Our new Master’s in Hospitality Strategy and Digital Transformation from Les Roches, World’s top 3 institutions in Switzerland (QS World University Ranking 2020)
The first of its kind in the world – is designed to make you ready to seize these opportunities to shape the hospitality industry of tomorrow.
The only Master’s program in the world that prepares students for a successful career in hospitality strategy, entrepreneurship, revenue optimization and digital transformation.
Across 12 months on campus (plus 6-month internship or capstone project) you’ll fast- track your leadership career in hospitality and beyond.
Campus Crans-Montana, Switzerland Optional Internship or Capstone Project and 1 Field Trip
For more information please contact:
Tel. 02-106-2541-2, 081-9208882
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LINE: @ekthana or Click > https://line.me/R/ti/p/%40ekthana
Email: info@ekthana.com
Website: www.ekthana.com
Barbara Czyzewska, head of our Bachelor specialization in Luxury Brand Management, offers an expert perspective on the post-COVID prospects for the luxury industry.
The COVID-19 crisis is the kind of situation that our world has never experienced before. Not only has it turned into a global pandemic but, more importantly from a consumer behavior point of view, it has impacted individuals from all walks of life and all social and economic statuses.
The virus does not spare members of royal families or top political leaders; individuals who often appear to be resistant to any other kind of crisis. The unique character of this situation has immense impact on consumers’ willingness to spend money or, perhaps more accurately, their perception of spending money.
As reported by the Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS), coronavirus has strongly impacted the way consumers perceive their financial situation. This sentiment has particularly affected high-income customers (the Index focuses on the American market) and consequently their confidence around discretionary spending. In other words, people no longer feel comfortable spending large amounts of money on goods and services which are not strictly necessary.
Consequently, Altagamma, in association with Boston Consulting Group and Bernstein, estimated that the COVID-19 global crisis will lead a drop of between €30 billion and €40 billion in sales for the luxury industry. Despite these gloomy analyses, however, there is no doubt that the industry will bounce back. The question being when and in what format? There are several elements that luxury companies should be taking into consideration right now in preparation for this revival.
Human nature doesn’t change
One of the most striking characteristics of the luxury sector is that spending is often based not on rational decision-making process and reasoning, but on emotions and feelings. While this unexpected crisis will undoubtedly have a strong impact on societies, it is unlikely to affect the very roots of human nature.
After potentially months of austerity and isolation, customers may, indeed, be willing to go back to their lives from before the pandemic and enjoy luxury services including luxury travel, entertainment, food and beverage and spa services.
According to Chris Gray, founder of consumer psychology consultancy Buycology, the spending in times of crisis tends to be about identity and security. Combining this with the essence of luxury, which is often based on conspicuous consumption or at least signaling status, both luxury products and services are bound to be popular again. We can already see evidence of this mechanism, with Hermès reporting a record $2.7million in sales the first day it re-opened its flagship store in Guangzhou.
When borders re-open for travel
It is difficult to predict exactly what kind of travel and hospitality services customers will be choosing immediately after the crisis. It is safe to say, however, that typical holidays such as ‘sun, sand and sea’, skiing, sightseeing and shopping are virtually certain to be in demand.
Some analysts claim that domestic travel will regain its strength faster than international travel. While this is very likely to be true for low to mid-level services, luxury hospitality businesses will probably start receiving bookings as soon as borders re-open. What they, however, must ensure is that they are ready for when this happens.
To recover fully from the current crisis and the inevitable economic hardship it’s causing, businesses will need to think creatively about their operations. Mergers, partnerships and cooperation between different brands and different sectors of the industry can undoubtedly strengthen the positions of smaller players. What is positive to see is that some countries, and indeed their citizens, are already thinking of the future and promoting themselves as destinations which are willing to welcome tourists as soon as this is possible. Italy and Cyprus being excellent examples of such initiatives.
What is today’s news will become textbook case studies and marketing stories for the next few decades. Today is the time to build strong brands for the future.
Don’t ignore the heritage
What is important to remember is that luxury brands are based on stories and heritage. This is a unique time for companies to show what their values truly are and how much they are prepared to give to support these values.
What is today’s news will become textbook case studies and marketing stories for the next few decades. Today is the time to build strong brands for the future. In this difficult situation, many luxury companies are actively supporting the battle against the virus through in-kind or financial donations. Moncler, Richemont Group, Ralph Lauren and Capri Holdings are among the many companies who provided financial contributions to associations and hospitals.
