Tag Archives: HospitalityLeadership

From Michelin-rated Kitchens to CEO Mindset: The Truth About Hospitality Leadership. TSHS – 161

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From Michelin-rated Kitchens to CEO Mindset: The Truth About Hospitality Leadership

What does true excellence in luxury hospitality really look like behind the scenes? In this episode of the Social Hotelier Podcast, Sam Erik Ruttmann sits down with Chef Franck Desplechin to explore the realities of leadership, culture, and transformation in high-performance hospitality environments.

From Michelin-star kitchens and global luxury resorts to building his own consultancy, Franck shares powerful insights on leadership development, operational excellence, mentorship, and entrepreneurship—including why culture, not strategy, defines success, and how today’s leaders can build teams that truly deliver world-class guest experiences. Franck Desplechin is a seasoned hospitality leader, former Executive Chef, and Director of Food & Beverage with over 25 years of global experience in luxury hotels and resorts.

 

“Excellence has to become personal… without waiting for someone to tell you what to do.”

He is the founder of Incrementum, a consultancy focused on leadership development, coaching, and operational transformation in hospitality. Franck is also the author of Relentless Growth, where he distills decades of experience into a framework for personal and professional excellence. Known for his focus on culture, mentorship, and sustainable leadership, he works with organizations worldwide to elevate performance and redefine modern hospitality leadership.

✅Social and website placeholders

✅Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franck-desplechin/

📺Guest Website: https://www.cheffranck.com/

✅Host Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-erik/

🎙️Podcast Website: https://podcast.show/the_social_hotelier_show/

✍🏻Newsletter / Substack: https://substack.com/@samerikruttmann

Sponsorship Inquiries: https://b8bhospitality.com/contact-us/

✅If you’re serious about building high-performing teams and redefining excellence in hospitality, this episode is a must-watch.
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👉 Comment your biggest takeaway or leadership insight below
👉 Share this episode with colleagues and professionals in hospitality

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Can Hotels Survive Without Embracing These Changes? TSHS-160

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Can Hotels Survive Without Embracing These Changes?

What if your leadership style, communication habits, and even your customer service instincts are unknowingly shaped by culture—and limiting your impact?

In this episode, intercultural communication coach Tanja Saarinen Chávez, founder of Numinous Coaching, shares powerful real-world stories from Australia, Mexico, Europe, and beyond to reveal how cultural intelligence (CQ) transforms leadership, hospitality, and global business success.

From misunderstood gestures at Disneyland Paris to managing multicultural teams and redefining the guest experience, this conversation uncovers the hidden dynamics that influence human connection, leadership effectiveness, and service excellence in today’s global landscape.

Tanja Saarinen Chávez is an intercultural communication coach and founder of Numinous Coaching, specializing in cultural intelligence for leaders, organizations, and multicultural teams. With international experience spanning Europe, Australia, and Latin America, she helps executives adapt their leadership and communication styles across cultures to improve performance, engagement, and global collaboration.

Key discussion points

• The concept of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and why it’s essential for modern leaders

• How invisible cultural norms shape hospitality, leadership, and communication styles

• Real-life cultural misunderstandings (e.g., gestures, communication styles, punctuality)

• Differences in service expectations across regions (Nordics, Asia, UK, Mexico)

• Why hospitality must evolve from procedural service to personalized experience design

• Leadership blind spots when managing multicultural teams

• Case study: US executive struggling to lead effectively in Mexico

• The balance between direct vs indirect communication styles

• How cultural awareness improves customer experience, team dynamics, and conflict resolution

• The role of curiosity in becoming a globally effective leader

• Authentic hospitality moments vs. culturally misaligned service

• Practical frameworks leaders can use to adapt behavior across cultures

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Building with Purpose: Portia Hart’s Vision for Sustainable Hospitality in the Caribbean. TSHS-134

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Building with Purpose: Portia Hart’s Vision for Sustainable Hospitality in the Caribbean What happens when hospitality becomes a force for good?

This place feel special

🌿 #HospitalityInnovation #ConsciousLeadership In this inspiring episode of The Social Hotelier Show, host Sam-Erik Ruttmann sits down with visionary hotelier Portia Hart, founder of Blue Apple Beach, The Green Apple Foundation, and Nuestra Cartagena. Together, they explore how conscious leadership, community empowerment, and cultural authenticity can redefine the future of luxury hospitality. Discover how Portia is transforming Colombia’s Caribbean coast through sustainable design, social impact, and a bold reimagining of what it means to “build with purpose.

” 👉 Learn how purpose and profit can coexist.

👉 Hear real stories from behind the scenes of ethical hotel development.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on conscious leadership and hospitality innovation.

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