50 Shades of Hospitality – Details, episodes & analysis

In this podcast, Olivier Bracard, the co-founder and CEO of the highly successful hospitality recruitment platform Hosco, describes how this platform was born and why it is the go-to website for people looking for job offers in the hospitality field.  As an EHL graduate, Olivier describes his time at the famous Swiss Hospitality School and how his international networking skills began there. He also gives insights on Hospitality Education in Switzerland and apprises us on the current educational trends.
 
 In addition, Olivier discusses the fallout from the COVID pandemic, how the hospitality industry was strongly hit, and why it has become more challenging to find qualified talent in an ever-growing competitive field.  Obviously, Hosco has had to navigate these challenges, and Olivier explains how the recruitment process has evolved over the past few years.
 
 Finally, Olivier describes the current hospitality recruitment trends and how he sees the field's future changing and evolving. In his opinion, it is still a great industry that allows young people to travel to widen their horizons and to be part of an industry that allows for rapid development and career growth.
 
 Olivier Bracard co-founded Hosco in 2011 with Carl Julien, whom he met at the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). After graduating in 2007, Olivier joined Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels (JLLH) in Spain, overseeing hotel financial valuations, feasibility studies, and management negotiations for nearly four years.
 
 During his time with JLLH, Olivier was asked to help recruit junior talents from several hotel management schools. After realizing how time-consuming the process was, he imagined a central meeting point for top talent and recruiters in the industry: Hosco was born.

Tim Oberli is currently the Front Desk Manager at the world famous Bürgenstock Resort near Lucerne, Switzerland. He is also the current World Skills Vice Champion of Hotel Reception.  In this podcast, Tim describes first becoming the Swiss Skills champion and subsequently his participation in the World Skills competition  in October 2022 in Montreux, Switzerland.  

Tim describes his experience in Montreux and the lasting impressions he has from participating in this important event.  He recognises the importance of his support team and family during a increasingly demanding preparation for this three-day event. He also talks about the mental and physical challenges of competition and how he learned how to overcome moments of doubt and stress.  

Finally, Tim talks about the support he received from his team at the Bürgenstock and how his employment at the reception desk was a vital part of his competition performance.  He also shares his impressions of meeting competitors from around the world and the lasting friendships that he developed with the other contestants.

Khulan Berger is currently the Regional Director at MY BLUE PLANET and the Swiss Coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Europe.  In this podcast, Khulan explains why sustainable tourism has become such an important endeavour and how MY BLUE PLANET is working closely with companies to transition and implement sustainable practices.  

Khulan describes what tools are being used to engage and inspire the hospitality and tourism sectors and what areas are particularly challenging.  She also explains why it is important to reduce CO2 emissions before trying to compensate for them.  In addition, Khulan explains how being more sustainable supports employee engagement while giving her insights into the limitations that the hospitality and tourism sectors face.

Finally, Khulan explains why sustainability is so important and why the hospitality and tourism sectors should make it a priority.

Khulan Berger is the Regional Director at MYBLUEPLANET and the Swiss National Coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Europe. Leading a dedicated team, she focuses on scaling impactful climate projects and programs in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. One of MYBLUEPLANET's programs includes ClimateActions4Companies, whereby her team works closely with companies from the touristic sector to implement climate actions, serving the transition to sustainable tourism. Her commitment lies in making a practical and tangible difference in the ongoing transition to a more sustainable future.

Arian Röehrle is the former president of AICR, The International Association for Deputy Managers and Front Office Managers of Luxury Hotels.  In this podcast, Arian tells our listeners about this important networking organization and how it has grown into a well-established professional and educational entity.  He discusses the importance of networking in the hospitality industry and why AICR has its place in this ever-changing field.

Arian also talks about his own career choices and path and why young people today should embrace the hospitality field.  He gives our listeners insight into some of the challenges the field is currently facing, why training, mentoring and education are so important and how hospitality leaders and managers can improve their communication and leadership styles.  He touches upon managing culturally diverse teams and how to create effective and motivated teams.  Finally, Arian discusses the challenges of working in the hospitality field and having a healthy work / life balance.

After being employed in the hospitality industry for the last 15 years and working his way up from pageboy to general manager in 11 hotels across five countries, Arian and his wife Anja have founded A&A Hotel & Gastronomie Betriebs-GmbH.  They plan on continuing to surprise and delight guests and staff by creating lasting relationships and memorable moments.