Other corporations, such as the Armani Group and LVMH, have converted their production sites into factories to create materials to help countries with shortages of medical supplies. Bulgari has turned its perfume factories into hand sanitizer manufacturers, whereas Armani Group is producing hospital gowns. Many fashion brands are sewing face masks, which are in high demand worldwide. These are all excellent initiatives, both from social responsibility and marketing strategy points of view.
Such initiatives not only help fight the outbreak, they also show that, in hardship, human safety is the priority for everyone. For luxury brands, such community acts are a way for their companies to show consumers that they truly care about them. All major companies boast excellent corporate social responsibly policies; but in the current situation, these are being put to the test. CEOs and owners of companies around the world are being watched and constantly judged on their leadership skills and on decisions they make in these testing times. Some of them, including Arne Sorenson of Marriott, are seen as modern heroes; others have managed to permanently destroy their brands.
COVID-19 might have changed the way we work, interact, shop and spend time. But it will not change who we are and what we want from life. Having had time to reflect, people will value authenticity and meaningful values more than ever before. And finally, after months of isolation and anxiety, customers around the world will want to experience life again.
Companies which can figure out how to offer experiences instead of services, will be leading the way.
Source: https://www.glion.edu/blog/future-luxury-industry-after-covid19-crisis/
Online Personal Consultation in Asia Pacific with Les Roches, World’s top 3 institutions in Switzerland (QS World University Ranking 2020)
Date:
- Saturday 30th May 2020
- Sunday 31st May 2020
Time: 10:00AM – 5:30PM
Register at: https://bit.ly/2AMgY0N
*Register early to secure your preferred time slot.
**Parents are welcome to join in the session.
Sessions are hosted by:
Mariano Demartino Regional Admissions Director – Asia Pacific
New individual counselling sessions with Les Roches enable you to identify how our courses can turn your potential into the skills and knowledge needed to be a transformative force in hospitality.
Your conversation with one of our admissions specialists will answer your key questions, and highlight how Les Roches empowers you with one of the world’s most bespoke environments for learning. Take this first step towards future-proofing your career prospects.
For more information please contact:
Tel. 02-106-2541-2, 081-9208882
Facebook: Ekthana Education Services
Instagram: ekthanaeducation
LINE: @ekthana or Click > https://line.me/R/ti/p/%40ekthana
Email: info@ekthana.com
Website: www.ekthana.com
Online Personal Consultation in Asia Pacific with Glion, World’s top 3 institutions in Switzerland (QS World University Ranking 2020)
Date:
- Saturday 30th May 2020
- Sunday 31st May 2020
Time: 10:00AM – 5:30PM
Register at: https://bit.ly/2LOhIVz
*Register early to secure your preferred time slot.
**Parents are welcome to join in the session.
Sessions are hosted by:
Mariano Demartino Regional Admissions Director – Asia Pacific
New individual counselling sessions with Glion enable you to identify how our courses can turn your potential into the skills and knowledge needed to be a transformative force in hospitality.
Your conversation with one of our admissions specialists will answer your key questions, and highlight how Glion empowers you with one of the world’s most bespoke environments for learning. Take this first step towards future-proofing your career prospects.
For more information please contact:
Tel. 02-106-2541-2, 081-9208882
Facebook: Ekthana Education Services
Instagram: ekthanaeducation
LINE: @ekthana or Click > https://line.me/R/ti/p/%40ekthana
Email: info@ekthana.com
Website: www.ekthana.com
Have you ever scrolled through a fitness page on Instagram and thought “I would really love to do a class like that”. Or heard a song and thought “I could play that” but then for whatever reason kept scrolling and never got around to trying it out? Student Ambassador Candelaria Surur says now is the time to turn a difficult situation into an opportunity.
For all of the things that have been canceled, and all of our past procrastination, we finally have an unexpected opportunity to work on ourselves; to do more of the things that make us happy. Time and desire are the only things you need to get started. The whole world is going through the same thing, at the same time, joined together in a state of isolation.
So please take a look at my Top 10 list of activities that I think, and hope, can help us all to be happy in these strange times we’re in. We can do this. Together!
