samuel wich
Sustainable Tourism: A Long Road Ahead
Samuel Wich | March 4, 2020
By Samuel Wich Every single second, more than 30 tourists arrive at their destination worldwide. With more than 1 billion passengers projected to travel in 2020, the effect tourism has on the environment cannot be underestimated. “Sustainability” has been one of the biggest buzz words of the past decade in the industry. Yet, the proliferation of its use is not necessarily a good thing. Like other terms that are often used in marketing to promote some products or services of virtually any company, (e.g. “eco-friendly” or “green”), the word itself has in many instances lost its true meaning. According to the United Nations, su...
Is 2020 the Year of Sustainable Business in Hospitality?
Samuel Wich | February 24, 2020
By Samuel Wich From Greta Thunberg sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to attending a conference in New York, to protesters all around the world taking to the streets in peaceful demonstrations - 2019 saw a huge uptick in activities related to climate change and environmental issues. Movements such as the Extinction Rebellion are attracting the attention of millions through creative displays, for instance, by floating a life-size model of a typical suburban house down the river Thames as a warning about rising sea levels. Stark actions like these are turning the crisis from an abstract collection of scientific data into a visually compr...
The Future of Food: What Is It Made Of?
Samuel Wich | January 3, 2020
By Samuel Wich At long last, traditional food production is about to be disrupted. The future of food is high-tech, local and taking into account the needs of our planet. The way food has been produced in the past has led to countless problems. At long last, traditional farming and distribution practices are about to be disrupted. The future of food is high-tech, local and taking into account the needs of our planet. What is the future of food made of, why we cannot continue the way we used to produce and what practices will be replacing current approaches of handling food? The future of food: new realities for the industry Currentl...
Human Trafficking: What Hotels Are Doing to Prevent It
Samuel Wich | April 24, 2019
By Samuel Wich According to the Global Slavery Index, an estimated 40.3 million men, women, and children were victims of modern slavery on any given day in 2016. With the International Labor Organization estimating annual profits from forced labor at 150 billion USD, it is the world's second largest criminal industry and affects all countries. The victims of these crimes have to endure forced labor, sexual exploitation, organ removal or forced marriage. The fight against modern slavery starts by acknowledging and identifying the issue. In 2015, the UK government intensified their efforts by issuing the Modern Slavery Act, calling for mo...
Three Things Entrepreneurs and Business Owners Can Learn From Hospitality
Samuel Wich | February 15, 2019
By Samuel Wich #1 - Hire the right people and treat them appropriately Whenever an employee is in contact with a customer, this presents an opportunity to leave a great impression in that customer's mind. No matter if it's at a fast food restaurant, drive-through or at the counter of a high-end bank. Companies should focus on hiring people who naturally enjoy being in front of customers and who love putting smiles on people's faces. Aside from a new hire's background and technical ability, their willingness to go above and beyond to satisfy a customer should come at the top of the list in recruitment efforts. Although technical skills a...
Five Ways Smart Hotel Rooms Will Make Travelers’ Lives Easier
Samuel Wich | September 10, 2018
By Samuel Wich In an industry as asset heavy as hotels, innovation is often lagging behind other sectors. It's simply easier and more cost-efficient to tweak an app or to install that new piece of equipment in a factory than it is to equip hundreds of thousands of rooms with the latest technological achievements. The investment necessary to fundamentally modernize the industry is immense. Yet there are smart ways to do it so you don't only improve guest experience but also increase your margins in the process. A little under a year has passed since both Hilton and Marriott announced their plans to take a large step into the age of digit...
The Origins of the Hospitality Industry and What Lies Ahead
Samuel Wich | August 20, 2018
By Samuel Wich Away from home, surrounded by strangers and yet you feel welcome. The original idea of hospitality has remained unchanged since the creation of the word itself. Derived from the Latin word "hospes", meaning both visitor and stranger, hospitality has its roots in ancient history. Thousands of years ago, when road networks were scarce and traveling was cumbersome strangers arriving in a foreign land had to rely on either their camping skills or a local's kindness when looking for shelter. During the age of pilgrimage and the development of major trade routes throughout Europe, it was mostly inns and taverns offering primiti...
