Episodes

  • Lesley Wong - Guest Focused Hotel Design (Part 2 of 2)
    Jul 13 2023

    Drop me a text!

    [Episode 30]

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Lesley Wong is the owner and Principal Designer at Lesley Wong Interiors and is a hospitality interior design specialists based in Ontario, Canada. Her guest-first design strategy is focused on crafting customized and beautiful hotel spaces for guests, that are both ascetically pleasing and operationally function for operators. Lesley graduated from the New York School of Interior Design and honed her skills in design and construction with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. She has operated her own design firm from nearly 10 years, working with brands including Comfort Inn, Best Western, IHG, and Hilton on creating unique, boutique hospitality environments.

    You can connect with Lesley on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lesley-wong-hotels or visit her website at: lesleywonginteriors.ca
    -----

    Host: William C Murray, PhD:

    William is passionate about service, the hospitality industry, and human experiences. He began working in the service industry at 14 and has never looked back, gaining experience in retail, restaurants, and major hotel companies nationwide. He is an expert in service, hospitality operations, and management, with over two decades teaching at both colleges and universities across Canada.

    William holds a PhD in Management and multiple degrees in hospitality and tourism. He in an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph (Canada) in the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the Lang School of Business & Economics. His research focuses on workforce sustainability and the human condition of workers. He has published work in top journals, including Sustainability, the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and the Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, along with being a co-author of the textbook Snapshots: An Introduction to Tourism, 6th Cdn.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Listen to the podcast (all hosting sites): https://theservicecenter.buzzsprout.com/share

    Questions or feedback about the show? Suggestions for future guests? Reach out - I would love to hear from you!

    E-mail: william@theservicecenter.ca
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamcmurray/
    Podcast art: Jack Designs a Graphics Company

    Support the show

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Lesley Wong - Guest Focused Hotel Design (Part 1 of 2)
    Jun 30 2023

    Drop me a text!

    [Episode 29]

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Lesley Wong is the owner and Principal Designer at Lesley Wong Interiors and is a hospitality interior design specialists based in Ontario, Canada. Her guest-first design strategy is focused on crafting customized and beautiful hotel spaces for guests, that are both ascetically pleasing and operationally function for operators. Lesley graduated from the New York School of Interior Design and honed her skills in design and construction with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. She has operated her own design firm from nearly 10 years, working with brands including Comfort Inn, Best Western, IHG, and Hilton on creating unique, boutique hospitality environments.

    You can connect with Lesley on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lesley-wong-hotels or visit her website at: lesleywonginteriors.ca
    -----

    Host: William C Murray, PhD:

    William is passionate about service, the hospitality industry, and human experiences. He began working in the service industry at 14 and has never looked back, gaining experience in retail, restaurants, and major hotel companies nationwide. He is an expert in service, hospitality operations, and management, with over two decades teaching at both colleges and universities across Canada.

    William holds a PhD in Management and multiple degrees in hospitality and tourism. He in an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph (Canada) in the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the Lang School of Business & Economics. His research focuses on workforce sustainability and the human condition of workers. He has published work in top journals, including Sustainability, the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and the Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, along with being a co-author of the textbook Snapshots: An Introduction to Tourism, 6th Cdn.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Listen to the podcast (all hosting sites): https://theservicecenter.buzzsprout.com/share

    Questions or feedback about the show? Suggestions for future guests? Reach out - I would love to hear from you!

    E-mail: william@theservicecenter.ca
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamcmurray/
    Podcast art: Jack Designs a Graphics Company

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Anne Marie Johns - Saying Yes to Opportunity (Part 2 of 2)
    May 23 2023

    Drop me a text!

    [Episode 28]

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Anne Marie Johns
    is the General Manager of the Fairmont Tremblant. She has been a leader in the lodging industry for over 30 years across 11 hotel properties, with extensive experience in sales and marketing, along with operational management. In 2021, she received the Pinnacle Award from KML as Hotelier of the Year.

    You can connect with Anne Marie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anne-marie-johns-35837326

    -----
    Host: William C Murray, PhD:

    William is passionate about service, the hospitality industry, and human experiences. He began working in the service industry at 14 and has never looked back, gaining experience in retail, restaurants, and major hotel companies nationwide. He is an expert in service, hospitality operations, and management, with over two decades teaching at both colleges and universities across Canada.

    William holds a PhD in Management and multiple degrees in hospitality and tourism. He in an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph (Canada) in the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the Lang School of Business & Economics. His research focuses on workforce sustainability and the human condition of workers. He has published work in top journals, including Sustainability, the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and the Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, along with being a co-author of the textbook Snapshots: An Introduction to Tourism, 6th Cdn.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Listen to the podcast (all hosting sites): https://theservicecenter.buzzsprout.com/share

    Questions or feedback about the show? Suggestions for future guests? Reach out - I would love to hear from you!

    E-mail: william@theservicecenter.ca
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamcmurray/
    Podcast art: Jack Designs a Graphics Company

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Anne Marie Johns - Saying Yes to Opportunity (Part 1 of 2)
    Mar 28 2023

    Drop me a text!

    [Episode 27]

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Anne Marie Johns
    is the General Manager of the Fairmont Tremblant. She has been a leader in the lodging industry for over 30 years across 11 hotel properties, with extensive experience in sales and marketing, along with operational management. In 2021, she received the Pinnacle Award from KML as Hotelier of the Year.

    You can connect with Anne Marie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anne-marie-johns-35837326

    -----
    Host: William C Murray, PhD:

    William is passionate about service, the hospitality industry, and human experiences. He began working in the service industry at 14 and has never looked back, gaining experience in retail, restaurants, and major hotel companies nationwide. He is an expert in service, hospitality operations, and management, with over two decades teaching at both colleges and universities across Canada.

    William holds a PhD in Management and multiple degrees in hospitality and tourism. He in an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph (Canada) in the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the Lang School of Business & Economics. His research focuses on workforce sustainability and the human condition of workers. He has published work in top journals, including Sustainability, the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and the Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, along with being a co-author of the textbook Snapshots: An Introduction to Tourism, 6th Cdn.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Listen to the podcast (all hosting sites): https://theservicecenter.buzzsprout.com/share

    Questions or feedback about the show? Suggestions for future guests? Reach out - I would love to hear from you!

    E-mail: william@theservicecenter.ca
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamcmurray/
    Podcast art: Jack Designs a Graphics Company

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • Altaf Sovani - Labor Crisis in Hospitality (Part 2 of 2)
    Mar 16 2023

    Drop me a text!

    [Episode 26]

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Dr. Altaf Sovani
    is the founder and CEO of Alzen Consulting, focusing on hospitality, tourism, and education sectors. Altaf has over 27 years experience as a hospitality educator, with 13 years as the Academic Chair with the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College in Ottawa, ON. In 2022, Altaf published his book, “Labor Crisis in Hospitality, Tourism & Event Industry – Finding Innovative Solutions for Recruitment and Retention of Millennials”.

    You can connect with Altaf on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-altaf-sovani-76743520

    His book can be found at most booksellers, including Amazon (https://a.co/d/4F3CceO) and Indigo Books (https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/labor-crisis-in-hospitality-tourism-event-industry)

    -----
    Host: William C Murray, PhD:

    William is passionate about service, the hospitality industry, and human experiences. He began working in the service industry at 14 and has never looked back, gaining experience in retail, restaurants, and major hotel companies nationwide. He is an expert in service, hospitality operations, and management, with over two decades teaching at both colleges and universities across Canada.

    William holds a PhD in Management and multiple degrees in hospitality and tourism. He in an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph (Canada) in the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the Lang School of Business & Economics. His research focuses on workforce sustainability and the human condition of workers. He has published work in top journals, including Sustainability, the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and the Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, along with being a co-author of the textbook Snapshots: An Introduction to Tourism, 6th Cdn.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Listen to the podcast (all hosting sites): https://theservicecenter.buzzsprout.com/share

    Questions or feedback about the show? Suggestions for future guests? Reach out - I would love to hear from you!

    E-mail: william@theservicecenter.ca
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamcmurray/
    Podcast art: Jack Designs a Graphics Company

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • Altaf Sovani - Labor Crisis in Hospitality (Part 1 of 2)
    Feb 22 2023

    Drop me a text!

    [Episode 25]

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Dr. Altaf Sovani
    is the founder and CEO of Alzen Consulting, focusing on hospitality, tourism, and education sectors. Altaf has over 27 years experience as a hospitality educator, with 13 years as the Academic Chair with the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College in Ottawa, ON. In 2022, Altaf published his book, “Labor Crisis in Hospitality, Tourism & Event Industry – Finding Innovative Solutions for Recruitment and Retention of Millennials”.

