Looking back on this experience, I think it gave me a new perspective in life. I am a first generation graduate in the United States in my family and i could not be prouder. What makes me proud is that I did it for my family, particularly for my mom, my dad and my aunt. Coming to this country was really difficult for the women in my life. My mom had to have two jobs just to keep us afloat and put basic food on the table. As I reflect on the opportunities this country has offered us, particularly the education I have received, it makes me proud to be able to honor my mother with this achievement.
When I finished high school, I had amazing grades but I did not know what career to pursue in College. I studies broadcast journalism for four years throughout my high school years and i loved it. My senior year, I was the executive producer for our annual video yearbook so, I thought my calling was journalism and / or broadcasting. When I realized how bad the opportunity was for women in that field including low pay and long hours with no recognition, I was very disappointed and found myself having to pursue new career goals with no guidance and no direction of where to begin. I soon started researching and found that Communications can also work for me. I became involved in social clubs including Women in Communications and I loved the opportunities and learned what great communicators women can be. I started looking into the Public Relations field and soon after, I sat in the board of directors of the Public Relations Society of America.
That field opened my eyes to different cultures and ways to communicate in the different fields. Next came my second passion that took the veil off for what I really want to do: Marketing in the Hospitality industry. The hospitality industry faces a lot of challenges in view of the multicultural diversity of its market. Specially in the hotel industry, I can see that cultural diversity of hotel employees and guests may create unique challenges of cross-cultural service encounters, which may provide an opportunity for service differentiation. This also included the interaction challenges between employees and managers. Cultural misunderstandings can arise from language barriers and cultural differences. Domestic and International travel and tourism industry will explode, especially after a pandemic so those interpersonal interactions, at a distance, between individual of different nationalities will continue. Hotels and flights will be full. Restaurants will be fully booked and that is great. However, when hotel services interact with customers’ culture and are provided in a culture-acceptable manner, then that service experience becomes unforgettable and may be a source of competitive advantage. Also, keep in mind that Intercultural communication experiences help tourists know and to appreciate other cultures, but also help them to a better understanding of their own culture. Bottom line, Cultural awareness, sensitivity and understanding of cultural differences should be perceived as a critical issue for business success. As such, training, cultural awareness, and workshops should be address in the marketing strategies of the hospitality business.
One thing I need to mention is that I got laid off during the pandemic and decided to go back to school. Even though the pandemic has been challenging for some, it helped me focus, learn and grow my knowledge and career. Regardless of my background, culture and language, there is only one way to grow and go and that is up because sky is the limit for me.