, she continues to grow beyond her limits, consciously steps out of her comfort zone, learns new languages, and gains valuable self-knowledge.Celine has been working passionately in the hospitality industry since 2018 and has completed her apprenticeship as a certified Swiss chef. During her apprenticeship, she gained early insights into the world of culinary competitions and took part in numerous apprentice and cooking contests.Among the most formative experiences was her participation in the Bocuse d’Or and the SwissSkills, through which she qualified for the EuroSkills competition in Gdansk, Poland and won first place. In this interview, Celine describes this unforgettable experience and praises her mentors and coaches for their unwavering support.  During the recording of this interview, Celine was in China and had plans to visit and work South Korea and Japan.  Her passion and enthusiasm for the culinary arts is simply astounding and infectious for such a young woman.    

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 this podcast, Philippe Clarinval, the current General Manager of Le Prince de Galles Hotel in Paris, France, 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.  

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. Today, by the diversity of specialities, the list of which is regularly updated, the MOF award 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, 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, 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, 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. 

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. 

In this podcast, Marie-Berengère Chapoton, who was the General Manager of the award-winning Raffles Al Areen Palace in Bahrain when this podcast was recorded, 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, to Bahrain and now to Sao Paulo, Brazil.  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 is currently the General Manager at the Rosewood Hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  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.  

Khulan Berger is currently the Director of Development at CLIMATE BRIDGES and the Founder and President of OUR IMPACT MONGOLIA.  When we recorded this podcast, Khulan was the Head of Communication & Community for MY BLUE PLANET. In this podcast, Khulan explains why sustainable tourism has become such an important endeavor 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 a sustainability leader and systems thinker - rooted in Mongolia, shaped in Singapore, and based in Switzerland. As Director of Development at Climate Bridges and Founder of Our Impact Mongolia, she drives cross-sector collaboration to advance climate action, inclusive leadership, and environmental stewardship. Khulan Berger is currently the Director of Development at CLIMATE BRIDGES and the Founder and President of OUR IMPACT MONGOLIA.  Previously, Khulan was the Regional Director at MYBLUEPLANET and the Swiss National Coordinator of  The Climate Reality Project Europe.   With experience across Asia and Europe, she has led initiatives, built partnerships, and advised organizations at the intersection of climate, culture, and innovation. Currently pursuing an Executive DBA (PhD) in Geneva, Khulan blends engineering and business acumen to drive transformative change for a just and regenerative future.    

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.                 

Amna Alyamani has turned her childhood passion into a successful career and she is a woman fueled by her passion for baking, which she discovered at the tender age of 7. She has since pursued her dream, scaling heights and enjoying success in the culinary industry. In this podcast, Amna retraces her passion for baking and answers our questions about entrepreneurship, the current situation in Saudi Arabia for young female entrepreneurs and how she manages the everyday stress of running a business.Growing up, Amna always knew that she wanted to open a bakery, and by the time she was 12, she had already set her eyes on achieving this goal. She was determined to make her dream come true, and so she focused her education towards pursuing a career in the hospitality industry.  Amna was one of the first Saudi women to graduate from the prestigious Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, specializing in hospitality management (2010). She also received pastry training from Cordon Bleu in Paris (2013) and an MBA from IESE Business school (2019) to learn how to realize that dream.Fast forward to 2020, and Amna has finally achieved her lifelong dream of opening her own bakery. Her passion for baking, coupled with her education in hospitality, has enabled her to create a unique and successful brand. She has since scaled her business, offering her customers delicious, fresh, and high-quality baked goods, while expanding her skillset in the field of culinary arts. In 2023, Amna launched 14 virtual brands across 7 cloud kitchens in a span of 10 months. Her inspiration comes from her grandfather, who instilled in her a love for cooking that has only grown stronger over the years. Amna is a true inspiration, a testimony of what hard work, determination, and passion can achieve.   

