How to advance your career in the luxury hospitality business?
I wish I had the perfect answer to this question! What I would say is that one secret to success is never to be satisfied with where you are in your career. Always look to progress, to develop, and to learn more. The world is evolving ever more quickly and, as a young person, you will have to evolve with it.
In just the past few years we’ve seen the Covid pandemic usher in huge changes to the way we live, work, and look after ourselves. We can see this in the rise of health & wellness as a personal goal, and in our industry that’s meant a rapid growth in spa and wellness facilities, alongside a movement towards healthier cuisine with often locally-sourced, farm-to-table ingredients. The same is true for the inexorable rise in demand for personalized experiences.
If you wish to plot a leadership career in high-end hospitality, it’s imperative that you stay ahead of these industry trends and others.
That’s why this is such an exciting world to get into; because there is so much potential to develop. Luxury customers are always looking for new ideas, enabling them to be among the first to experience something. We see this with brand collaborations such as Louis Vuitton and Supreme or Omega and Swatch, which sparked frenzies when the product lines went on sale. If luxury brand management is your dream career destination, there’s arguably never been more opportunity to make your mark.
I would also emphasize the value of building your professional network, which you should be looking to accomplish at every step of your career, including during your degree program. This is also why studying at an industry-focused business school like Glion can be so beneficial, as it gives you access to a global alumni community that can be an incredible source of advice, friendship and job opportunities.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly of all, make sure you’re in a place where you can fall in love with what you do. For most of us, a working career is four decades or more. You simply cannot last the distance if you don’t find enjoyment and inspiration in getting up in the morning to do your job.
That’s really the secret to navigating a career in high-end hospitality: to have the passion that puts a smile on your face every time you step out to deliver amazing client experiences.