In this podcast, Marie-Berengère Chapoton, who is currently the General Manager of the award-winning Raffles Al Areen Palace in Bahrain, describes her global career path and how she met not only challenges but opportunities that came her way.  Marie-Berengère’s career path has led her toNew York, Montreal, Paris, Milan, Rome, Uruguay, The Bermudas, Rio de Janeiro and now to Bahrain.  In this podcast, Marie-Berengère tells our listeners about her move up the hospitality management ladder and how she has embraced the role of a General Manager in a luxury hotel. 

Marie-Berengère also explains how her passion for hospitality was sparked, and how her hospitality studies in Switzerland set her on a successful career path.  She answers our questions about the evolution of women working in top hospitality management positions and why it has become easier for women to aspire to a General Manager position in hotels and resorts.

Finally, Marie-Berengère shares some personal insights into working in the hospitality field and navigating a global career that requires and open mind and flexibility.  It is for this reason that she encourages young people to embrace this exciting and potentially global career path.

Marie-Berengere Chapoton is a French citizen and the General Manager at Raffles Al Areen Palace in Bahrain.  She has more than 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. With a background in hotel management from a prestigious school in Switzerland and an MBA from IMHI Cornell-Essec Business School, she has managed hotel openings & repositioning projects across North & South America, Europe, Asia, and now in GCC with Sofitel, Fairmont & Raffles as well as Corporate exposure. With a global mindset, she fuses various cultures to provide unique customer experiences and her tenure at Raffles Bahrain is a testament to her dedication to excellence.

In this podcast, Luiz Prebianca discusses how he ended up working in Australia, what he loves about working there and how Australian hospitality differs from other places.  Originally from Brazil, Luiz moved to Germany as a teenager to attend high school and then onto Switzerland to attend a Hospitality Management school.  He has worked in Brazil, the USA, Dubai and began working in Australia in 2010.  With his signature sense of humour, he discusses what kind of tourists come to Australia and the how the Crocodile Dundee effect has made Australia such a popular destination.

Luiz also gives his advice on leadership and successful hospitality management strategies. He shares his insights into how hospitality managers can motivate and inspire their staff and why training and communication is key. Finally, he talks about how the hospitality industry has changed and what future challenges will look like for many hospitality businesses.

Luiz is passionate about the hospitality field and thoroughly enjoys interacting with people from different cultures.  He is currently the Hotel Manager at the Riverside Hotel Southbank in Brisbane, Australia and oversees many departments in this 4-star Strata Titled Hotel.  Luiz was brought on board right after the floods that devastated Brisbane - his mission was to “recreate” the Hotel.  He was given full authority to apply change, so he and his team were able to “recreate” the entire way the Hotel approaches marketing, sales, reservations and business relationships along with implementing new standard operating procedures, uniforms, furniture, online marketing approach, customer service practices and more. 

In this podcast, Victor Mogilev speaks to our audience about Hospitality HR recruitment in South East Asia and explains how this region has its unique challenges and opportunities.  Victor traces his educational and career path to explain how his Swiss hospitality management background allowed him to pursue a global career and landed him today in Bangkok working as a partner for LHC International.  LHC is an international hospitality and operating real estate executive search firm with a core team of professionals focusing on recruitment of senior management roles. 

He also shares his insight into key trends for management positions in the South East Asia region and what kind of profiles HR recruitment businesses are looking for.  Additionally, he describes how technology and digitalization have impacted the recruitment process for hospitality roles and provides valuable advice on how to navigate working in this region for young talents looking to expand their horizons.

Victor Mogilev is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry. Originally from Russia, Victor has immersed himself in diverse cultures, having lived and worked in Asia for more than a decade.

A graduate in Hospitality Management from the esteemed Glion Institute of Higher Education, Victor's journey in the industry has been marked by significant contributions. He has held number of roles in the Corporate Office of a well-established regional hotel brand and spent several years with a leading Inbound Destination Management company in Asia.

For the past 5 years, Victor has joined forces with a close friend and business partner,  Garry Levin (another graduate of Glion Institute of Higher Education) to spearhead the development and growth of LHC International. This hospitality-focused executive search firm operates across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, reflecting Victor's commitment to shaping the future of the industry through talent acquisition and strategic leadership. LHC International has established itself as one of the leading recruitment firms across the hospitality industry with offices in Berlin, Singapore, Bangkok and Palma de Mallorca.

