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How to become an international hotelier
Students at Japan Hotel School, a vocational school, aim to become international hoteliers.
I had some questions about the differences in services that Japanese people and foreigners find pleasing, and what foreign hoteliers value. I decided to ask the professionals about anything I didn't understand!
Mr. Sutta, General Manager of Shangri-La Tokyo
Interview with Mr. Sutta, General Manager of Shangri-La Tokyo
Thinking, "We might as well hear from foreign hoteliers who have different cultures, customs, and values," first-year students in the English major came up with a plan to write a questionnaire in English and have them respond.
This time, Mr. Suter, general manager of a foreign-owned five-star luxury hotel, agreed to help.
Q: What is an important point to entertain customers from all over the world?
What is important when welcoming guests from all over the world?
A: Always be open minded, friendly, and hospitable. Everyone likes to interact with a friendly person that has a smile. And never “judge a book by its cover,” you never know who you are meeting.
Always be flexible, friendly, and hospitable. People like you when you see a nice smile and are friendly. And never judge someone by their appearance. You can't really tell what kind of person they are just by their appearance.
Q: What kind of person is suited to be a staff in a foreign-affiliated hotel?
What kind of person is suitable to work at a foreign-owned hotel?
A: Positive attitude and interested in other cultures, the language skill is secondary as you can learn/improve it when you are in that country. Be brave and open for a life enriching challenge and make friends around the world.
First of all, have a positive attitude and be interested in different cultures. Language skills are secondary (because you can learn and improve your language skills by going abroad). Take on the challenge to enrich your life and make friends all over the world.
Taking the initiative to immerse yourself in a different culture
Be brave and jump into different cultures, and take the initiative to make friends all over the world!
And it's important to repeatedly experience and feel things. Mr. Suter taught us that the most important thing is to have a "desire to improve without setting limits."
This interview with Mr. Suter was a valuable experience that went beyond the limitations of "school."
I want to help you take on a positive challenge
In order to achieve the "future we envision," the process of resolving doubts is important. I am proud of the students who actually took action.
Students considering working in overseas hotels or foreign-owned hotels often have to "take on challenges in English," which gives them the opportunity to encounter different cultures and many "opportunities to take on challenges."
It was a valuable experience for the students to ask Mr. Sutter for his opinion and for him to respond to their wishes, and I am confident that this will be an asset for the students' future.