In this podcast Manrique Rodriguez talks about Lebanese hospitality and compares Lebanon to other countries in the Levant and Middle East and shares his extensive, global insights into the hospitality field.  He touches on the topic of hospitality changes and challenges and the importance of moving towards more sustainable practices and eco-tourism. Manrique Rodriguez recently became the General Manager of the JW Marriott Guanacaste in Costa Rica and he was the General Manager of the iconic Intercontinental Phoenicia in Beirut, Lebanon.  He has a strong background in hotel operations with over 30 years’ experience in different styles of hotels.  He has a highly motivational, people-orientated management style with a clear vision of hotel objectives.   Manrique also talks about a tragic and unforgettable event – he was in the Phoenicia hotel on August 4, 2020 when the explosion at Beirut's port occurred.  It was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in global history. The explosion sent shock waves through the city, killing at least 220 people, and wounding over 7,000.  In addition, there was extensive property damage all over Beirut and The Phoenicia hotel was forced to close due to extensive damage.  Manrique talks about this trying, challenging event that happened during the COVID pandemic. Manrique has had a progressive hotel management career spanning more than 30 years within IHG Hotels & Resorts.  A truly global hotelier, he has worked as General Manager for IHG Hotels in the USA, Brazil, Australia, Spain and in Beirut, Lebanon at the Intercontinental Phoenicia. 

Andrey Parshukov is currently the Head of Business Growth at JetRockets, a forward-thinking company specializing in custom web and mobile application development across various industries.  In this podcast, Andrey talks about his career path from studying hospitality in Switzerland and working in the hospitality field to teaching in Vietnam and developing his passion for technology and AI.   Andrey gives our listeners some insight into how AI is revolutionizing the hospitality field and what to expect in the coming years.  Andrey assures our listeners that AI will never replace the “human touch” that so many customers value but instead will improve customer service and make travel and tourism more appealing. Andrey is a versatile professional known for his determination and commitment to finding solutions. With a unique approach to problem-solving, he embraces challenges head-on, vowing to find answers when faced with uncertainty. Currently, Andrey serves as the Head of Business Growth at JetRockets.  In this role, he dedicates his efforts to elevating business processes, assisting clients in launching new projects, and contributing to the company's overall growth.  His enthusiasm for his work is palpable, and he enjoys surrounding himself with like-minded tech enthusiasts. Andrey's professional journey has been marked by significant achievements and diverse experiences: 10 years in hospitality worldwide, English teaching in Vietnam, and Business Development in the Tech industry.

In this podcast, Laurence Toudjui gives our listeners a glimpse of Cameroonian hospitality by describing the current projects that are underway in her native country. Cameroon is currently catching up with other African countries that attract tourists.  With its 400 km of Atlantic coast, Cameroon has fabulous sites for beach loving visitors and the country has many natural attractions that are not found anywhere else in the world, making it possible to have various categories of tourism. Cameroon is one of the oldest countries of Africa and therefore has a lot of sites that can claim to be labelled as World Heritage Sites The potential for increasing tourism in Cameroon is one of the reasons that Laurence is passionate about hospitality training in her country and she describes her entrepreneurial forays into the Cameroonian hospitality world.   Laurence Toudjui is an alumni of Glion Institute of Higher Education, Switzerland. She is also a certified etiquette coach and consultant from the British school of etiquette. She started her career in France and Switzerland in the hotel industry and then decided to go back to her motherland Cameroon where she worked both in and out of the hospitality industry. She is an expert in hospitality management, which has been her dream from her childhood. Laurence created AYS (At Your Service) a hospitality training center based in Douala, Cameroon.   

