Leadership Profiles for the New Millennium

Abstract

Interviews with six top lodging industry operators and a leading consultant reveal the nature of leadership and provide a foundation for the authors' profile of hospitality leadership. The participating CEOs agreed that a leader needs to develop and communicate a vision, but to do it in a way that encourages everyone in the company to participate in that vision. While there's no doubt that technology has and will continue to alter the business, the leader's responsibility is to determine how to apply that technology for the purpose of better guest and employee service. Most of the CEOs noted that their job is to support their company's employees, by encouraging them with personal contacts, by providing training, and by offering opportunities for promotion. The CEO's position will remain challenging because it requires a total personal commitment, but successful CEOs will need to maintain a balance between their work duties and personal responsibilities, or their company will suffer. On balance, the legacy that all wanted to leave is only that their colleagues and employees believe that the CEOs did a good job.