Through the hospitality of others, we are enabled to share those feelings of welcoming and acceptance in future interactions. Today’s guest is someone who’s work in hospitality is influenced by the support of those around him. Our guest this week is an experienced designer with a well rounded international background. Joining the show is Regional Director of Design Strategies for IHG, Henri Munyengango!

Henri shares the mic with Host Dan Ryan for a thoughtful conversation on the impacts we leave on each other’s lives. Henri shares the ways he is helping the next generation of designers, the necessity of collaboration, and the importance of understanding client’s motivations. 

Takeaways: 

• Hospitality is about creating a space where people feel expected and embraced. Instilling a sense of hospitality is focused on creating environments that welcome guests and help them create memories. 
• For Henri, his journey into hospitality was powered by the support of his community around him. Through the support of the family he spent time with in America, Henri was encouraged to pursue his dream of design. 
• Hearing a client doesn’t like a concept you’ve developed can sting, but it’s important to understand their motives. At the end of the day, your client is running a business, and the pushback originates from their need to ensure they are making a sound investment. 
• One of the most exciting parts of working with brands is getting to truly pair with them to tell their story. Every touch point from check in to the room needs to distill a brand’s aspirations into a concrete physical form. 
• Understanding and embracing cultural differences, especially in hospitality, is crucial for building acceptance and fostering curiosity. Being acknowledged and inquiring about someone's background promotes the ultimate acceptance anyone seeks.
• Seeking advice and leveraging the perspectives of others can provide valuable opportunities for personal growth and mindset shifts, emphasizing the power of collaboration and multiple perspectives in problem-solving.
• Being a mentor brings fulfillment and allows for sharing experiences and knowledge. It provides an opportunity to guide and support individuals, whether they are team members or students, and make a positive impact in their lives.

Quote of the Show:

• “I thank those individuals who invested in me to allow me to be at a place here in my life where I can give back.” - Henri Munyengango

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henri-munyengango-7b472620/ 
• Website: https://www.ihg.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• 3:20 - Akagera National Park: https://www.africanparks.org/the-parks/akagera 
• 5:43 - Catholic Social Services
• 19:27 - Milli Vanilli
• 32:36 - Holly Kappes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-kappes-56648610/ 

Ways to Tune In: 

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
• Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419