Bart Berkey, founder and CEO of Most People Don't, LLC, recently facilitated an HSMAI roundtable for hospitality executives across the United States. The discussion focused on the Sales and Marketing landscape and tips for professionals to validate their 2024 plans.
Although it may be impossible to predict the future, we can share, discuss, and be aware that unexpected events can happen. We also know that we need to be more prepared.
What should we predict for the future?
What are we doing NOW to prepare for the next unexpected event? While external factors such as the environment, weather, global war, civil unrest, political instability, and economic fluctuations can impact hospitality, we must focus on the PERSONAL component of our industry.
The group, made up of Sales and Marketing Directors, understood that the lessons learned from the past revolved around PEOPLE and HOW WE TREAT OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
We learn:
- Resilience, Creativity and Innovation:
We learned, a few years ago with the pandemic, to remain steadfast and strong in the face of uncertainty and adversity.
We think innovatively to solve problems and resolve situations we've never faced before. - Empathy, affection and humanity:
We embrace the value of the human spirit and focus on how we treat others, how we feel, and, together, how we can grow. - Vulnerability, Teamwork and Resources:
We learned that we didn't need to be alone and that when we opened up, there were others who needed us as much as we needed them. This fostered collaborative work and the use of different tools.
What's next?
As Sales and Marketing prepare for 2024, we must work NOW:
- Be clear that Sales and Marketing decisions impact and affect all of our colleagues.
- Understanding that Revenue Managers, as well as operations, have a huge impact on the hotel's success and financial results.
- When asked, say you're not trying to make anyone's life difficult. Make it clear that you're trying to generate income to keep everyone employed, doing meaningful, profitable work.
- Focus more on mental well-being and don't see it as a weakness.
- Accept differences.
- Keep asking, "How can I help you?" through both a professional and personal lens.
- Be more altruistic and donate your time and attention. Realize that our actions help "create well-being" or "contribute to ill-being."
- Look at each employee and colleague as a WHOLE PERSON and really get to know them.
- Consider more than “their role” and “what they do.” Understand “WHO THEY ARE.”
By learning from the past and applying lessons to the future, the hospitality industry, with its focus on people, will continue to shine even brighter for NEXT.