A featured video from YoungHotelier.com's Hotelier Road Trip Middle East:



Learn more about the project here

tags: hotelier, hoteliers, hotels, resorts, hospitality, videos

The art and science of decision making…the quality of our decisions, the role of intuition, the results we achieve and the rewards we enjoy (or perhaps penalties we endure).

The ability to make good decisions is key to the survival and success of any good manager, director or CEO in today’s fast-paced, cut-throat business environment. Most of us make business decisions in the expectation of achieving great results…and our performance is measured by these results. But what if this approach is wrong? What if the results managers achieve are NOT the best yardstick of competence and decision-making ability? More often than not, bad managers are rewarded for good results that are a matter of pure luck…and great managers who’ve made the right decisions end up on the street when project results are less than satisfactory. What role do experience and intuition play in the decision making process? Is it all a matter of gut feel…or is decision making a purely methodical science?

To discover the answers to these and many more questions, I turned to Professor Zeger Degraeve, who is the ‘Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Professor of Innovation, Professor of Decision Sciences’ at London Business School. Zeger is one of the brightest minds in the field of decision making, operations research and managing project portfolios. In our interview, we talked about fundamental issues in today’s business environment…the decisions we face, the results we’re held accountable for…and perhaps a clearer way to approach decision making than just relying on gut feel.

A great guide for hoteliers on how to leverage the power of the internet and social networks to find a job, especially important during the current recession!



tags: hotel-jobs, finding-work, employment, hotels, hoteliers, internet, social-networking

We urge you to take a moment to watch a short video that went live on the web today. Beautifully filmed and edited by Jesse Dylan and his team at Form TV, it might just be the most inspiring thing you see this week.



Learn more about this initiative...The Charter for Compassion

Thursday, the 14th of August 2008, will always remain significant for GATE- Global Academy of Tourism & Hospitality Education, adding yet another cornerstone of its very foundation of making differences, learning, celebrating people and unleashing their true potential. The GATE College hosted the graduation ceremony of vulnerable young students who got opportunity to learn basics of cooking, hygiene & sanitation, book-keeping and customer service in GATE College in order to become self employed in their brand new street food cart which will soon be in the market to sale various delicacy that is possible to prepare and sale safely in the street.

A great video that just needs to be shared! A superb video by Matthew Harding (Matt), who spent 14 months, visited 42 countries and got a cast of thousands involved in his dance around the world... guaranteed to make your day!


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Share this video with everyone you know!

tags: people, video, talent-jungle, matt, where-the-hell-is-matt, matthew-harding, inspiration, world, cultures

We catch up with Lucas Baumann, proud SSTH & HTW alumnus and now sailing the world! Lucas tells us about his experience in the Cruise industry and a few sights to see along the way...



Cruising – where the way is the goal. During my time in the SSTH Hotel Management School in Switzerland, I have learned becoming a world citizen and after my BBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management I decided to go abroad, experiencing the world and its different cultures. My strong desire to travel the world has led me to become a proud Princess Cruises Crew Member. This offers me the opportunity to work and travel at the same time – what a wonderful experience.

Long-time Talent Jungle network partner Khem R Lakai interviews Mark Davidson in Nepal. Mark Davidson is a renowned Australian chief wine maker and Managing Director of Tamburlaine, the largest organic grape producing vineyards in Australia which is spread into over 140 hectors. Award winning organic series “Gestalt” ranges are already soaring new height in viticulture through innovative concept as the brand has made genuine commitment to minimizing its environmental impact over the past decade, analyzing each areas of its operations, including the vineyards, winery and waste management systems, to identify where improvements could be made. Revamping from the conventional viticulture to organic growing, Tamburlaine is working towards achieving a zero carbon footprints. 90% of wine produced in his vineyard is sold to the registered members only.

An interview with Swiss Master Baker Chef Willy Graf, who recently spoke to Food & Wine Magazine in Nepal. Mr. Graf has accumulated 11 international gold medals through his finest craftsmanship in bakery and chocolate arts in his near about 5 decades of career and has worked in leading hotels around the world and awarded for the same. Mr. Graf has not only worked together with leading celebrity chefs that includes internationally renowned names such as Anton Mosimann, Henery Haller and Kato Makoto, he has also leaded the most prestigious presidential banquet for John F. Kennedy, the former president of the US. We are glad to share his life long wisdom and tips for successful career.

A great (funny) look at the roles in the hotel industry - a new video from YoungHotelier.com titled "So you want to be a hotelier?"

The latest hotelier to jump onboard the blogging bandwagon is Brad Nelson, Marriott’s Culinary VP and Corporate Chef who aims to follow in the footsteps of Marriott’s big kahuna, Bill Marriott, by starting his own food blog titled "Marriott in the Kitchen".

Fleishman-Hillard, the communications company behind the buzz and PR, says "Brad travels all over the world, working with Marriott chefs to try new tastes, develop recipes and menus and gather more flavor for the company’s hundreds of restaurants. Collecting pictures (He’s also a photographer, natch) and recipes from his travels, he’s long wanted to share his traveling adventures, recipes and photos with the world"

On Wednesday January 23 2008, LTI – International Hotels and Pyramisa Hotels & Resorts, saw the official grand opening of their newest and largest Resort in Egypt, LTI – Pyramisa Beach Resort . With over 100 VIPS in attendance, the Minister of Tourism Mr.Zoheer Garanah and the General Abu Baker El Rashid, Governor of the Red Sea, officially opened LTI – Pyramisa latest addition to their portfolio.

Patrons of the Hotel & Hospitality industry (and certainly those that run it) are no stranger to the glitz and glamour associated with it. A world different than most, comprised of the most beautiful places, experiences, designs and gastronomic delights…all driven by the dynamic and hardy people who define the industry. But while we hear so much about the tangible elements of hospitality, it is rare to find a soulful look at the people who engineer the experiences that keep you coming back for more.

Four Points by Sheraton First-Ever Chief Beer Officer Evaluated after Six Months in Office. Performance Highlights Include New Website, Dedicated CBO Blog and Educating the Masses Around the World about Four Points Best Brews!

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2007--Beer in the boardroom - Corporate America was changed forever nearly six months ago when Four Points by Sheraton appointed the world's first-ever Chief Beer Officer(SM) (CBO), Scott Kerkmans. But, what makes a perfect CBO(SM)? With half a year under his belt, Kerkmans has undergone a detailed performance review to ensure that he is living up to his beer-loving title. With over 7,500 applicants having vied for this coveted, unprecedented executive title, many eyes are on the CBO.

I had the pleasure of getting some professional and personal insights from Pascal Bordat, who is a driving force behind the new online travel start-up, Sprice.com. Pascal tells us about the milestones along his journey here, and his views on online travel distribution and meta-search.

Name: Pascal Bordat

Current Company and Title: Co-Founder and Director of Sprice.com

[JJ] What do you currently do and what is your main professional focus?
[Pascal] I essentially focus on developing the revenues of Sprice.com worldwide with Travel Suppliers and advertisers. As well as extending the reach of Sprice.com in terms of countries.