We catch up with young hotelier Kevin Levine, who started podcasting hospitality industry news a little while ago. Here is the excerpt of our exclusive Talent Jungle interview:



- Name: Kevin Levine, based in Washington, DC.
- Could you tell us about your association with and your experience in the hospitality industry?I went to college at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island for Hotel Management. While in college I was hired by a major hotel chain at the age of 19, which I still work for after 4 years.

- Why did you choose the hospitality industry?
I had a job at McDonald's and discovered a passion, and a skill, for customer service. I knew I needed to move on so I tried to figure out where the highest level of customer service is found- and I couldn't think of anything grander than a hotel. McDonald's and hotels have a major point in common that the customer interaction is still provided at a desk/counter, but in a hotel the product is on the other side of that counter.

- What are the main milestones that have brought you where you are today as a person and as a professional?
In high school I was a terrible student with a terrible attitude and was desperate for something to pique my interest. First day of college I made a commitment to myself to make my time worthwhile and loved every class I had. Being taught topics that I cared about changed my whole perspective and really motivated me to pursue a future in the industry. Despite what most people think, McDonald's has a great management-training plan and really gives kids only 16 and 17 a chance to gain experience and knowledge. Being able to handle $50,000+ at the age of 18 taught me a lot of responsibility and taught me to think like a manager.

- Why Hotelmanagertalk.com? What is the aim of your site and how did you come up with the idea?
Keeping up with the industry is a difficult task. I always felt out of the loop of what has happening in my own field of work, things that were directly affecting my job and my future. I know I am not the only young manager out there with these thoughts and I know how difficult it can be to do research while working a 60+ hour work week so I wanted to provide a way for people to stay up to date so they don't have to do the research.

- How did you go about podcasting and what are your long term plans for the site?
Only about a year and a half ago did I find out about podcasts and when searching for one on the hospitality world, there weren't many options. I was then introduced to Garageband and the whole process seemed so easy that it only made sense for me to try to fill the void.

- What have you learned so far from pod-casting about the hospitality industry?
What I have really noticed from researching articles is the different world that I live in, viewing the hotel world from my young point of view, never believing what the big bosses say. Well it turns out that they were right, and it always turns into "one of those things you understand when you're older."

- What sort of feedback have you received regarding your initiative so far?
People that I work with, used to work with, and have shared this podcast with find it useful and spreading the word on their own. They are learning things relevant to them in a simple manner and enjoy seeing the hotel world through the eyes of a 23 year old.

- You're quite young :) What reactions has this drawn? And has this presented a challenge to achieving your goals with the site?
Some people who I have tried to make contacts with have dismissed me due to my age and discount any credibility. Although I am young, it doesn't mean that I don't have experience.

- Any funny / memorable / horrible experiences from working or being associated with the industry?
One of my favorite experiences is when the comedian, Steve Harvey, got locked out of his room and I wouldn't make him a new key because he didn't have an I.D. on him despite knowing who he was and a billboard with his face on it just blocks from my hotel.

- What advice would you have to share with other young hospitality professionals out there who are trying to make a mark in the industry, online or generally in their careers?
Regardless of what your degree says, you don't know everything, so be open to help from people above and below you. It is good to challenge things though, because it shows your superior that you are thinking.



Visit www.hotelmanagertalk.com to listen to Kevin's Podcasts!

tags: hotelier, kevin-levine, hotel-blog, hotel-podcast, hospitality-blog, hospitality-podcast, podcasting, internet, online, website, people, interview, talent-jungle