Networking in the Hospitality Industry: Essential Ingredients for Success     

I was recently having lunch with a hotel General Manager and the issue of networking was one of the first topics that came up. With the economy in a tailspin and companies dismissing even highly qualified, successful managers, ‘networking’, this GM conceded has been his clear advantage. "I have spent years building relationships with colleagues and clients. I now feel that I have a lot more opportunities and options than others in my field."

In a world of rapidly-shrinking 401Ks’ and stock market collapses, networking is the best investment you will ever make.

The GM related a story of a high-profile hotel chef who recently lost his job after 20 years in his position. He recounted that this chef never took the time to reach out to his colleagues in the industry, thinking that he could build relationships through his reputation and name alone. "When the chef turned to me for advice, I felt I should be frank; Chef, I said, here is my best advice: find a small restaurant somewhere to buy and operate. You never took the time to build strong relationships and now when the chips are down you are left with very few options.

'Network' is the catch word you hear in every conversation these days. Especially during these tough economic times, 'connecting' seems like the only pro-active thing to do. If you haven't kept up with acquaintances and colleagues, it's never too late. And most likely, they will be thrilled to hear from you. The recent economic collapse came as a surprise to many, and has taught us to adapt and to" think different."

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