Happy New Year! There’s something special about the start of a new year, isn’t there? It is a time where we all get a chance to hit the refresh button and start anew. As a new year begins, the world feels full of new opportunities. This is the time to set goals and resolutions, to dream of new horizons, to make plans for the experiences you would like to have in the year ahead.
The beginning of a New Year is full of excitement and the chance to lean into our creativity and innovate. This is especially true in the dynamic world of hospitality, where change and new ideas keep things fresh and interesting. In hospitality it’s all about creating incredible, meaningful, personalised experiences for our guests.
New Year, New Experiences
This experiential mindset is not just a trend and extends far beyond the boundaries of the hospitality industry now. The term ‘the experience economy’, describes this phenomenon. The term was coined 25 years ago by two prestigious economists—B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore—writing for the Harvard Business Review.
Pine and Gilmore explain that the global economy naturally reinvents itself over time, just like we do at the New Year. Globally we have developed from a farming economy, where the main driver of the economy was agriculture; to an industrial economy revolving around manufacturing goods; to a service economy focused on providing services that meet a customer’s need or solve a problem; to the experience economy, which goes one step further. People no longer expect only great service but they want to have unforgettable experiences also.
Here at the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM), we’re passionate embracing new changes and supporting you in the areas that you want to grow. We believe that learning new things and pushing yourself to be better, both in your personal life and career, is what allows the hospitality industry, and the people within it, to thrive. As we begin this New Year, we want to encourage everyone—whether you’re just starting out in your studies or you’re a seasoned professional in the industry—to think of this year as a fresh start. It's a great time to dream big and set goals that will take you there!
Tips for Bringing Change in the New Year: Start with Simplicity
Small changes are what allow us to bring about great results. As part of resetting for the New Year, choosing one small change you can make in your daily life will spearhead the spirit of change.
What is one simple thing you can start doing now? You may want to wake up 30 minutes earlier every day so you can check a task off your to-do list before you even leave the house. Or maybe the luxury of a little extra time to get ready will help you avoid a feeling of being rushed and let you start your day off on happier, more relaxed footing. Another idea is to simply delay your social media usage by one hour after you wake up so that you can maximise the power of your mind in those early hours of the day. Consider one simple change you can take to embrace and improve your life. You will feel the difference it makes to your overall wellbeing and productivity.
The AIHM Approach to New Beginnings
AIHM’s approach to education supports students in setting and achieving their New Year goals, whether they’re aiming for success in the BBA degree in hospitality management, the CIHA or ACIHM hotel management courses, or by upskilling with our short courses in management skills.
As I teach my students, daily habits are the most important thing you can focus on to meet your goals. Consistency, never missing two days in a row, having patience in your progress—these are the factors that propel you to achieve your dreams. With anything you want to do in your life, commit to doing one task a day in order to work toward it.
Setting Goals in Hospitality Education
Through personal experience, continuous learning and mentoring students, I’ve learned how important it is to set specific, achievable goals. A popular and useful approach is to create what are called SMART goals. I’ve written about this briefly in a previous blog post on personal development, and it’s a framework I share with my new students.
No matter where we are in our career journeys, education and learning are crucial. Lifelong learning helps us to develop and thrive. A question to consider when setting goals is which career skills do you want to add to your personal toolbox? Whether you’re looking to sharpen your presentation skills, learn new techniques for delivering wonderful customer service experiences, or you’ve decided it’s time challenge yourself with a new job or by starting your own business, AIHM offers a wealth of two-day courses so you can take specific, concrete steps to help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions.
The experience economy is dynamic. The skills needed to stay on top of your game are constantly evolving. At AIHM, we help you keep your finger on the industry’s pulse. What are the most important skills for the hospitality and experience industry in 2024? From leveraging AI for marketing, to online content marketing, to wielding the power of storytelling in business, you’ll find classes to build future-forward skills in our portfolio of Executive Education courses.
Now is the ideal time to think about your future and establish new goals for yourself. As 2024 begins, identify your growth areas. Establish a specific, achievable skill you want to acquire. Then, seek out the learning opportunities that will ensure you succeed.
Practical Tips for Students
While setting your goals for 2024, remember to balance academic pursuits with personal development. Don’t forget to prioritise rest and play. We’ve seen the newest generation of students—as well as working adults in the post-Covid world—place a high value on work-life balance. What does success mean for you in your vision for your own life? Wellbeing and achieving happiness in our own lives need to go hand in hand with our career goals.
Another tip: include reflection as part of your daily routine. Make a habit out of taking stock of your progress and your overall aspirations. Are you going in the right direction? Feel free and empowered to change your goals as you see fit. You don’t have to wait until the next New Year to make a change!
Goal Setting: Useful Questions for Reflection
While creating your resolutions for 2024, I encourage you to reflect on the following three questions.
- What did you do well last year?
Think about your strengths and how they contributed to the success from the previous year. A positive mindset will benefit your progress in 2024. What have you achieved recently and how? Are there things you can do to replicate your success with new achievements in the year ahead?
- What were you biggest challenges last year, and what did you learn from them?
Understanding past difficulties can help in overcoming future obstacles. Are similar challenges likely to reoccur? How can you overcome them or deal with them more effectively? What skills do you need to learn or what practices do you need to develop to be more resilient and prepared?
- If you keep the same goal, how will your approach change this year?
Feel free to carry a pre-existing goal into 2024. Did you make a resolution for 2023 and accidentally let it slip away? What can you do differently this time? Do you need to reframe your goal so that it’s more specific and achievable? Perhaps you made remarkable progress toward your goal, and you want to continue building upon it. That’s a wonderful idea! How can you update your approach? What new, concrete steps can you take in 2024?
Cheers to a Year Filled with New Success Stories!
I’m so full of excitement for the year ahead. Just as I’m encouraging you to embrace the opportunity in 2024, I’m doing the same thing. I’m reflecting. I’m setting goals. And I’m identifying specific ways to achieve them.
What do you want to achieve? How do you want to grow? What steps do you need to take to reach your aspirations? Now is the time to dive into these questions and establish concrete plans based on the answers. Remember, even the simplest actions can have life-changing results. Making one small change to your daily routine or signing up for one new class can be transformative.
Let’s get ready to make this year one of personal growth and professional wins!
Explore AIHM’s Programmes for Educational and Career Growth in 2024
Earn Your Degree
Whether you’re finishing up high school and exploring universities or you’re well into your career and dreaming of finally earning a degree, AIHM’s bachelor’s degree in hospitality management can be a great choice.
We accept new students in March and September of 2024. Apply for the BBA!
New Year, New Skill
What skills do you need to achieve your dreams? Choose from AIHM’s Executive Education courses teaching a wealth of professional and management skills.
Browse our current catalog of business courses!
Learn with a Friend and Save
Studying alongside a friend makes reaching goals easier. In addition to adding fun and familiarity, studying with a friend introduces a sense of accountability. Think of it like having a workout partner.
AIHM is now offering a 25% discount for Executive Education courses when you come to learn with a friend. Take advantage of this special offer!
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