Coaches and Consultants

Blogs from Hotel, Hospitality and Tourism Coaches and Consultants:

Hospitality Re-Defined

Hospitality Re-Defined is a blog by Dale Dyck, a dynamic natural leader who provides a balanced approach to results, ensuring the maximization of ALL of the pillars of a successful operation, with equal emphasis on strong Financial Results, Exceptional Guest Service and Guest Loyalty, and Employee Engagement.

Score Update: Union 1, Airline 0

Technology - Friend or Foe?

Exceeding Conference and Event Clients Expectations – A Full Time Job

Airline Flight Departure Times - It's Anybody's Guess

A Sense of Urgency

Getting to Delight

Getting to delight is a powerful way of life to create happiness for the people around you by being happy yourself – It all begins with you. Hotel Trainer, Vasanth shares the “Getting to Delight” philosophy through training programs from May 2008.

Invictus - Wed, 24 Aug 2011

August 22^nd 2011 marked the beginning of 6^th year of fantastic and transformed life for me. Earlier I had crashed from riches to rags in terms of heath and ended up being in and out of a hospital for 18 long months. Thinking back now, I cannot say life was hell but it was teaching me a hard lesson. I say transformed because I have stopped complaining. How has this helped? - Enhanced quality of life and happiness.

Last week I was participating in a training session and as the members of the audience were asked to say the one thing they love most, I said “Life itself”. I didn’t have to think much to say it as I have and will continue to enjoy everything about life.

Many a times it’s the seeming disasters in people’s lives that makes them stronger, pushes them hard and helps harness the “real power” inside them which would have never surfaced otherwise.

Here are some words from great people who believed and proved to the world “For everything you have missed, you have gained something else”:

"I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God". –Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. A prolific author, Keller was well-traveled, and was outspoken in her opposition to war. A member of the Socialist party of America and the Wobblies, she campaigned for women's suffrage, worker's rights and socialism, as well as many other leftist causes.

Harold Russel said, "There is no easy for formula for a Happy Living. Anyone who says he has one is either joking or lying. Even if I could, I have no desire or intention of putting forth any patented, neatly packaged recipe of my own. But there is one simple thought; I should like to pass on, if I may. It is no sure-fire prescription for happiness; it is not guaranteed to bring in any blue birds singing in your backyard. I offer it mainly because I found it can help prevent much vain regret and self defeat. It is not what you have lost but what you have left that counts. Too many of us squander precious energy, time, and courage dreaming of things that were and never can be again, instead of dedicating ourselves to realities and the heavy tasks of today".

He was an Army instructor, and while training with the US 13th Airborne dvision stateside in 1944, a defective fuse detonated an explosive he was handling while making a training film. As a result, he lost both hands and was given two hooks to serve as hands. Russell slowly fought his way back to radiant triumph and victory in life. He played a lead role the film “Best years of our lives” for which he won two of Hollywood’s Prized Academy Awards. He created a world of difference to a lot of physically challenged people by going around on lecture tours, speaking on radio etc.

Are we really free “to be, to do and to live?” - Tue, 16 Aug 2011

As I entered my client location today which happens to be a wonderful hotel after the Independence Day long weekend here, being welcomed with a warm genuine smile by the front desk team felt terrific. “Oh we distributed flags to all guests who arrived yesterday” was the response I received when asked “How did it go yesterday guys?” Guess I could not have got a more innocent reply.

One of the more timid girls at the reception asked me “Sir, and how did you spend your Independence Day?” With the intent of making them think and think hard I replied, “I was trying to figure out the list of factors that control and influence my life and those I need to be really free from”.

In fact, I had been pondering about this over the last 24 hours from the time the nation began celebrating its 64^th year of Independence. Here’s my question to you - Are you really free?

Being yourself and your ability to make choices, live a life that you really dream or want is how I would like to define freedom. While there are many External factors that influence our freedom, I classify them asEnvironment, Conditions, People and Things.

If you have to behave in a manner in which you are not comfortable or rather not used to, this is an example of the “Environment” which compels behavior modifications. While this may be to some degree positive in shaping your etiquette, If it is distressing and not understood by you, chances are it will only get worse.

If you are still working for an industry / company where you no longer enjoy what you do (or) you are attempting to learn/educate yourself by force than by choice (or) your family background and socio economic status does not allow you to be what you want to be, then these are classic examples of “Conditions”.

There is no end to the list of “People” who we need to think of or consult before making choices or decisions which may or may not affect them – Our parents, spouse, children, siblings, lover, friends, boss etc.

Have you read so far without answering your mobile, reading an SMS, or being pinged by a contact on Google, twitter, facebook or not compelled to look at some sensational news on TV, you know what “Things” I am talking about J

Awareness of Internal Factors like deep seated Inner thoughts, Jealousy, Worries, Fear, and Negativity is an important step in declaring independence of the inner self – True liberation and a Sense of Consciousness.

Perhaps the most dangerous of all and the one to be chased away...Paying attention? I just said Chase away not just to be free from is being “I, ME, MYSELF”. I dread mentioning this word like how none of the witches and wizards in Harry Potter Series dare speak Lord Voldemorts name, instead referring to him as "You-Know-Who", "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" or "the Dark Lord”. Yes for once and one last time, let me say it in a hush hush tone and don’t read it aloud – ego.

Let me share a true story from Naval Proceedings Manual that Stephen Covey narrates on a different context;

On a dark and stormy night, the Captain of a ship at sea received a frantic wake up call.

“Captain, Captain, Wake Up”.

“What is it?”

“Sorry to wake you, Sir, bit we have a real problem”

“What is it?”

“There is a ship in our sea lane, several miles away and they refuse to move”.

“Tell them to move”.

“We have, Sir. They just won’t move”.

“I’ll tell them. Move starboard 20 degrees”

The signal returned, “Move starboard yourself, 20 degrees”

“I can’t believe this”, roared the Captain. “Who is this joker? Does he know I am the Captain, tell him who I am”.

The signal goes out, “This is Captain Horatio Hornblower, the 26^th, commanding you to move starboard 20 degrees, at once”

The signal returns, “This is Seaman Carl Jones, the 3^rd, commanding you to move starboard 20 degrees, at once”

“I can’t believe this. What arrogance. We are a battleship. We could blow them out of the water. Let him know who we are!”

“This is mighty Missouri, flagship of the seventh fleet”.

The signal returned, “This is the lighthouse” J

I must say that I am still learning not to be a prisoner or victim of you-know-what J and of course don’t forget, how free you are depends on your state of mind too – Keep it positive and Stay conscious and live in the present.

Happy Independence Day!!!