In this podcast, Sophia Mounib talks about recruiting and retaining talent in the hospitality and luxury sectors in Morocco.  Sophia gives our listeners insight into running a hospitality / luxury sector talent business in Casablanca and the challenges she has faced, especially after the COVID pandemic. 

In addition, Sophia talks about the hospitality and tourism industry in Morocco and how it differs from other North African destinations.  Finally, Sophia shares her experiences with associations that she is actively involved in including AICR Morocco and Disciples Escoffier.

Sophia is the Managing Partner at Talent Advisor in Casablanca, Morocco.  Talent Advisor is a platform that enables hoteliers and people in the luxury sector to unlock their talents, build a network and hire the absolute best in Morocco.  She is also the Founder of Hospitality Connect, the first recruitment fair exclusively dedicated to service, hospitality, restaurant and fine jewelry professions in Morocco. 

Beyond recruitment, Hospitality Connect stands out as a dynamic platform for exchange and sharing within a passionate community.  The first edition took place in October 2023 in Casablanca, and the second edition is planned for September 2024.

Sophia started her hospitality career in 2012 after graduating from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. Her first experience at the President Wilson Hotel, Geneva, for an F&B Management traineeship was soon followed by a role with Hyatt in human resources. But with a need to understand and master the operational side of the hotel industry, she took on guest-facing roles with Four Seasons, Sofitel and Ritz Carlton before realizing that her true passion for people was in human resources.

Xavier Rambaud describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur” and in this podcast he speaks to us about his latest entrepreneurial adventure, Maison Epigenitic in Paris, France. Maison Epigenitic’s mission is to keep people in good health and it is a place dedicated to the adoption of an epigenetic lifestyle, a preventive and holistic method that encourages individuals to become actors in their own well-being and health. This approach aims to personalize health strategies based on each individual’s unique needs to optimize health and performance.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management and Real Estate & Revenue Management, he went on to work in several luxury hotels before developing his first entrepreneurial ideas. In this podcast, Xavier explains how his hospitality background has helped him in his current role as CEO of Maison Epigenitic.

Xavier Rambaud is the co-founder and CEO of Maison Epigenetic, a company at the forefront of the healthcare and wellness industry. Since its opening in March 2021, Maison Epigenetic has been pioneering a unique concept centered around epigenetics, a science that demonstrates the significant impact of our environment and lifestyle on our health. This Paris-based enterprise is dedicated to offering ultra-personalized preventive health programs, leveraging data-driven results through the advanced science of epigenetics, acknowledged as a critical component of longevity science.

Xavier's journey in entrepreneurship and his passion for integrating science and wellness into practical applications began soon after his graduation from Glion in 2016. His educational background, coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit, equipped him with the necessary tools and insights to quickly immerse himself in the world of startups. Maison Epigenetic is his second startup venture, after Triptwin which was a "travel matching app".

Maison Epigenetic, co-founded by Xavier Rambaud along with Doctor Valerie Leduc and Henri-Nicolas Olivier, represents a new, integrative approach to health. It is both preventive and personalized, aiming to impact health, beauty, and well-being by merging the best of scientific and technological innovations. The company is described as a ‘blue zone' committed to the harmony of body and mind, underscoring its holistic approach to wellness. 

In this podcast we talk to Yahya Shakhshir about Hospitality education and training in Vancouver, Canada.  Yahya is currently the President at Cornerstone International Community College of Canada, one of the top private Colleges located in Vancouver.  He is a passionate, driven and dedicated hotelier with 18 years in the Hospitality and Education industry. He has international experience in 9 different countries, with expertise in the field of Rooms Division. 

Yahya shares his experience in hospitality education and his insights into how hospitality education in Canada is different from other countries, and how private hospitality colleges differ from public institutions.  With a pragmatic approach to hospitality training, Yahya explains why practical training is so important for young people entering the hospitality field today.  He also touches upon micro-credentials, a way for working adults in the hospitality field to pursue life-long learning.  Finally, Yahya talks about why immigration is so important, not only for Canada’s hospitality and tourism sectors, but for their technical and IT sectors as well.

Yahya is a member of the British Columbia Hotel Association BCHA, Customer Advisory Board member and Faculty member of AHLEI (American Hotel Lodging Educational Institute) and he has successfully taught 20+ Hospitality and Business courses to hundreds of students throughout his career. In addition, he has helped create and develop new programs and courses and ensured instructors are all well-trained and evaluated to maintain quality standards.
 
 Yahya has recently launched a Hospitality training and consulting firm focusing on improving operational and conceptual skills within the Hotel Industry.