How Robert De Niro in “Casino” Influenced My Career in Hospitality – Ernest Lee, citizenM

In this episode, Ernest Lee, Chief Commercial Officer of citizenM, shares how he got started in hospitality and the valuable lessons he learned along the way.

• Background and Early Influences (00:00) – Learn about Ernest’s upbringing and how his early jobs in food and hospitality businesses influenced his career path.
• First Job Experiences (01:06) – Discover Ernest’s favorite part-time job and what he loved about the dynamic and energy of the hospitality environment.
• Education and Career Path (01:48) – Understand why Ernest chose to attend NYU Hotel School and his initial aspirations to become a General Manager or work in operations.
• Importance of Attention to Detail (02:20) – Hear a story about a scene from the movie “Casino” and how it relates to Ernest’s experience as a junior housekeeping manager, emphasizing the importance of details in hospitality.
• Misconceptions About Hospitality (04:15) – Learn about the “Anthony Bourdain effect” and the reality of working in hospitality, including both the glamorous and unglamorous aspects of the industry.

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Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands