IMHI Class of 2016-2017

IMHI Class of 2016-2017
Class of 2016-2017

Friday, November 22, 2013

Infinitely Barrière

By Gabriella de la Torre, MBA in Hospitality Management, Mexico & USA, 2012-2014 2nd Year

On a rainy day in Paris, 12 IMHI students were invited for a private tour of the Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière situated just steps from the Champs-Elysées. We were welcomed into the cozy and luxurious interior of the hotel lobby by Hugo Miara, a fellow classmate who is in his second year of apprenticeship as the assistant to Monika Moser, Director of Rooms and Spa, herself an IMHI alum.

We were divided into two smaller groups and led throughout the hotel by our classmate, Hugo Miara, and Laura Garcia, Senior Butler at the hotel. They showed us the various public areas of the property, including the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Diane and the U Spa, as well as various suites.

Having participated in visits of luxury properties in Paris last year, I was genuinely delighted by the ability of the Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière’s to mix the traditional lavishness of Parisian luxury with contemporary and innovative elements in terms of service and culinary offerings. It was also a unique opportunity to be led throughout the property by one of our own fellow IMHI’s, who demonstrated a profound understanding of the hotel’s operations and greater business strategy.

At the end of our visit, we were joined in the lobby by Monika Moser, who answered our questions regarding the current status and future for the hotel. She also offered advice to us regarding our time at IMHI, highlighting the importance of complementing the knowledge we gain in our courses with a greater understanding of the trends and evolution of the hotel market.

Overall, it was an infinitely enjoyable visit that allowed us not only to learn more about the hotel itself, but that also permitted a glimpse into the day-to-day of fellow IMHI’s who are or will soon be leaders in the hospitality industry.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Back to School

By Gabriella de la Torre, MBA in Hospitality Management, Mexico & USA, 2012-2014 2nd Year

“The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning.”
-          John Dewey

It’s almost been a month since la rentrée and we haven’t stopped for a second amidst all the group projects, accounting quizzes and weekly Industry Leaders conferences. We go on learning. Coming back to ESSEC after my six-month internship has been quite a change, but I’ve succeeded in getting back into school mode. As deadlines approach for group presentations and term papers, I take a moment to reflect on my internship experience this past summer.

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In April of this year, I had the opportunity to travel to Dubai for the six-month internship required as part of ESSEC’s MBA in Hospitality Management. With the bulk of my professional experience strictly in hotel operations, I was a bit nervous arriving to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) to work as an assistant analyst in their Strategic Consulting team. Nevertheless, I was quickly welcomed with open arms by a number of IMHI alumni who work with the company and who were tremendously helpful throughout my time in Dubai.

Looking back on my experience at JLL, I have a true sense of satisfaction with what I was able to accomplish, the friendships and contacts I developed and the many things I learned about myself from both a professional and a personal standpoint. I was truly fortunate to have had great leaders within the company who helped me to learn not only about real estate development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region but who also taught me about leadership and bringing out the best qualities in fellow team members. The great amount of autonomy and responsibility they allowed me ultimately provided a truly hands-on experience that made me feel like an active part of the greater JLL team.

Living in Dubai was also a very positive experience, as I had the opportunity to interact on a daily basis with people from all over the world who had moved to the city to take part in the tremendous amount of growth in the region. I was amazed by the number of IMHI alumni in Dubai, all of who were quick to offer help and advice for my professional future.

This internship experience has proven to be quite complementary to the studies I am currently undertaking. Through working in strategic consulting, I gained a great deal of exposure to different markets and real estate developments in the MENA region. Doing market research, writing reports and preparing presentations has expanded my knowledge and skills, resulting in a perspective that works hand-in-hand with what I have learned and will continue to learn at ESSEC.

Thanks to the IMHI network, I have been able to live an exceptionally rewarding and unique six-month work experience that has impacted my future career plans and helped me better understand what it takes to be a true industry leader.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Representing ESSEC in the 2013 Hyatt Student Prize

By Claire Plessier, MBA in Hospitality Management, France & USA, 2012-2014 2nd Year


Claire has been selected to represent the ESSEC MBA in Hospitality Management for the 2013 Hyatt Student Prize.  She is one of eight finalists, selected based on student files and videos; the winner will be selected on December 5th following individual interviews with the jury.

About the Hyat Student Prize:

The Hyatt Student Prize is a prestigious award that was launched by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in 2008. The goal is to reward the most talented student in the hospitality industry, to provide this person with an opportunity to meet Hyatt executives and to discover the management style Hyatt puts into practice. This is an excellent chance to encourage students to discover the world of luxury hotels.

A total of 19 International Schools specializing in Hospitality Management have been selected to join the competition. Each school is represented by the student that it has identified as being its most talented. The nomination process is based on specific criteria set by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.

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As a graduating MBA student, the Hyatt Student Prize contest is a wonderful opportunity to meet professionals and future leaders from international and luxury hospitality backgrounds. Being recognized by industry professionals, as well as leaders in domains of art and luxury, would be an unbelievable culmination of my studies and would certainly set the stage for my future endeavors in the industry.
  
My multicultural background with different languages and traditions has been a tremendous asset in my luxury hotel experience so far, allowing me to understand and adapt to different cultural identities with ease.  This is crucial in the hospitality industry, where it is fundamental to be motivated to carefully evaluate our interactions with people from different cultural backgrounds in order to give personalized and authentic service.

Since my first management job at the age of 21, I have never looked back and knew I wanted to dedicate my life to the luxury hotel industry. For the eight years preceding my MBA I worked in the F&B department and, although it has been an exciting experience, I would now like to gain further knowledge in hotel sales & marketing and ultimately one day become a General Manager of a Luxury hotel where my experience and education would help me maintain excellent standards and optimal profits. This path would offer me the opportunity to apply all principles I have also learned through my academic background (Bachelor and MBA degrees) and strengthen my operational training.

This event is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am very proud to represent the MBA in Hospitality Management (IMHI).

Watch Claire's video for the first round of the competition!
 
 

Update: Claire won second place in the Hyatt Student Prize!  As a reward, she will travel to Zurich, where Hyatt's division for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East is located.  Congratulations, Claire!  Here are some photos from the big night: