Beyond the front desk: Discovering the corporate power behind hotels

My journey from student to corporate hospitality

I was astonished when I discovered all the additional layers of the hospitality industry beyond the operational functions at hotels (or should I say on top of the operational functions at hotels?).

My name is Vera Defesche, alumni of Hotel Management at BUas and supporter of the minor The Business of Hotels. After my study in Breda, I obtained my Master's degree in Strategic Management at the Radboud University in Nijmegen, followed by my first adult job at Hilton. I am currently working as Senior Executive Marketing & Communications at Hilton Supply Management.

The hidden stakeholders driving hotel success

During my minor, I got invested into all the stakeholders involved around building hotels and driving hotel business, beyond the operational tasks. As I mentioned in the beginning, I was surprised by the extensive network of corporate departments and external stakeholders connected to the hospitality industry. I also wondered why I hadn't learned about this all during my studies before. These stakeholders are crucial for the business, operating on a higher management level from a corporate head office. Asset Managers, Brands, Hotel Owners, Hotel Management companies, and purchasing organizations! Because when I started working for Hilton Supply Management (HSM), I learned that hotels work with Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO) like HSM to outsource their procurement. HSM even procures for big competitors like Hyatt and Marriott!

Where are my fellow minor students now?

I am always pleased to see that many of my fellow students from the minor are still working in hospitality. A lot of Hotel Management students decide to work in a different industry after graduation, but the people choosing this minor have the ambition to grow within the hospitality industry. The people I studied with during the minor are now working in hotel revenue management, marketing or even still operationally. I really love that!

My advice for aspiring corporate hospitality professionals

Whether I have a tip for students who would like to work at a corporate level, but are not sure yet which department would be most suitable? Definitely! I had the same issue but just started somewhere! Once you start working for a big hotel chain or hotel management group, you will learn automatically about the other departments out there. These big companies often offer high growth potential, making it easier for you to explore other options within the company through mentoring or cross-exposure.

Your corporate hospitality future awaits

There is so much to explore within the corporate hospitality industry! Many people are looking for a 9-5 job, but don't realize that you can combine your passion for hospitality with the ambition to work on corporate level. There are many departments out there to explore!

Find more information about this minor here.