Personal philosophy: core beliefs and principles
As a humanist, I believe in free agency so I can't argue that all hospitality managers should have the same philosophy. With my existentialist leanings, I believe in each person creating their own meaning and realities—all the while striving to be authentic in all their relationships. Both of the philosophical platforms that I embrace encourage a strong degree of freedom and personal responsibility. As an industry, hospitality offers a unique perspective of people's lives—separated from their quotidian affairs and concerns. When people travel or seek entertainment outside of their home, they are vulnerable to many elements that under more typical circumstances would not influence them. It does seem that any hospitality manager can contribute positively to the experiences of these people, regardless of their philosophical orientation—or, perhaps, because of it.
Diversity in the Workplace
The increase in globalization has resulted in greater levels of interaction of individuals from diverse cultures and beliefs than ever before in the history of the world. As noted in the work of Green, Lopez, Wysocki and Kepner (2002) "People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace; they are now part of a worldwide economy with competition coming from nearly every continent." (p.1) Diversity is defined as "The variety of experiences and perspective which arise from differences in race, culture, religion, mental or physical abilities, heritage, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other characteristics." (University of California, San Francisco, 2012, p.1)