Dr. Steffen Raub
What Hospitals Can Learn From the Hospitality Industry – The Strategic Perspective
EHL | August 19, 2024
A strategic look at what hospitals stand to learn from their neighboring industry, hospitality. Though serving different purposes, both sectors share potential success factors. In terms of developing a stronger sense of customer satisfaction for the patient, many lessons can be learnt from analysing what hospitality strives to do well. Some parallels between hospitals and hospitality At first sight, the healthcare and hospitality industries appear to be miles apart. However, a closer look reveals many parallels between the two - and these are not limited to the common Latin root of the words hospital and hospitality. The core mission of a...
Leading Change Effectively – Insights From Top Hospitality Leaders
EHL | July 19, 2024
Dr. Stefano Borzillo, Dr. Steffen Raub Welcome to a collection of insights and learnings based on the lived experiences of some of the many hospitality managers encountered at EHL. Based on practicing a set of key principles and behaviors, becoming an effective change leader is a skill that develops over time. The need for constant change It has become almost commonplace to state that change is everywhere around us. And yet, it is true that in complex and challenging business contexts few organizations can be successful without continuously questioning and adapting their way of doing things to the changing realities of the industry aroun...
Holacracy or Wholly Crazy? Is a Flattened Hierarchy Suitable to Hospitality?
EHL Staff | August 2, 2023
By Dr. Steffen Raub, Dr. Bertrand Audrin, Dr. Stefano Borzillo One concept in the hospitality sector, known for its traditionally very vertical hierarchical structure, is sparking discussion about the future of specific hospitality industry organizations. It's called “holacracy,” a flattened organizational structure that seeks to distribute authority and empower employees at all levels. But is this innovative approach compatible with the hospitality industry's complex, highly hierarchical dynamics? In this article, we examine the question: Is a flattened organizational structure suitable for organizations in the hospitality industry? ...
Sustainable Actions in Hospitality: A Driver for Competitive Advantage
Dr. Steffen Raub | January 4, 2023
By Dr. Steffen Raub Sustainability – A change in perspective The knee jerk reaction of many hoteliers to the topic of sustainability is likely to include statements like “I’d love to, but I can’t afford it …”, “We don’t have the bandwidth…” or “Of all industries, why should hospitality pay to save the planet…?” We suggest a change in perspective. Could sustainability not be seen as a win-win? Could it be that there is untapped potential in sustainability that progressive hospitality firms may be able to uncover? What if engagement in sustainability would not only help the planet and society-at-large but also...
How Hospitality Students See Their Future in the Industry
Steffen Raub | July 7, 2022
By Dr. Steffen Raub, Catherine Rey Survey insights that explore how the hospitality industry is currently offering both opportunities and drawbacks in the eyes of today's young hospitality students. If the post-Covid labor shortage is to pick up, all key stakeholders must collaborate closely to refresh areas ranging from curriculums to working hours. Worker shortage in the hospitality industry – A chronic problem The hospitality industry is a people business and a labor-intensive industry that produces a considerable number of direct and indirect jobs worldwide. The attraction, selection and retention of “top talent” is theref...
Sustainability in Hospitality: Putting Construction Issues First
Dr Ricardo J. Da Silva Lima | September 9, 2021
Dr Steffen Raub & Dr Ricardo J. Da Silva Lima Hospitality firms are increasingly keen to jump on the sustainability bandwagon. However, too often they get lost in the complexity of the subject and limit their engagement to unimaginative solutions such as towel reuse in bathrooms. Much larger challenges loom in the physical infrastructure of the hotel itself. In this short paper we outline some important sustainability challenges for hotels from a building perspective. It’s all about energy When asked about the top three sustainability issues related to commercial buildings, most experts will tell you: energy, en...
How to Promote Empowerment in Hospitality Through Servant Leadership
Dr. Steffen Raub | May 28, 2021
By Dr. Steffen Raub Putting people ahead of power is not the usual leadership paradigm most of us are accustomed to, and yet, research is beginning to show that amazing things can happen when leaders decide to make serving their team a priority. Traditional power leadership models turned upside down When we think about leaders, the idea of “serving” others is usually the last that comes to our mind. Leaders are depicted as those who drive, who give orders, directions and whose instructions need to be followed. Subordinates serve leaders, not the other way round, right? Is “servant leadership” nothing more than an oxymoron? W...
