Ms. Truc Tran - Director of Marketing & Communications, Bel Group Hospitality - Asserting yourself in the international environment requires skills, qualities, and continuous learning

It is known that you have more than 13 years of experience working for large international corporations such as Rosewood Hotel Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Accor Group. In your opinion, what factors are needed to assert oneself in a demanding international environment?

Establishing yourself in the demanding international environment of the hospitality industry requires a combination of skills, qualities, and strategies. Below are some factors that I believe will determine success.

Effective communication is the key to success in any industry, but in my opinion, effective communication is especially important in the hospitality industry where interactions with customers, employees, management, investors, suppliers, media & press units, governing bodies, and other stakeholders occur regularly. Furthermore, through communication, people will understand the differences between cultures, needs & preferences of each international customer group, thereby maintaining and improving customer satisfaction levels.

Having certain knowledge about the hospitality industry and understanding all aspects and how departments in the hotel industry operate will be an important factor when interacting with each department. In addition, the hotel industry is also very demanding and fast-paced, so you must learn to manage your time and emotions to be able to handle pressure skillfully and quickly overcome emerging challenges. born during work.

Upholding ethical standards and integrity is important in maintaining trust with both customers and colleagues, especially internationally where cultural norms may differ.

Continuously improve knowledge. The hotel industry is constantly evolving with new trends, technology, and emerging customer preferences. Being willing to learn and adapt to these changes is important to stay relevant and competitive. Continuous learning is the key throughout my work. I actively participate in many online and offline courses organized by corporations and hotels to practice vocational skills and apply soft skills in management and customer care. Up to now, I have more than 30 certifications from IHG, Accor, Rosewood, and Dale Carnegie Vietnam.

In summary, by demonstrating the above factors, I think individuals can assert themselves and thrive in the demanding international environment of the hotel industry, contributing to their own success as well as the success of the hotel industry ‘s organization of which they are members.

Having a lot of experience in international corporations, why did you choose a Vietnamese brand to work with today?

After many years of working at international hotel corporations, I had the thought of wanting to venture out and try my hand in a completely new environment.

If at corporations, we can spend all our time taking care of just one product brand and must strictly comply with all brand regulations set forth by each corporation. Then at Bel Group Hospitality, I have the opportunity to personally build a set of brand standards for all the hotels and resorts that the group is managing.

Furthermore, my team and I have the opportunity to lay the foundations, the first bricks for each facility, starting from the brand name, and the logo design and building the story behind each facility. trademark. Each logo we design will convey a brand style with its colors, textures, and highlights.

I know Bel Group Hospitality as a corporation specializing in the management and operation of hotels from 4 stars to 5 stars in Vietnam. When I first joined, the group was only managing 4-5 brands, but now it is managing more than 14 different brands, operating more than 1,400 rooms, and has more than 2,000 employees at 4 typical destinations such as Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Hoi An.

When I look back at the entire process of striving from the early days, I feel very proud of the path and journey that I have gone through with the group and my partners. A Vietnamese corporation manages hotels and resorts for Vietnamese investors, but always aims for 5-star and international standards, why not? I think I made the right choice.

How do you apply the experiences you learned from international corporations to your current job? What advice do you have for young people who want to work in the MarCom hospitality industry?

The knowledge and essence that I have learned and summarized over more than 13 years of working are applied to the hotels and resorts that Bel Group Hospitality is managing.

My colleagues and I have the opportunity to do everything from naming and designing logos for hotels and resorts, creating brand stories, designing our own brand identity, and building website content. , creating and building content on social networking sites, preparing Sales Kits Sales Kits and Media Kit for Salespeople when meeting customers, applying practical skills to run ads to generate leads and revenue effectively for each unit, carrying out communication, promotion, and event organization work, combining with inviting the press, media, and famous people to relax and check-in for the facilities.

We also regularly organize training sessions for the marketing department at each facility, so that everyone can master their expertise and apply it effectively in practice.

If we decide to do something, everyone invests time in researching, implementing, monitoring, and being meticulous in each task. So, it can be said that all the products we make are aimed at the highest possible standards.

Having gone through a process of working in the Marketing industry at hotels and resorts, I have concluded the following things, which I hope can be helpful to young people who want to work in the smoke-free industry. marketing and communications field.

Brand & Product Knowledge: Understanding different brands and products in the hospitality industry is critical to success. You need to know each product's unique selling points and the specific services it offers.

Improve discipline and patience: The hotel industry requires discipline, both in adhering to schedules and maintaining high service standards. Self-discipline is equally important, especially in challenging situations. Patience is also important because it involves dealing with diverse customer groups and unexpected situations.

Enhance your professionalism: This requires you to maintain a positive attitude, demonstrate integrity and promote high ethical standards. Continuous professional development, honing skills and enhancing professionalism foster trust and confidence to build long-term relationships and advance in the field.

Attitude over qualifications: Although qualifications are important, attitude often plays a decisive role in success. A positive attitude, a willingness to learn can motivate individuals to move forward even in the face of challenges.

Continuously learn and improve specialized knowledge and foreign language proficiency: The hotel industry is global, with opportunities spanning different cultures and regions. Therefore, continuous learning and language proficiency are invaluable assets.

By cleverly combining these elements, you can highlight the importance of recognizing and celebrating your contributions to the hospitality industry in general and marketing in particular.