As a young adult preparing to enter the evolving world of hospitality, I stand at the edge of a transformative era – one that demands not just operational excellence, but thoughtful action and bold responsibility. In hospitality school, we are taught three fundamental tools: Service, Design and Operations. In a world that is constantly evolving, mastering the familiar is not enough. We need to cultivate a mind-set that embraces the unknowable, and act with agility, curiosity, and intention.
Open innovation challenges this idea that innovation can only happen in closed boardrooms. It encourages the cross-pollination and exchange of skills, ideas and perspectives between disciplines and industries. The core of the initiative is to share knowledge and create solutions that no one organization can achieve alone.
I like to think of it as a melting pot of ideas – where everyone brings something uniquely different yet authentic and valuable. This diversity makes innovation more creative, richer and powerful.
Open Innovation: What is it?
Hospitality is built on human connection – yet in a world of rapid technological change and urgent calls for sustainability, siloed thinking simply does not work anymore. In the past, solving problems in industry has been done by departments. But issues such as the climate crisis or the demand for more personalized and responsible travel requires collaboration across industries.
No single company or voice can solve them today. That’s why open innovation isn’t just useful – it’s necessary. Hoteliers, policymakers and educators need to form alliances with designers, educators and, most importantly, the young people who are willing to change the status quo.
Why is collaboration essential?
Open innovation, the engine that will drive future growth, relies heavily on collaboration, both intentional and strong, between organizations, teams, and individuals with different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds. Collaboration encourages creativity, promoting a culture for innovation. Open innovation takes it a step further by involving stakeholders from outside.
The collective power of organizations is essential to revolutionizing the world in which we live and making it a better one. Climate change and the damage to our planet cannot be reversed by a single company. Collaboration often brings diverse perspectives to the table that may not have been explored before. It leads to the breakdown of barriers by combining efforts and interacting dynamically, which is fueled and energized by each stakeholder’s expertise. This often leads to visionary and game-changing ideas. Multi-disciplinary approaches are required to solve complex problems. Strategic partnerships enable organizations to access a variety of resources and experts to solve problems in a multifaceted manner.
We must fully embrace open innovation by recognizing the benefits of sharing the wealth of knowledge the world offers.
Why is Curiosity Important?
In hospitality, curiosity is about more than learning – It’s about asking the right questions to better anticipate guest needs and improve their experience. Einstein said it best: “Curiosity is greater than knowledge.” It’s at the heart of all this, fueling the desire to discover hidden opportunities and explore beyond the obvious.
Curiosity keeps innovation from becoming complacent. The “what if?” questions are what allow teams to experiment and push boundaries, transforming feedback into breakthroughs. It is this secret that allows for an environment of experimentation.
The power of student voices in shaping what happens next
Students aren’t only future leaders, but they are also active participants in today’s innovation landscape. They are actively involved in answering the question “What’s Next?”. Fresh perspectives are essential to open innovation. They are not bound by “It’s the same way it has always been“, and more willing to take risks, push boundaries and blend disciplines.
EHL Hospitality Business School, with its multicultural student body, interdisciplinary approach and strategic positioning, is the ideal place for innovation to thrive. Here, the students have the tools necessary to not only learn about change but also to lead it. They are empowered to see themselves as not only future leaders, but as cocreators of the world.
The future is not ours to merely inherit – but also to reimagine and reinvent. Join us at the Open Innovation Summit as we seek to redefine the future of hospitality through our tracks – Future of Food, Luxury with Impact and Regenerative Economies.
Are you simply adapting to the new future or are you joining in the conversation and helping it be redefined and reshaped?
