LODGING not too long ago spoke with new AHLA Vice Chair and Marriott Worldwide’s Group President, U.S. and Canada, Liam Brown, who shared his historical past with the affiliation, management finest practices, partnership with AHLA Chair Mitch Patel, and business outlook.
What initially attracted you to the hospitality business?
It began one summer time in faculty after I was supplied a job at an upscale, high-end restaurant. I had been engaged on the eating vehicles of the Irish railway system when the maître-d’ of that restaurant referred to as my supervisor and mentioned, “Hey, I would like a superb man for the summer time.” He employed me, and I went. I ate meals I’d by no means had in my life and discovered a ton; he was an ideal trainer. He knew each buyer and each buyer’s preferences. And all people who walked out the door shook his hand and gave him a pleasant tip. So, on the finish of the summer time when he requested what I wished to do with my life, I mentioned, “I need to be you, sir. You’ve acquired an ideal job, and also you do an ideal job.” He replied, ‘You don’t need my job. I left faculty at 12. I’ve exceeded all my expectations in life. However you,” he continued, “you want to go into resort administration. I feel you’ll do effectively there.’
And so, I transferred out of College Faculty of Dublin—the place I used to be finding out to be a trainer—to check hospitality at Cathal Brugha Avenue, which had a hospitality program with Trinity Faculty Dublin. In 1989, I acquired the chance to return to america to work for a small New England resort firm referred to as Appleton Inns. Six months after I began working for them, they had been acquired by Marriott. Since then, Marriott has given me numerous alternatives to study and develop, and I couldn’t be extra grateful.
How and why did you determine to take an lively position inside the AHLA?
I’ve at all times had a deep appreciation for the associates who do the exhausting work of operating our inns each day, and I imagine their contributions are the cornerstone of the hospitality business. The AHLA is an excellent group that advocates for our business and highlights its many optimistic points, benefiting individuals, friends, and house owners alike.
Moreover, I’ve had the immense privilege of witnessing the AHLA’s super work first-hand, since becoming a member of the AHLA Government Committee as a member in 2021 and the AHLA Board of Administrators as secretary/treasurer final yr. I’m so proud to have had a job in supporting the affiliation’s targets of enhancing the visitor expertise, creating extra hospitality jobs, and empowering employers to foster worker coaching and profession development, and I can’t wait to proceed supporting these targets in my new position of vice chair in 2025.
What are your prime management finest practices, and the way do you count on they’ll come into play in your new position?
One finest follow I’ve picked up by means of the years is that any time you’re with an affiliate or colleague, it’s important to ask your self, “What does this particular person want?” That’s adopted by, “How can I give it to her or him to one of the best of my means civilly and respect?” On the finish of the day, management is easy. You simply must help your individuals, make your collective mission recognized, and be sure that each group member feels supported and valued. That is what I plan to do as vice chair—uplift my fellow Board of Administrators members in addition to AHLA’s devoted members so we will uplift the hospitality business collectively.
As vice chair, how do you propose to help Mitch’s mission in 2025?
Mitch and I are a group, and I feel our respective backgrounds as a model govt and proprietor/operator complement each other effectively and might be an asset to AHLA and its members. Because the title of his firm, Imaginative and prescient Hospitality Group, implies, Mitch excels at setting a imaginative and prescient for a company and making that imaginative and prescient come true. I stay up for sharing insights and concepts to make sure we’re taking full benefit of each alternative to advertise and defend our business.
What’s your total outlook on the lodging business going ahead?
Waiting for 2025, I’m cautiously optimistic that regular progress all over the world and right here in america will help continued demand for journey. Certainly, the journey that comes with journey—from exploring a brand new nook of the world to see your favourite artist dwell in live performance to redeeming loyalty factors to expertise an thrilling new property—has confirmed itself to be an everlasting precedence for customers, which bodes effectively for hoteliers in addition to present and potential resort associates.
After all, there are at all times obstacles to fret about. However I strongly imagine that we’re privileged to work in a vibrant and rising business that provides nice profession alternatives and an avenue for exploration.