1) The the time to exercise at home
Exercise empties the mind and fills you with positivity and power. Perfect for getting in the right mindset for the day ahead. Try to do at least one gym class every day. You will see the difference after you’ve done it. And it is so easy to do. Instructors and health coaches all around the world are putting their best efforts into giving out online classes for improving our experience during the quarantine. Simply check on Instagram and you will find many fitness coaches giving out free classes every day. Cardio, pilates, kickboxing, HIIT and Zumba just to name a few! If you are really not into traditional exercising, you can always try out one of the many yoga, stretching and meditation classes they also provide.
There are also a lot of gyms doing online classes in virtual platforms like Zoom, at very low prices. Take advantage of the opportunity to train with great coaches and trainers, from the comfort of your living room. You can change your usual gym equipment for a chair, bench, or even cans and bottles of water that can serve as weights. It’s all about being adaptable.
2) Learn new recipes
Wash your hands, put on some music, and start experimenting in the kitchen. It is such a fulfilling activity that we can do with our families and enjoy spending some time together, while cooking delicious brownies, or cookies, or cakes, or anything you really like to do. But don’t stay in the basic; why not get out of your comfort zone to try new things? Experiment with new recipes, try vegan dishes, gluten-free options, healthy choices, and of course a lot of desserts as well! Cooking is such an amazing and fun activity to do at this moment, and it really does take your mind off things.
3) Grab a book and relax with it
Find a comfy place around your house, maybe outside in the garden, or on that nice sofa in the living room. Grab a book and get immersed in it; you don’t have any time limits or schedules to follow! It’s a fact that reading can reduce stress, and in moments like this we might be filled with anxiety and frustration. Reading is an amazing way to relax.
4) Spend some quality time with your loved ones
If you are lucky enough to be with your family at home, take the time to enjoy and appreciate them. Grab a board game and have a game night all together. Get a glass of wine and some cookies, and sit around the table to share stories and moments together from years gone by. And if you are not with family right now, make a phone call. It’s the sharing of that moment that will make you all feel happier and safer.
5) Connect with friends
Whether you prefer to use FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype, HouseParty, Zoom, Netflix Party, or any other platform that you like, take a moment every day to connect with your friends. Remember, we are all in this together, we all are isolated in our houses, and we all miss our friends so very much!
Call your group of friends often over a video call and play a game altogether, have a laugh, talk about all the things you would do on a random day out with them. And don’t forget to grab a glass of wine (or a soft drink of course!) to toast with them despite the distance!
6) Make Fridays still count as Fridays
Many of us are dealing with schedules that are in ruins and daily lives that are all over the place at the moment. However, don’t forget to still make the weekends count. Either with your family at home, or with your friends over a video call, put on some nice clothes (rather than your pajamas!), turn on some music, grab a drink, and have some laughs all night long with them. We mustn’t lose the sense of fun and parties of the weekends…
There are a lot of places – especially in big cities like my home Buenos Aires – where the view from balconies on a Friday night is of your neighbors pulling out their speakers and all the lights within the building flickering to the rhythm of different songs and partying all together! An incredible experience.
7) Take advantage of classic sports replays
There are no live sports to watch on TV right now (which makes all of us sports fans extremely sad). But there is something amazing going on around the world: many of the classic sports matches from history are being replayed on TV!
Last week, we had the chance to relive matches from the FIFA World Cup 2002, and every day we can get access to new classic games. Take advantage and welcome back your family sports afternoons.
8) Watch more shows and series
We always want more and more time to watch new shows, series and movies. Well, now we have it and we have to make it count! Conveniently, the newest season of Netflix’s world famous and addictive La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) series came out just a few weeks ago. If you haven’t seen it, this is your chance to start watching one of the catchiest and most addictive worldwide shows that we’ve seen in a while. You can also take this time to watch all of those long and deep films you’ve been putting off during the last few months as well.
9) Learn a new language
Because, why not? It is as easy as downloading an app like Duolingo, choosing the language you would like to learn and do a little bit of it every day. It’s a great way to take your mind off things and focus on a specific goal, which can help you organize yourself better during confinement.
10) “Go” to the theater
For Broadway shows and musicals fans, there is good news for you. Theaters have closed their doors across the world. However, platforms like BroadwayHD or Teatrix are streaming different shows to enjoy and watch from the comfort of the sofa at home. The Metropolitan Opera, in New York, is also streaming shows every week for free. Isn’t it fantastic?
