Internet ‘think tank’ secrets from Bali

James Tam, from Hong Kong, is the senior Vice President of the Swiss-belhotel international group. He’s an impressive guy and a good thinker. He did something inscrutably clever in think tank sessions I did this past week in Bali, Indonesia.

I was there to do sessions with General Managers and Sales and Marketing Managers who had flown into Bali from around the world. WOW...It was a power packed group of super hospitality professionals. Our sessions focused on creative thinking; thinking ‘outside the box’; innovative internet marketing; how to stand out from the herd (without a ‘Coca Cola size’ budget) and the nine principles you need to succeed in the hospitality industry.

The clever thing James did was to combine youth and experience in his think tank team. He co-opted the sons, Oliver and Edward (invited guests), of the Swiss-belhotel President, Gavin Faull. Also in his group was a very clever Phillipino lady, Gloria Llamas who is based in Chinchun, China and Angela Lim from Harbin, China. These ladies are relatively new to sales and marketing. So James led a group that combined solid business experience with the younger and ‘newbie’ thinking of Oliver, Edward, Gloria and Angela. (Do you think this helps when talking about the Internet...bet your life it does!) We mixed this with the experience of General Managers from around the world and developed pages of innovative and explosive marketing ideas. (How long since you did a ‘think tank’ session with your team?)

I believe Gavin Faull, James Tam and the Swiss-belhotel team will now introduce initiatives that will be copied by hotels around the world. Watch out for them. Next week I want to tell of the world wide networking developing via these weekly e-mails that YOU are a part of. Until then, I wish you a ‘creative thinking’ week.

Sincerely

Max Hitchins

The Hospitality Doctor

Prescribing remedies to fill your rooms, restaurants and bars.

PS. Last week I incorrectly gave Susanne Rawlins the credit for writing the book “Secrets of Service.” I must have been having a ‘bad hair day!’ Of course it was Susan Clarke! You can check out the book at http://www.MotivateU.com (My apologies Susan C)