A common thread during the event was that the hospitality industry needs to innovate holistically and include young, fresh thinkers with new ideas in their decision-making processes, which will help to re-shape the face of this industry.
This sentiment was further established with discussion centred around how South Africa's hospitality industry needs to undergo some fundamental changes to remain relevant and to keep up with the demands of a modern world, appealing to young industry professionals like millennials and the incoming generation Z.
The interactive session gave panellists the opportunity to share tips and advice on how to successfully climb the hospitality ladder.
"We had an interesting session, with new ideas on how the industry can be more adaptable to accommodate millennials and generation Z. We gained some perspective from roleplayers in the sector on how we need to develop ourselves in order to be more impactful and to stay ahead. Some incredibly valuable take-ins were shared," said Ndaba Dube, chairperson of FEDHASA Cape’s Young Professionals segment.
"In the words of Jackie Joyner-Kersee: 'It’s better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret.' As an industry, we need to start with some introspection and proceed to make some of those changes now."
Panellists also stressed the importance of building and nurturing relationships with longstanding industry professionals for mentoring purposes, to bounce ideas off of and sell potentially new creative ideas to, to help pave young professionals' careers in the sector even further. In addition, panellists encouraged the industry to be less linear and to foster more collaborations with youngsters on topics and situations that would directly affect them.
Dube said the event gave young professionals an opportunity to establish a roadmap on where they’re going and how they need to get there, including the characteristics they need to nurture to move ahead in this industry. He highlighted them as passionate, driven to succeed, humble and balanced. "How we become effective and impactful is up to us, and if we need to shake things up a bit and do things differently, then now is the time."
To encourage and grow ongoing dialogue between young professionals in the sector, general managers from FEDHASA Cape’s member establishments have signed a Young Professionals Pledge, which will see GMs commit to signing-up a young professional from their respective establishments to join, actively support and develop the segment.