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Finally, take the time during this quarantine to actually look inside yourself and do whatever makes you feel happiest. Anything that brings joy and comfort right now is something worth doing.
And remember, we ARE all in this together, and we WILL get out of it together.
Source: https://lesroches.edu/blog/things-to-do-during-quarantine/
Alumni “French Pastry Arts Diploma”
“For me, everything in the program is very good! I like the theory and science class because they can explain deeply about each ingredients and that’s can answer to many question or reason that’s related to practical class also we have a chance to make a test.” Natcha Saengow
At 23, our student Natcha Saengow represented her native country Thailand during the Bocuse d’Or competition. Spotted by Olivier Castella, a French chef and president of Bocuse d ‘Or Thailand, Natcha Saengow won the Silver Bocuse for Asia in Canton, which qualifies her for the world final.
During this competition which took place during the Sirha in Lyon, the best chefs from 24 countries had to compete.
Exclusive 1 to 1 online meeting with our Associate Director, Asia Pacific about study Hospitality at World’s top 3 institutions, Glion and Les Roches in Switzerland (QS World University Ranking 2020)
Date
- Saturday 9th May 2020 10:30AM – 5:30PM
- Sunday 10th May 2020 10:30AM – 5:30PM
*Register early to secure your preferred time slot. Personalised meeting with our Associate Director, Shini Lim to discuss your study plan and scholarship opportunities. Learn more about how we develop innovative leaders for a broad array of service industries such as business, finance, luxury, culinary arts, events, sports and entertainment, hospitality and tourism. Discover our global campuses, our unique teaching methods, and how we prepare students for global careers through experience and practical internships with leading companies across the world.
**Parents are welcome to join in the session.
For more Information please contact:
Tel. 02-106-2541-2, 081-9208882
Facebook: Ekthana Education Services
Instagram: ekthanaeducation
LINE: @ekthana https://line.me/R/ti/p/%40ekthana
Email: info@ekthana.com // www.ekthana.com
Exclusive 1 to 1 online meeting with our Associate Director, Asia Pacific
Dedicated session to discuss your personal concerns and scholarship opportunities.
Date
- 18 April (Sat) 2pm – 8pm
- 19 April (Sun) 2pm – 8pm
*Register early to secure your preferred time slot.
**Parents are welcome to join in the session.
Personalized meeting with our Associate Director, Shini Lim to discuss your study plan and scholarship opportunities. Learn more about how we develop innovative leaders for a broad array of service industries such as business, finance, luxury, culinary arts, events, sports and entertainment, hospitality and tourism.
Discover our global campuses, our unique teaching methods, and how we prepare students for global careers through experience and practical internships with leading companies across the world.
For more Information please contact:
Tel. 02-106-2541-2, 081-9208882
Facebook: Ekthana Education Services
Instagram: ekthanaeducation
LINE: @ekthana https://line.me/R/ti/p/%40ekthana
Email: info@ekthana.com // www.ekthana.com
Helping chefs run more sustainable kitchens by cutting food waste. There’s much to applaud about mission-led companies like Winnow Solutions – we found out more about the company and how it gave alumna Natasha Montagu a new career direction.
Name: Natasha Montagu
Graduation Year: 2016
Nationality: English/Taiwanese
Program: BBA in Global Hospitality Management
When class of 2016 alumna Natasha Montagu stepped back through the doors of Crans-Montana campus for the first time since graduating it was a ‘homecoming’ with a remarkable symmetry.
Natasha was back on campus to be a keynote speaker at the 2019 Future of Hospitality Summit (FHS), the student-led event that is a real calendar highlight; offering students a chance to glimpse the future direction of the industry.And the symmetry? Because it was FHS that changed the course of Natasha’s professional life.
Today, Natasha is a Project Manager for Winnow Solutions, a mission-led, scale up company that is committed to developing digital tools to help chefs run more profitable and sustainable kitchens by ending avoidable food waste in the hospitality sector.
“It’s staggering to think that of all the food we produce in the world, around a third gets wasted somewhere in the supply chain,” Natasha says. “And if you look at the bigger picture around climate change, the food industry is a larger CO2 emitter than the travel industry. We as individuals, as well as businesses and governments, all have a hand to play in reducing this waste.”