    You can connect with Altaf on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-altaf-sovani-76743520

    His book can be found at most booksellers, including Amazon (https://a.co/d/4F3CceO) and Indigo Books (https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/labor-crisis-in-hospitality-tourism-event-industry)

    -----
    Host: William C Murray, PhD:

    William is passionate about service, the hospitality industry, and human experiences. He began working in the service industry at 14 and has never looked back, gaining experience in retail, restaurants, and major hotel companies nationwide. He is an expert in service, hospitality operations, and management, with over two decades teaching at both colleges and universities across Canada.

    William holds a PhD in Management and multiple degrees in hospitality and tourism. He in an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph (Canada) in the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the Lang School of Business & Economics. His research focuses on workforce sustainability and the human condition of workers. He has published work in top journals, including Sustainability, the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and the Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, along with being a co-author of the textbook Snapshots: An Introduction to Tourism, 6th Cdn.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Listen to the podcast (all hosting sites): https://theservicecenter.buzzsprout.com/share

    Questions or feedback about the show? Suggestions for future guests? Reach out - I would love to hear from you!

    E-mail: william@theservicecenter.ca
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamcmurray/
    Podcast art: Jack Designs a Graphics Company

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • Reetu Gupta - Ambassadress of Service (Part 2 of 2)
    Jan 27 2023

    Drop me a text!

    [Episode 24]

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Reetu Gupta is the Chairwoman and Ambassadress of The Gupta Group, a multi-faceted Toronto development company with a vast real estate portfolio including residential condos, office towers and hotels. The Gupta Group is a multi-generational family-run and operated business. Reetu has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 leaders, has receive the BMO Entrepreneurial Award as part of Canada’s 100 most powerful women in 2019, and most recently was honoured with the Women of Inspiration Support HER Award from the Universal Women’s Network.

    You can connect with Reetu on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/reetu-gupta-85820243

    -----
    Host: William C Murray, PhD:

    William is passionate about service, the hospitality industry, and human experiences. He began working in the service industry at 14 and has never looked back, gaining experience in retail, restaurants, and major hotel companies nationwide. He is an expert in service, hospitality operations, and management, with over two decades teaching at both colleges and universities across Canada.

    William holds a PhD in Management and multiple degrees in hospitality and tourism. He in an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph (Canada) in the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the Lang School of Business & Economics. His research focuses on workforce sustainability and the human condition of workers. He has published work in top journals, including Sustainability, the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and the Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, along with being a co-author of the textbook Snapshots: An Introduction to Tourism, 6th Cdn.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Listen to the podcast (all hosting sites): https://theservicecenter.buzzsprout.com/share

    Questions or feedback about the show? Suggestions for future guests? Reach out - I would love to hear from you!

    E-mail: william@theservicecenter.ca
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamcmurray/
    Podcast art: Jack Designs a Graphics Company

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Reetu Gupta - Ambassadress of Service (Part 1 of 2)
    Jan 16 2023

    Drop me a text!

    [Episode 23]

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Reetu Gupta is the Chairwoman and Ambassadress of The Gupta Group, a multi-faceted Toronto development company with a vast real estate portfolio including residential condos, office towers and hotels. The Gupta Group is a multi-generational family-run and operated business. Reetu has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 leaders, has receive the BMO Entrepreneurial Award as part of Canada’s 100 most powerful women in 2019, and most recently was honoured with the Women of Inspiration Support HER Award from the Universal Women’s Network.

    You can connect with Reetu on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/reetu-gupta-85820243

    -----
    Host: William C Murray, PhD:

    William is passionate about service, the hospitality industry, and human experiences. He began working in the service industry at 14 and has never looked back, gaining experience in retail, restaurants, and major hotel companies nationwide. He is an expert in service, hospitality operations, and management, with over two decades teaching at both colleges and universities across Canada.

    William holds a PhD in Management and multiple degrees in hospitality and tourism. He in an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph (Canada) in the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the Lang School of Business & Economics. His research focuses on workforce sustainability and the human condition of workers. He has published work in top journals, including Sustainability, the International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, and the Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, along with being a co-author of the textbook Snapshots: An Introduction to Tourism, 6th Cdn.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Listen to the podcast (all hosting sites): https://theservicecenter.buzzsprout.com/share

    Questions or feedback about the show? Suggestions for future guests? Reach out - I would love to hear from you!

    E-mail: william@theservicecenter.ca
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamcmurray/
    Podcast art: Jack Designs a Graphics Company

    Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins