A Word from Carole Ackermann

Innovation is on everyone’s lips today and obviously required everywhere – nothing stands still but is in constant renewal. So, we can observe innovation in various forms, starting from the step-by-step exploitation of the full potential of existing solutions to the exploration of the unknown, of radically new ways of doing things. Putting now an eye on EHL’s innovation ambitions, we fully acknowledge our responsibility to be the ambitious innovation spearhead of the hospitality industry.

In this role, we need to find the right balance between being bold in trying out new things and not throwing overboard all past experiences. And we must accept that not every experiment will work at once and that failures are the milestones to success. From science, we know that insights and cognition come from experiments, and trying out new things. In leaving the known paths and entering the unknown, we will not always have full control, and such situations remind me the racing driver Sterling Moss’s saying, “if you have everything under control, you might drive too slow.”

The hospitality industry is exposed to many changes in its environment: Starting with the new expectations of our students and their future employers regarding culture, social, and governance issues, then new technologies like digital and remote teaching, the combination of physical and virtual interactions with customers and internal teams and finally the better integration of the sustainability ambitions of the hospitality industry.

With a mindset of innovation, we must continuously integrate all these new themes and requirements not only in our education programs but also in the way we teach and behave. To get there, we all might have to leave our comfort zone from time to time – as our predecessors had to do again and again, and it should excite us more than worry.

Next to the Executive Committee, we, the EHL Board Members, have an important role in establishing this culture of continued renewal. As nobody has all the answers and the way is an endless journey, it needs a culture of trust. Trust in each other that fosters exploring new ways and where successes and failures pave the way to success.

“Diversity and inclusion” is another element of this culture. It means involving faculty members, students, employees and hospitality industry representatives in our decision and implementation processes. In particular, we acknowledge our responsibility to make sure that also our female students – who make up 60% of our graduates – feel the full belonging and security that their voice is also heard.

Life ultimately is also about growing others, testing new ground, and learning as you do. Looking into the future, we recognize new requirements in the hospitality and education sectors that invite us again and again to change and adapt. But luckily, that’s been part of EHL genes for generations and we are proud to hold the EHL- flag in the years to come.

I wish you all a happy holiday season.

Carole Ackermann

Chairwoman of the Board of Directors (EHL Holding SA) and the Board of Trustees (EHL Foundation)