It was an issue that first came to Natasha’s attention during the professional internships that were core elements of her Bachelor’s degree at Les Roches. Working in a large commercial kitchen, she saw first-hand just how much edible food goes to waste. Having always viewed the hotel sector as her future career path, it became a ‘lightbulb moment’ that opened Natasha’s mind to other possibilities.
“I went to Les Roches for a reason, and that was to get into the hospitality industry. I always thought that this would be with a top tier hotel group. It wasn’t until my final semester when my mindset shifted, and I decided I still wanted to be part of the hospitality industry; but rather than being in hotels I wanted to make a wider impact.”
This was the point at which Natasha discovered Winnow Solutions, as she researched technology-led companies she could invite to the 2016 edition of FHS.
“It was a happy coincidence and demonstrates the power of networking on your career,” she says. “After inviting Winnow to present at FHS, I developed a good working relationship with my contact there – who is now my colleague!”
Taking the “risky path” to success
Upon graduation, Natasha turned aside an offer from a major hotel group in order to take the plunge with Winnow. “I was employee number 30, but we are now more than 150-strong globally, so taking the risky path has certainly worked out for me! It’s been really exciting to see us grow – last year we closed our Series B funding by raising €12m from investors on top of an €8m loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).”
The company already counts some major names among its client list, from ‘pure’ hospitality players such as Armani Hotel Dubai through to retail giant IKEA (which is also an investor), and the corporate catering group Compass.
Its core product is Winnow Vision, an artificial intelligence (AI) powered tool which is installed into commercial kitchens for chefs to easily pinpoint waste, cut costs and save time, for the benefit of both businesses and future generations. “You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Winnow Vision is designed to automatically collect and put data at the chef’s fingertips, so they can make data-driven decisions that will lead to more food-efficient operations,” says Natasha.
Inside Winnow Vision
The Winnow Vision system has three main components: a scale that knows the weight of food put into waste bins, a camera that sits above the bin(s), and a computer tablet that provides the user interface for the chef.
“Every time food is thrown away the system collects data based on the weight, label and image of the food,” Natasha explains. “These are what the computer uses to ‘train’ itself to learn exactly what is being thrown away.”
With trillions of data points created by a large-scale kitchen, Natasha’s role is to direct the specialist IT service company that ‘cleans’ the raw data which is then used to ‘teach’ models. “I sit within the data team; we’re six people strong and we’re actively hiring as we continue to install more Vision systems in client premises,” she says.
For clients, the win/win of Winnow Vision is a combination of cutting food waste and saving money. Natasha says that large-scale kitchens can enjoy a return on investment of anything up to 1,000% of the cost of installing the system!
Future of Hospitality Summit: the perfect platform
Introducing Winnow’s mission and its potential to disrupt the industry was the focus of Natasha’s presentation at the 2019 FHS. And she notes that her message seemed to resonate well with the current crop of Les Roches students.
“This generation cares about the future health of our planet. And at Les Roches we’re speaking about the leaders of tomorrow – people who will be going into positions of decision-making authority. I wanted them first to be aware of this issue; that to give clients quality dishes doesn’t have to mean throwing away a third of what you bring into the kitchen.”
As someone who is helping to lead hospitality’s digital transformation, Natasha is naturally positive about the launch of our new Master’s in Hospitality Strategy and Digital Transformation, which receives its first student cohort in September 2020.
“It’s a good time for people to be focusing on what digital transformation can achieve,” she says. “It’s great that this Master’s is being introduced – and I’ve been approached to support the curriculum with some case studies in this space, which is really exciting.”
She closed with a few words of advice for anyone currently thinking about enrolling at a hospitality business school like Les Roches. “I would say to remember the world is your oyster. Be open, because there are some big opportunities out there. They might not be immediately obvious to you; it might take some digging on your end, but there’s massive potential to get involved in the technology space on a multitude of levels.
“You don’t have to be a coder. Hospitality-focused tech companies like ours need people at operational and business development levels, especially those who have an understanding of hospitality operations from the ground up. I’ve already had Les Roches students reach out to me for internships, and I would encourage young people to look closely at the technology space, to see what’s out there.”
Source: https://lesroches.edu/blog/how-to-join-hospitalitys-digital-revolution/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link-post&utm_campaign=alumni-story&fbclid=IwAR3iN2CXSIJ4HLRDY_2hmMDMiwroXpS8fvZ7-DkLf_9GKYYKVFM01KlsRSc
