The Hospitality Industry -Op-Ed
H?tel Ritz Paris

The Hospitality Industry -Op-Ed

As I have mentioned in previous articles, my passion for the hotel industry began at a very young age, when I spend my summers at my grandparents’ condo. I became friends of the people who worked there and, little by little, they became my family. This experience made me maintain a very special and personal bond with hotels, because I consider everyone who works in them as my family.

When the pandemic arrived, I realized that it affected me personally, as I closed a cycle, but it also affected my other colleagues, many with which I was able to work. From this, I began to be interested in knowing what had happened to hotels in the past and how our industry has been changing. 

I remembered that André Balazs (one of the great hoteliers with whom I had the privilege of working and being part of his team) has always been an admirer of the great hotelier César Ritz. César Ritz was the creator of one of the biggest and most important hotels in the world, the Paris Ritz. This hotel opened in 1898 after the cholera epidemic, one of its greatest contributions to the industry was putting bathrooms inside the rooms. Thanks to this it became one of the first hotels to change hygiene standards. Today, the Ritz remains one of the best hotels in the world. 

César Ritz

Hotelier César Ritz

This anecdote reassured me, and I began to reflect on how this industry has been and it will continue to be an important part of my life, and I could say, an important part of everyone’s life.

This example made me think of others in this pandemic context, and how it has forced to change hygiene measures. For example, respected chef Alain Ducasse was one of the first to adapt to the new safety standards at the legendary bistro Allard in Paris. He tells how at a month and a half of the pandemic he found himself in the difficult task of innovating and set up an emergency team so that he could reopen. The team had to adapt the restaurant with air filters similar to those used by hospitals, they take the air from outside, clean it, while expelling the air from the restaurant. 

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Chef Alain Ducasse

Other hotels, such as Sixty Hotels, took the difficult decision to remain open, following their passion of providing service in good times as well as in bad. They invited several doctors to develop a hygiene action plan to take care of the guests, and of course their team. 

Undoubtedly the hotel industry is living difficult times and the effort to keep moving forward is exhausting, however, this industry is not in pause, on the contrary, it is reinventing itself right now. During these pandemic months, we have been forced to reflect, to grow and to adapt. What I see in the hotel industry is that it is an industry that returns more united, resilient and innovative.

I think that, once this chapter has passed, we will all be surprised by how much we can handle. I also think that, as in any crisis, people always seek to return to familiar places, therefore, it is important to return to those hotels that are familiar to us, that make us feel at home and that, in addition, seek to take care of us with their new hygiene standards. In times of crisis it is important to be able to recognize this feeling, and what better way than to be in those hotels. We will certainly continue to face new challenges, but most importantly, we will continue creating new memories with our loved ones. 


Heidi Breitenmoser

New Age Recruiter ?? for Hospitality Companies & UHNWI’s & Coach for Top Talents. I accelerate hiring with proactive strategies, using Video Interview Trailers ??, saving you time and money by boosting your bottom line

4 年

I love the way you look at it , the angle you take in this article, the story that reflects through it.

Christophe NAUDIN

business development / marketing

4 年

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Jelissa Toro Reid

Senior Regional Director of Commercial Strategy, Northeast US

4 年

Well written, I love history! Thank you Michel!

David Lemmond

Hospitality Leader - Culture + Independent Brand Champion - What's Next?

4 年

The spirit of Hospitality is alive! Thanks Michel!!

Joey Jalleo

Principal at JalleoWorld

4 年

Michelito Heredia 2024! Well done!

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