Mr. Belmonte

Executive Leadership

Creating Future Leaders in the Hospitality Industry

By Steven Belmonte, CEO, Vimana Franchise Systems LLC

Singer Bob Dylan said it best when he penned the now-famous catchphrase - these times are a'changing. I'm a big advocate on change. I like the challenges and advancement it brings to my personal and professional life. The business world is evolving with the advent of technological advances; the financial industry is changing its course to adapt with the growing global marketplace and unification of currencies; and the hospitality industry is incorporating all of the abovementioned changes into its mission plans to better serve its guests.

It goes without saying that in order for enterprises to be successful, there need to be leaders at the helm. Some say leaders are born, others believe they are trained; but I believe that with the right tools and encouragement, leaders can come into their own in the hospitality industry.

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." - President John F. Kennedy

A key priority in creating leaders is education. This is an ongoing process that doesn't end with a degree in hand. There are the latest property management systems that need to be mastered and incorporated at properties, new generational marketing tools need to be applied to attract a new and larger consumer base, and seminars to be enrolled in to learn of new trends in the industry. In order to be a leader, one needs to be in tune with the developments in their field. A good hotel owner should encourage his/her staff to pursue educational and certification advancement in the lodging sector. A good start is with the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) certification. More information on this program can be found online at http://www.ei-ahla.org/certification_cha.asp

As your business and brand continues to expand, so will opportunities to create leaders in various fields within the hospitality industry - such as brand management, public relations, guest relations, online development, marketing, account management, and accounting. Many community colleges offer short-term certification courses in the latest technologies that your property may wish to invest in to streamline business. Designating a leader from your team of employees to take the class may be an effective method in ensuring leadership-building skills. My advice to hoteliers is to help employees reach their potential heights by providing them with the educational opportunities that are available.

"Leadership is getting someone to do what they don't want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve." - Football coach Tom Landry

Another method for developing leaders is investing in staff members and empowering them with decision making roles. When employees have a vested interest in their company and its direction, they go the extra mile to ensure business is being done ethically, effectively, and efficiently. The little things that make or break a property's first impression - like creating a better curb appeal, restriping the parking lot, and de-cluttering the lobby area - will most likely be taken care of before they become a problem by employees. When employees are provided with motivational tools as fast-track managerial positions and community liaisons, they are encouraged to lead and be creative. Creativity, in turn, is a cornerstone to marketing your property.

A tactic I like to engage in is finding out the passions and interests of employees. If someone, be it the doorman or Front Desk receptionist, has artistic skills, I offer them the opportunity to design banners, promotional materials for upcoming events at the hotel. The same is true with language abilities, software coding, and interior design. These are areas where every property can benefit from and can create leaders in that area.

Most cities have Chambers of Commerce that have leadership seminars and networking social hours. I highly encourage owners to get their employees actively involved as members of business organizations. As representatives of your property, they are getting their name and your business out to the community. They are being afforded an opportunity to associate with other leaders in the area and generating potential business partners for your property.

"If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Author Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I also advise hoteliers to step back and let employees assume the role of a leader. A great analogy in building future leaders is that of a baseball manager. He hangs out in the dugout while the players are out on the field playing. One cannot gain leadership skills without being given opportunities or experience.

"A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done." - Great American Designer Ralph Lauren

On a personal note and in closing, one of my great friends and par-excellence hospitality leaders is Roger Bloss. He is a leader because eight-years ago he challenged the norm of conventional hotel franchising and set out to create a new breed of leaders on the individual hotel level as opposed to solely on the corporate side. Roger pioneered - and continues to perfect - the concept of Freestyle brand Membership Model. In a nutshell, Roger's mission plan was to present hotel owners, or in this case, members, with the freedom to operate and market properties based on meeting the demands of their customers while enjoying the national brand recognition and resources associated with a national hotel chain. Hence the birth of the global Vantage brand hotel chains. I believed in Roger's leadership, vision, and conviction so much so that I actually became a partner in the brand.

Inspiration is a great example of being a leader. Roger was able to inspire me, a then-retired 30-year veteran in the hospitality industry, to jump back into the hospitality industry.

Vimana Franchise Systems LLC is a hotel franchise company owned by CEO Steve Belmonte, President Neal Jackson and Vice President Cory Jackson Jr. In May 2011, Vimana Franchise Systems launched the Centerstone brand as a three-segment franchise designed to create a fair and cost effective model for the hospitality industry. In November 2011, Key West Inns was re-launched under the Vimana Franchise ownership umbrella as a fun and uniquely themed leisure brand. For more information on Vimana Franchise Systems LLC, contact Steve Belmonte at (407) 654-5540 steve@vimanafs.com. Visit Vimana Franchise Systems online at www.VimanaFS.com. Visit Centerstone online at www.centerstonehotels.com, on Twitter at @Centerstonehtls, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Centerstonehotels. Visit Key West Inns online at www.staykeywesthotels.com, on Twitter at @StayKeyWest, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/staykeywest. Mr. Belmonte can be contacted at 407-654-5540 or steve@centerstonehotels.com Extended Bio...

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