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On Saturday, we learned how Sarah Eustis went from a 14-year-old housekeeper to working for Ralph Lauren in the fashion industry to creating community-defining hotels now as CEO of Main Street Hospitality.
Today, we’re continuing our exploration of why hospitality is the most fascinating industry to work in by learning from Jyoti Chopra, Chief People, Inclusion & Sustainability Officer at MGM Resorts. With a background spanning journalism, the UN, and investment banking, Jyoti brings a unique global perspective to hospitality—revealing why it’s an exciting, purpose-driven career choice.
The World’s Most Interesting Career
Jyoti Chopra // Photo: Josiah Mackenzie for Hospitality Daily
The big idea: Hospitality is the most interesting career (take it from someone who studied journalism, worked for the UN, and worked in investment banking).
Why this matters: The hospitality industry has incredible opportunities yet struggles to communicate its appeal to new talent. Changing this narrative could attract diverse, skilled professionals ready to make a difference.
76% of surveyed hotels report staffing shortages (AHLA)
Many workers today do not think the hotel industry will help them reach their career goals as quickly as other industries would (Hotel Operations)
Go deeper: Listen to Jyoti and I discuss this today on the Hospitality Daily Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify), where we cover:
Jyoti’s career journey across journalism, the UN, and investment banking
The unique, people-focused nature of hospitality
The purpose and satisfaction found in serving others
Why hospitality offers unmatched career variety and growth
The need to better promote hospitality’s career potential
Takeaways for today:
Promote hospitality’s versatility: Highlight the diverse roles and skills within the industry, from event planning to sustainability efforts.
Showcase purpose and impact: Frame hospitality as a career that creates joy, connection, and memorable experiences. This resonates especially with young talent seeking purposeful work.
Focus on storytelling: Use real stories - your own and those you find here on Hospitality Daily - to illustrate the exciting growth potential in hospitality. This is key for inspiring and attracting talent from other sectors.
Highlight the global opportunity: Hospitality spans cultures and regions. Make it clear that a career in this industry can mean working with people worldwide, providing exposure that few fields offer.
Position hospitality as a career with upward mobility: Emphasize opportunities for advancement and skill-building, countering the misconception by some that hospitality jobs won’t take you anywhere quickly.
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Thank you for reading.
-Josiah