In this podcast, Alexandre Maia de Carvalho tells our listeners about his hospitality career in Portugal and why it continues to be one of the top-ten destinations for European tourists and is gaining popularity for travellers coming from the US, China and Canada. Alexandre’s specialty is luxury hotels and resorts, and in this podcast he describes this growing field and how it has evolved over the past 10 years and what the future holds for this niche.  He also discusses the current challenges that the hospitality field is facing and how it can adapt to an ever- changing environment. Finally, he gives advice on how hotels can better recruit, train and retain talent.  Alexandre Maia de Carvalho was born in Coimbra, Portugal in 1973, and today lives between Lisbon and the Algarve.  He is currently the General Manager of the Wyndham Grand Algarve, Portugal.  He has a strong commercial profile oriented towards luxury consortia, upscale travel agencies and luxury concierge companies. Alexandre also owns and operates a boutique hospitality consulting firm called MC Hospitality Advisors (www.mchospitalityadvisors.com) focused on helping private equity firms to find assets and start operating them in Portugal and luxury hotel openings. Alexandre holds a degree in International Hospitality Management from the Glion Hotel School, and a postgraduate degree in F&B Management from Cornell University. In recent years, he has invested heavily in online training in Asset Management, Portfolio Management and Private Equity.  Alexandre is very experienced in bridging solid foundations between hotel operations, management companies and private equity funds. Maximizing asset value by property repositioning and curating unique guest experiences: turning great hotels into iconic properties.He has a strong track record leading hospitality focused projects, excels at design and is both a creative and strategic thinker.  Alexandre is an actual and former member of Tourism Boards in Lisbon, Cascais and Vilamoura.

In this podcast, Claudine Thoma talks about her professional path from hospitality to education and why she decided to pursue her passion for the hospitality field as a young woman.  She also discusses hospitality and hospitality education in Luxembourg, her native country and how she successfully stepped outside of her hospitality business passion into her new passion for hospitality education.   In addition, Claudine shares her insights into how the hospitality field is evolving and why hospitality education needs to keep up with these changes.  Claudine also explains how young people can prepare for successful careers in hospitality and tourism.   Claudine Thoma is a passionate teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. She is currently a Hospitality Management lecturer at Hotel and Tourism School in Luxembourg along with being the Hotel Reception Expert for EuroSkills this year and WorldSkills next year in Lyon, France. Claudine has an extensive background in hospitality and has worked in Rome, Brussels, and France.  She is skilled in Event Management & Commercial Management and has a strong operational experience with over 16 years of experience in luxury hospitality companies, but above all, she loves challenges!     

In this podcast, Andrès Reyes Gjerme talks about his career choices and what he considers to be the main challenges in hospitality leadership today.  He describes the importance of finding balance and adapting to an ever-changing, diverse working environment.  He describes the hospitality and tourism industry in Norway and answers our questions about why Norway has become such a popular tourist destination.  Finally, he shares his views on how hospitality businesses can recruit and retain talent in an industry that is undergoing significant changes. Andrès Reyes Gjerme is currently the Hotel Manager and Revenue Manager at the Britannia Hotel in Trondheim, Norway, a five-star hotel member of the prestigious The Leading Hotels of The World (LHW),  Andrès has a strong passion for the hospitality and luxury industry, most notably people!  With excellent communication and service skills and experience in international environments, he has an eye for details and knows how to focus on optimising operations and overall products. Andrès has diverse experience in leadership as well as Room Division, Revenue Management, in-house sales, marketing, operational accounting and M&E Management.    

In this podcast, Christian Michel tells our listeners about hotel development and in particular, the continued growth and development of the Central and Eastern European markets.  Christian describes his long career with Wyndham Resorts and how he has honed his knowledge of hotel development in Central and Eastern Europe.   Christian also speaks to our audience about why Central and Eastern Europe have become such popular destinations.  Finally, he talks about hospitality education in Switzerland and how hospitality schools must continue to train and educate for an ever-changing hospitality reality. He also gives young people advice on how they can prepare for a career in hospitality development. As Vice President of Development for Europe at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Christian Michel is responsible for leading the company’s growth strategy and execution in the region.   Joining the company as Director of Development for Eastern Europe in 2004, Christian’s remit has expanded to more markets over the years, more recently to cover the whole European region. A 30-year industry veteran, Christian served various General Manager positions for recognised hotels brands in different countries, including Ramada by Wyndham, Swiss Inn and Mövenpick Hotels.  Christian is a native Swiss and has lived and worked in the UAE, Egypt and Switzerland. He is multi-lingual and speaks French, English and German. He holds a bachelor degree in Catering Trade from the Hotel School in Lausanne, as well as a Swiss Confederation Certificate of Marketing. Christian started his career as a professional chef for The Gstaad Palace and food remains one of his biggest passions, along with travelling.    

