Interview with Gauderic Harang (IMHI 2013), General Manager at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Islands (Anantara Al Yamm, Anantara Al Sahel and Desert Island by Anantara). Gauderic is as well our Ambassador for the AAIMHI Dubai Chapter.

AAIMHI: How did you end up working in Hospitality?

Gauderic: Contrary to a lot of my peers, I almost ended up in another industry! I started working early on in small restaurants to “finance” my numerous hobbies, but never really had any intent to pursue a career in it. Growing up, I loved traveling and had a thirst to discover the world. This might be something I inherited from my dad and his life of expatriation. After initially studying finance, but not really getting any particular interest for it (if we are being honest, I probably spent more time snowboarding, or doing anything else than finance at the time), I wasn’t too sure where to go from there. And exactly at that time, I actually had a friend who joined IMHI, and who pushed me to look into hospitality. Turned out these side jobs had been the perfect segway into the Hotel world!

AAIMHI: What do you remember from your time at IMHI?

Gauderic: Up to the time I joined IMHI, I had never particularly enjoyed studying nor doing academical work. This all changed with my time there. I remember a very powerful feeling of energy, emulation, and stimulation. It felt like joining the top league of future hoteliers. I keep fond memories of the classes with all teachers, but the ones with Peter O’Connor and Nicolas Graf the most. There were very challenging but also felt like what would be the groundwork for my future career, laying extremely strong bases and critical mind for the years to come. 

I also remember vividly my classmates, who all seemed smarter and cooler, as well as our time together, whether in group work, or partying. “Work Hard, Play Hard” seemed to be the most accurate motto for our promotion. 

AAIMHI: What did you do right after graduating, can you share a bit about your career?

Gauderic: As graduation was coming close, I had my sight focused on expatriation and wanted to push my career as much as I could, using my IMHI diploma as the biggest step up I could. 

I considered, despite having worked both in F&B and Rooms, that I did not necessarily fit in one of these departments particularly, but wanted to be able to keep my feet in both. It seemed to me at the time that where I would really be able to contribute most to would be leadership. 

I astutely attended as many Industry Leader events as I could and had met the VP HR for FRHI EMEA who thought I might have an interesting profile for the brands. 

I ended up passing briefly by Switzerland before heading to Thailand. 

I then got lucky with a few key leaders who shaped me further, following my years at IMHI. I wanted to be GM as fast as I could before 30, so was willing to take any challenge that could lead me there, while strengthening my experience in the Luxury segment. I ended up getting the position at 31, as youngest GM for Anantara at the time. It turned out quite well because I would not have been ready before this. Turns out things often come at the time they are supposed to. 

AAIMHI: Would you say that IMHI had an impact to your career? Was it an accelerator? 

Gauderic: Absolutely – it gave me the key skills in so many aspects to lead a team to deliver the best performances. It seems almost surreal the quality of the teachers, students, and Industry Leaders we get to meet while attending the program. We got in touch with so many key Executives from the top Hospitality brands and groups and got deeply challenge to strive. 

“Survive, Adapt, Overcome” – this statement will stick with me forever, as I trust for so many of my peers. 

The networking and quality of the academic education provided are world class and key to push one’s career. 

AAIMHI: Could you share an achievement you are particularly proud of? 

Gauderic: As I took my assignment as GM in Thailand for the Anantara flagship there in the Golden Triangle, the property needed to be brought back on the map. It has a fantastic team and holds almost a mystical aspect due to its location, and an elephant conservation camp.

The property is owned by Minor (Anantara Parent group), and I needed something that could be implemented fast, with limited funds and maximal impact. I remembered having heard about the transparent bubbles during my time in the Maldives but was not interested at the time as it was already done. However, it appeared that I was now in the perfect location to bring this experience in the Golden Triangle and created with the team something truly extraordinary and as we worked on the project, I was convinced it had great potential. We crafted the experience of a night in the jungle WITH the elephants. A unique opportunity to observe their nocturnal behavior all night long while sleeping in a protected environment under the stars with a truly 5 star experience. When we first tested it, it blew our minds, as it far exceeded our expectations. It went on to become the biggest PR story for the group for the following 3 years and a resounding financial success. 

The only problem being that I am now asked to find ways to replicate similar success everywhere I go . 

AAIMHI: Are there any lessons you have learned in your career that you would like to share with the younger graduates? 

Gauderic: Be hungry, go get what you want, do not think it will just be handed over. Achievers do not wait for things to come to them. Be humble in success, it almost always is a team effort, and often something you were only a part of. Be flexible, things change, so should you. 

Don’t take it too seriously. It’s just work. Failure is part of the journey. Take it on the shin, get back up, learn from it, and keep pushing. Egos rarely get more than bruises. And all failures become good stories after sufficient time has passed.

Be nice. If you must leave a job, however or whatever the reason, always do it with class, even though it might be hard. You never know what the future holds. 

AAIMHI: Besides the academic degree, which are the soft skills you believe are particularly important today? 

Gauderic: Emotional Intelligence and empathy are essential. Since this lacks in so many places, so many people resign these days or lose the passion for their jobs. They have proven crucial during the pandemic times and should remain so. We should always remember that hospitality is an industry for people, by people, through people. Doing a conscious effort to perceive and understand people is a sure way to gain attention and ensure that strong performances are not only noticed but rewarded. 

It also kind of makes you a good person ;). 

AAIMHI: Do you like to hire IMHI graduates and why? 

Gauderic: Yes, they are very sharp, versatile, flexible and have a strong academic understanding of the industry. Over the course of the program, they get a 360 view of the hospitality world, from Operations to Real Estate, giving key perspective to understand how it all works and binds together, which is something often lacking in other programs, or candidates coming from a non-academic background.

AAIMHI: Do you believe the alumni association AAIMHI, the IMHI network, is important? 

Gauderic: Absolutely – as I have already mentioned, networking might be the most important career accelerator. Relationships need to be created, and nurtured, and the AAIMHI network allows this, providing alumni, new graduates, as well as students share important industry knowledge, intelligence, and potential job opportunities or career turning points. I would not be where I am today if it was not for its particular impact on my career.  

AAIMHI: Thank you so much for your great support to our community Gauderic!