The “American Dream” can be something that people from all over the globe aspire to obtain at some point, and for others, it can be an opportunity that presents itself when you least expect it. The school and career path of Katharina Kuehnle, who now works as a consulting and valuation analyst for HVS, can give hope to any students who are in their final years of school, and still don’t know what job opportunities they would like to pursue, or even what cou...

I had the pleasure of attending the HR & Diversity Summit in Boston last week as a member of the “young professionals” panel A View of the Industry: The Next Generation . I was very proud...

The popularity of user review sites and social media has created a new, more public arena for guests to share feedback about the quality of their stays, bringing quality assurance efforts to the forefront of branding strategies for many hotel companies. Josh Kudisch, the young professional profiled, is the person responsible for working with top hospitality companies to maximize the quality of their products and increase brand loyalty. Qualit...

A first, post-graduation, career is often accompanied by many exciting changes and equally overwhelming challenges. Receiving a full-time, “grown-up” paycheck is one of the best welcomings into the working world that a young professional can get. No more unpaid internships, no more volunteering, no more minimum-wage, entry-level jobs, no more loans from the bank of mom and dad, and no more living off of student loans. While receiving that fir...

This week’s Young Professional Profile highlights a young professional that is contributing to the “family business." Mark Williams, the director of development with Coakley & Williams, grew up around hotels and had variety of roles with the properties in the Coakley & Williams portfolio from a very young age. What’s interesting about his story is that, even though his family is in the business, Mark has a degree in hospitality manage...

Digital and social media has created a relentless pace of change for the hospitality industry according to Laurence Geller, CEO of Strategic Hotels and Resorts. The new generation of hoteliers can capitalize on these...

This week’s Young Professional Profile focuses on Erin Fitzharris and her transition from operations to the corporate side of the business. There are a multitude of growth and career progression options in the hospitality industry, however, transitioning into a corporate role with an operational background is a difficult feat to accomplish before the age of 30. Erin explains some of the challenges she has faced in her leadership roles and offers advice to o...

In the hospitality industry, sales is often considered one of the most difficult departments for fresh graduates to enter. Hotels typically look for sales associates with experience in preparing and negotiating contracts, a network of clients, and a proven track record for hitting and exceeding their sales goals. The first “Young Professional Profile” is dedicated to Katie Murray, small meetings manager at TradeWinds Island Resorts, who was able to not only...

I am pleased to continue blogging with Lodging from the perspective of a “young professional” as I have graduated from the “student perspective” status and have begun my career with HVS Executive Search. At such an early stage in my career, I am fortunate to be in a position that provides me with exposure to many hospita...