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Publisher’s Point-of-View
Wednesday, 14 Aug, 2008
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The stories for this week couldn’t be farther apart, yet they are both events that rocked our industry and world. They also both touched me personally.
Last week started with an amazing flight on the new Emirates A380 with history being made in aviation. It was the first time this monstrous jet touched down in Los Angeles with people and then took off again for a 2 hour familiarization flight up and down the coast. More of the story below.
The week ended with the loss of a very special man. Steve Porter, President of IHG Americas, lost a battle that had put him in the hospital a month or so ago. I understand he went quietly Friday morning. Peaceful. So phenomenal was the legacy of this man that lead his company to greatness, that staffers were offered the services of a psychologist if they needed it. You don’t hear of this very often. What is it that made Steve such an icon? It would be wonderful to hear from IHG employees about their personal stories and experiences with Steve Porter. I have my own.
Emirates Airlines lands the new A380 aircraft on American Soil
The arrival of the A380 super jumbo set a new standard for aviation and made history here in the U.S. with Emirates landing at LAX, interiors completed and ready for passengers, to introduce the aircraft to the world. The aircraft made its entrance into the U.S. by landing at New York the day before. The landing took place at the Imperial Terminal next to LAX where airport police and fire trucks, helicopters, invited guests (including travel agents, corporate travel managers, even honored guests Mr. & Mrs. Buzz Aldrin – 2nd man to walk on the moon) and the media welcomed the flight. You could see the jumbo jet from a distance and it certainly made it’s enormous presence felt upon landing right in front of the reception area. All this while American Airlines made an emergency landing across the field where the fire trucks were sent and therefore, couldn’t welcome the flight with a stream of showers.
Emirates was the first airline to place an order for the Airbus A380 in 2000 and has since become the jetliner’s largest client, with 58 planes set for delivery as part of an $18 billion deal.After a short presentation by Emirates staff, Los Angeles World Airports and a representative from the Governors office, the 200 or so guests (I was honored to be one of them) boarded the flight for a short journey up the coast to experience the new aircraft. Noteworthy was the takeoff, landing and in-flight noise of the engines. It was amazingly swift and gentle on takeoff and landing and the aircraft was very quiet in-flight. In just a couple hours, we were taken through the paces of all the creature comforts of the new A380 (Emirates style) while sipping Dom Perignon along with a large assortment of canapés and hors’d’oeurves.
Beginning with first class and it’s own private sanctuary for each guest with doors that close, the spaciousness and amenity service is unparalleled. Two private shower spas including blow dryers and make-up vanity adorned the cabin; true rejuvenation at 43,000 feet, although keep in mind the showers shut off after 5 minutes.
For both business and first class, a separate bar/lounge area includes seating and spaciousness for a place to relax and unwind with fellow passengers. As we walked up the stairs, which are located both in the front and back of the aircraft, we encountered the bar area first. Also, both cabins offer lay-flat seating and mini-bars right at your seat!
The onboard entertainment is unsurpassed in anything I have ever seen (not that I have been on every airline, but couldn’t imagine any more options that what Emirates offers here). The screens get bigger as you go from Economy to Business to First; but all in all they look to be the largest in the sky. The entertainment system is called ICE for Information, Communication and Entertainment. It features 100 movies and 50 TV channels, 350 audio channels and 40 in-flight games. Think anyone will get bored? Don’t think so!Airports will have to step up the pace to reconfigure their runways and terminals to support this behemoth jet. In the meantime, LAX airport officials are planning to build six new gates capable of handling the Airbus A380 on the back of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at a cost of more than $1.5 billion.
Hospitality Lost a Legacy
The news of the passing of Steve Porter, President of IHG and a 32-year veteran of the hospitality industry, came as a shock. He was so young, only 53.
It started with an IHG announcement on July 14, that Steve Porter was undertaking medical treatment that necessitated his relinquishing his responsibilities as a company executive. As background, Steve, who also served as global leader franchise strategy and executive director of InterContinental Hotels Group plc, was previously responsible for the management, growth and profitability of the company’s largest operating region, including a portfolio of more than 3,000 hotels and resorts spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Under his leadership, IHG acquired its sixth brand (Candlewood Suites) and launched its seventh brand (Hotel Indigo). “Steve Porter served as a director of IHG with great distinction,” said David Webster, chairman, InterContinental Hotels Group plc. “He was an outstanding executive and a passionate supporter of the company. Steve commanded the fullest respect and affection of everyone in our industry. We are deeply saddened by his death and our sympathies are with his family.”
His video interview back in January at the ALIS Conference, allowed me to recollect the man behind the industry icon. Upon the news, I played back the interview, remembering some of the personal things I asked him about his life including his mentors, how he started in the business and what he recommends for young people thinking of getting into hospitality. What brought Steve into the industry, “I needed a job after graduating” he replied while chuckling.
“Stouffer came to my undergrad school and I finessed an interview. James Sherwood helped me understand the value of people and how to lead by going first and showing the way. Pete Dangerfield taught me how to tell stories. This is so important because we need to engage the heart of our people and the best way is to tell stories to get them excited for our guests. Mike Rose at Promus taught me to be an effective leader. Stories I tell; I did the most learning when I first came into my management training program in the kitchen. Later in my career, I worked to support a group of people when I was in Marketing for Embassy Suites and it took under 2 years to complete and it ended successfully and also included issues, misses and frustrations along the way. I tell my children it’s ok to make a mistake once in awhile and even my children remind of that as well as my dog. Hospitality is basically Show Business. Learn how to share, reflect on self-expression and have desire. Our industry cannot outsource everything. All functions will be a human being. You can choose this industry and stay in it for life because you can move around within the industry all over the world.”
He went on to talk about the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Commission) and innovation at IHG. His engagement during the interview was touching and embracing. You can feel his sense of love for his family, the industry and the people who worked for him and with him around the world. You can see his interviews at www.travelmole.tv.
Steve Porter will be missed but never forgotten. We will hear more about the footprint he left on our industry.
Fran Kiradjian
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