David Kong worked in the hospitality industry nearly 50
years at several brands, ending in 2021 when he retired as CEO of BWH Hotel
Group, a global network of 4,500 hotels across 18 brands in more than 100
countries.
With a career spanning so many decades – and more than 17 years
in the role of CEO – Kong was on the front lines of changes that have rippled through
the hospitality industry, ranging from the proliferation of automation and
other digital solutions to new booking channels and shifts in consumer
preferences.
At the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) produced by the BHN Group - another brand of Northstar Travel Group - Kong received the ALIS Lifetime Achievement
Award, which is presented to individuals who have
made significant contributions to the hospitality industry through their
actions, deeds and accomplishments.
At the
event, Kong also sat down for a one-to-one interview in the PhocusWire studio.
The conversation began with Kong reflecting on his time in
the industry and specifically its use of technology that has become even more
pronounced in recent years.
“The industry has been notorious for not embracing technology
quickly, and understandably so because you think about the investments that
have to be made,” he said.
“But lately … the brands have been able to use technology to
do a lot of things, including sales and marketing and using [artificial intelligence] for revenue management,
for example. It shows the industry has an appetite for tech. It’s just that we
want to be cautious and make good investments for our owners.”
The conversation also covered Kong’s current venture, DEI Advisors,
which he founded after retiring from BWH Hotel Group. Kong is focused on
sharing stories from industry leaders to empower women and members of
minority groups working in hospitality to understand how to network, how to
find mentors and how to advocate for themselves.
Kong said he has been pleased to see travel companies make
progress on creating more diverse teams, but he called this “only the first step.”
“Please think about inclusion and equity, think about how we
can make people feel heard and seen, respected and valued. Having diversity around
the table is only the start,” he said.
“If you can … create a sense of belonging where people feel
safe, and they feel trusted, and they feel empowered. That’s when you can really
unleash the true power of diversity.”
Watch the full discussion below.
PhocusWire Executive Interview: David Kong