The Service Center

Drop me a text! [Episode 30] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Lesley Wong is the owner and Principal Designer at Lesley Wong Interiors and is a hospitality interior design specialists based in Ontario, Canada. Her guest-first design strategy is focused on crafting customized and beautiful hotel spaces for guests, that are both ascetically pleasing and operati...

Drop me a text! [Episode 29] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Lesley Wong is the owner and Principal Designer at Lesley Wong Interiors and is a hospitality interior design specialists based in Ontario, Canada. Her guest-first design strategy is focused on crafting customized and beautiful hotel spaces for guests, that are both ascetically pleasing and operati...

Drop me a text! [Episode 28] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Anne Marie Johns is the General Manager of the Fairmont Tremblant. She has been a leader in the lodging industry for over 30 years across 11 hotel properties, with extensive experience in sales and marketing, along with operational management. In 2021, she received the Pinnacle Award from KML as Ho...

Drop me a text! [Episode 27] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Anne Marie Johns is the General Manager of the Fairmont Tremblant. She has been a leader in the lodging industry for over 30 years across 11 hotel properties, with extensive experience in sales and marketing, along with operational management. In 2021, she received the Pinnacle Award from KML as Ho...

Drop me a text! [Episode 26] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Dr. Altaf Sovani is the founder and CEO of Alzen Consulting, focusing on hospitality, tourism, and education sectors. Altaf has over 27 years experience as a hospitality educator, with 13 years as the Academic Chair with the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College in Ottawa, ON. In 2...

Drop me a text! [Episode 25] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Dr. Altaf Sovani is the founder and CEO of Alzen Consulting, focusing on hospitality, tourism, and education sectors. Altaf has over 27 years experience as a hospitality educator, with 13 years as the Academic Chair with the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College in Ottawa, ON. In 2...

Drop me a text! [Episode 24] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Reetu Gupta is the Chairwoman and Ambassadress of The Gupta Group, a multi-faceted Toronto development company with a vast real estate portfolio including residential condos, office towers and hotels. The Gupta Group is a multi-generational family-run and operated business. Reetu has been recognize...

Drop me a text! [Episode 23] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Reetu Gupta is the Chairwoman and Ambassadress of The Gupta Group, a multi-faceted Toronto development company with a vast real estate portfolio including residential condos, office towers and hotels. The Gupta Group is a multi-generational family-run and operated business. Reetu has been recognize...

Drop me a text! [Episode 22] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Laura Hingel is the Global Head of Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding with Parfums Christian Dior. Prior to joining Dior, she built her career in talent and human resource management in the hospitality and service field with elite companies that include Accor, FHRI, and the Four Seasons Hot...

Drop me a text! [Episode 21] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Laura Hingel is the Global Head of Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding with Parfums Christian Dior. Prior to joining Dior, she built her career in talent and human resource management in the hospitality and service field with elite companies that include Accor, FHRI, and the Four Seasons Hot...

Drop me a text! [Episode 20] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Edwin Frizzell is the Regional Vice President for Accor in Central Canada and the General Manager of the Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto, Ontario. He has 30 years of experience in the lodging sector with brands including Delta Hotels, The Sutton Place, Sheraton, W Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Wes...

Drop me a text! [Episode 19] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Edwin Frizzell is the Regional Vice President for Accor in Central Canada and the General Manager of the Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto, Ontario. He has 30 years of experience in the lodging sector with brands including Delta Hotels, The Sutton Place, Sheraton, W Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Wes...

Drop me a text! [Episode 18] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Brian Leon is the CEO of Choice Hotels Canada, where he has led their franchise family for over 16 years. Before joining Choice Hotels, he was instrumental in developing the successes of both The Great Canadian Bagel and Booster Juice. Brian was born into a hospitality family – his father worked di...

Drop me a text! [Episode 17] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Brian Leon is the CEO of Choice Hotels Canada, where he has led their franchise family for over 16 years. Before joining Choice Hotels, he was instrumental in developing the successes of both The Great Canadian Bagel and Booster Juice. Brian was born into a hospitality family – his father worked di...

Drop me a text! [Episode 16] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Trina Notman is a leader of rebels as Vice President of Marketing and Communications with both Accent Inns and Hotel Zed. Her career began in journalism and storytelling, pivoting into the world of marketing and creative campaign design. However, she jumped into the world of hospitality and tourism...

Drop me a text! [Episode 15] Support The Service Center!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1844427/support Trina Notman is a leader of rebels as Vice President of Marketing and Communications with both Accent Inns and Hotel Zed. Her career began in journalism and storytelling, pivoting into the world of marketing and creative campaign design. However, she jumped into the world of hospitality and tourism...

Drop me a text! [Episode 14] Mandy Farmer is a hotelier who puts people, service, & experience at the forefront of everything she does! She is President & CEO of both Accent Inns & Hotel Zed, two brands that pack a lot of personality. She embraces doing things differently, hires rebels, and pushes against being boring – all with a of leading with love. If you are ready to radically enr...

Drop me a text! [Episode 13] Darcy MacDonell is a restauranteur and entrepreneur who current owns and operates multiple hospitality businesses in Orillia, Ontario with his partner Simon MacRae, including The Common Stove, PICNIC Tapas & Wine Bar, and ROOMService. Before pivoting to Orillia, he built and operated one of Toronto’s first farm-to-table focused restaurants, The FARMHOUSE Tavern. Af...

Drop me a text! [Episode 12] Arjun Channa is the General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He is a true professional in the hospitality field and a life-long hotelier with a decade and a half of experience in the general manager role throughout the globe. He has led iconic properties in Vanuatu, Aruba, Puerto Rico, India, Canada, and now at the luxury property in S...

Drop me a text! [Episode 11] Erin Haid is the Director of Global Talent Acquisitions for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. She has over 15 years of experience within the hospitality field, from her time in foodservice as a Manager for Earl’s Restaurants, to developing talent and culture with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, then with Accor. Prior to taking on her national leadership position with Four...

Drop me a text! [Episode 10] Susie Grynol is the President of the Hotel Association of Canada, the nation’s leading advocacy voice for the lodging sector. During the pandemic, she has led the charge to gain governmental assistance through the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, accessing more the $11 billion in financial relief and assistance for the industry. Simultaneously, she co-founded...

Drop me a text! [Episode 9] Dr. Rachel Dodds is a Full Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson University. She served for 4 years as the Director for Ryerson’s Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research and is the Director/Owner of Sustaining Tourism, a boutique tourism consulting firm specializing in sustainable tourism, tourism development and poli...

Drop me a text! [Episode 8] Sean Billing is the Operating Partner at the Frontenac Club, a unique boutique lodging establishment found in the building designed to be the first Bank of Montreal in Upper Canada (circa 1845). Located in the heart of Kingston, Ontario, the Frontenac Club brings a new style and elegance to the Limestone City.  When not running his historic landmark property, Sean is al...

Drop me a text! [Episode 7] Rosanna Caira is the Editor & Publisher at Kostuch Media Ltd, which produces both ‘Foodservice and Hospitality’ and ‘Hotelier Magazine’. She has observed, reported on, and celebrated the Canadian hospitality industry for 40 years, from showcasing emerging talent with the ‘Top 30-Under-30’ awards to spotlighting excellence with the Pinnacle Awards.  Rosanna is a high...

Drop me a text! [Episode 6] Neil Hornsby is the Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships with Best Western International, the largest lodging membership association in the world with over 4,700 connected units. Neil studied hospitality management at the University of Guelph, falling in love with the hotel side of the industry, since returning as a core member of the HFTM Policy Advisor Com...