Winner of the Best Swiss Receptionist Bucherer trophy in 2015, Judith Malavallon went from working in an iconic BEAU RIVAGE Palace to becoming a teacher at the school she attended in Switzerland.   After a management change, she continued teaching at another prestigious Hospitality School in Lausanne.  But Judith is a firm believer in having a healthy work/life balance and having children has allowed her to see other options available to someone with a hospitality background. In this podcast, Judith discusses what it was like to compete for Best Receptionist and what she learned from the experience.  She also talks frankly about the position of hotel receptionist and the challenges young women can face in front office positions when they decide to have a family.  Finally, Judith describes her new career path as a career coach and how her hospitality background has tied in with this new position.  She ends this podcast with advice and suggestions for young people getting into the hospitality field. Judith Malavallon has a hospitality management background and worked several years as a hotel receptionist in Switzerland. In 2015 she won the Bucherer Trophy for Switzerland’s Best Receptionist and the contest gave her the ticket to the worldwide contest in Vienna, where she finished 2nd runner up. For several professional reasons, Judith left her position at the Beau Rivage Palace in Lausanne and decided to pursue a different challenge.  She became a hospitality instructor at Glion Institute of Higher Education and this was where her passion for training and coaching was officially put into practice.  After a few years and a change in management she left hospitality education and did some coaching for a luxury car company to improve their service, especially at front desks and for after-sale service.  Judith was recruited to work at EHL as a front desk instructor and she trained students in practice and in theory for front office and housekeeping operations.  When Covid-19 arrived and changed everyone’s life, her priorities evolved and she realized that her professional situation no longer matched her personal family situation, vision and values.  She spent time self-reflecting about what professional field and job would fit with her new role as a mother and wife.  She did a skills assessment at Ingeus in Lausanne and in the end, she became an employment coach there.  Her daily tasks include coaching one-to-one with people looking for a job as well as giving workshops about various topics useful when in job search.  As she likes to remind us, what is essential is to have a work-life balance.    

In this podcast, João de Saldanha describes his path from hospitality to the world of finance and investment.  Despite some early disappointments, João was able to move forward and he shares his insights into how difficulties can be turned into opportunities for growth and success.  He also explains how his hospitality training was a powerful tool for his future career and how a hospitality education gives you the transferable skills that can be used in many industries and fields.  In addition, João describes the common characteristics between hospitality and finance. João also speaks to our listeners about the importance of self-discovery, determination and resilience and how he was inspired to create a new project called "We Accelerate Prosperity" when COVID hit back in 2020. João de Saldanha is a Portuguese adventurer thriving in the vibrant streets of London.  He has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and he took the leap into starting his own business at the age of 27. Throughout his journey, he experienced the thrill of success, but also faced the bitter taste of failure. Not once, but twice, his businesses failed, testing his resilience and determination.  During those challenging times, he often daydreamed about a different path—a path where he could create a diverse investment portfolio that would provide him with a consistent income and occasional capital gains. The only problem was, he didn't know where to start or how to navigate this new territory.  Thankfully, destiny intervened when a friend introduced him to a personal development program that resonated deeply with him. It was a moment of clarity and he realised that he had to embark on a journey of self-discovery, focusing on both his mindset and financial intelligence. He devoured books, watched enlightening videos, attended empowering conferences and seminars and sought guidance from coaches and mentors. With every step, he began constructing the blueprint for his dream—a portfolio of investments that would reward him with regular dividends.  But he didn't want to keep this newfound knowledge and success to himself and he felt an overwhelming desire to share it with others.  Over the years, as he honed his skills and implemented effective strategies, he discovered his true calling—to empower and uplift others on their own financial journeys.  Since 2012, he has been immersed in the world of business, investments and start-ups. Through his guidance, he has helped many individuals increase their wealth to over €1 million. Witnessing their transformations and witnessing their lives change for the better has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.

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

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.

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, 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, 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.  

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.  

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.     

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, 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.   

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. 

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 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, 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.

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.     

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, 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, 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.  

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.     

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, 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 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 2016, Vasily Grogol was hired by an investor to create a feasibility study on a hotel project in Kyiv, Ukraine. In 2017 he moved to Kyiv and worked on opening not only a boutique hotel called BURSA but also a gallery for young, Ukranian artists.  At the age of 24 he became the Executive Director of BURSA Hotel and gallery and his goal, in his own words “is to change the perception of Ukraine on the international level. BURSA design is simple and unpretentious, yet our service is friendly and tactful. We want everyone who comes to Kyiv to experience the city as we see it, and to feel the spirit of our community.”  In addition to finding investors, Vasily personally interviewed and hired everyone that works with BURSA, from architects and designers to the constructors. He hand-picked vintage furniture from Amsterdam, Paris, Guangzhou and Oslo for BURSA’s restaurant and library and he made sure to implement sustainable policies, such as recycling, sustainable heating and chargers for electric cars. In addition, he led partnerships with local talent and family businesses, including White Sprut, which produces our 100% organic toiletries, and Ukranian designer Slava Balbek.  And then COVID hit and like many hoteliers, it was a challenging period for Vasily and his team.   Just when the COVID pandemic began to subside, war broke out in Ukraine and Vasily has now spent the last years trying to run a hotel in a war zone while finding ways to support the war effort.  In this podcast he describes the nightmarish reality of waking up to the sound of bombs and having to quickly find solutions for their guests while protecting the hotel itself. This is the story of a young man who is tireless, upbeat and a hopeful optimist and we are sure that his story will inspire and impress our listeners. 

Ivan Artolli is the kind of hotelier you dream of meeting in a luxury hotel.  He shares his lifetime experience with our listeners and talks about the people who have been role models in his life.  He is charming, cultivated and he talks candidly about his youth and his dream of one day becoming a General Manager. A lifetime career of working in some of the most luxurious hotels in Europe, Ivan has comprehensive international experience at senior levels in planning, marketing, sales, administration and direction of operations in a wide range of luxurious properties. He also has experience in hotel openings, hotel renovations and repositioning with a reputation for top quality service standards and strong trouble-shooting abilities.  With strong leadership abilities and a history of recruiting, developing, training, supervising and motivating high performance teams.  Ivan is well-versed in intercultural communications and negotiations. He is fluent in English, French, German and Italian.  

William Mackay is an internationally experienced executive with over 45 years of experience in luxury hotel, spa and F & B management, operations, and development.  He has a proven track record of assembling and leading highly motivated, diverse, and mutually accountable teams and a true passion for quality as the primary means to profit.   We have invited William as our guest because he has a great understanding of European, Asian, and Middle Eastern culture and business protocols with considerable breadth of global expertise, gained through numerous leadership positions with some of the world’s finest hospitality brands including Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts.  In this podcast, William talks about his global career and the changes he has seen over the years. William was responsible for multiple hotel openings, including the Four Seasons, Hong Kong, which was the first hotel in the world to boast two Three-Star Michelin restaurants (hotel-managed) and four Forbes Five-star designations.  He is a former Board Member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board from 2010 to 2014, and Chairman of its Staff and Finance Committee from 2013 to 2014. Member of Advisory Boards and Guest Lecturer at Chinese University Hotel School (HK), and Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel & Tourism Management.  William Mackay is ready to offer advisory services to business owners, boards, and developers in the hospitality, tourism, and service Industry. He is a recognised speaker at industry events with a wealth of worldwide hospitality and tourism contacts.