Together we are stronger than our component parts
There's a commonly held belief in the hospitality industry that when it comes to innovation and progress, the USA is ahead of the field. High service standards, enough zany ideas to make George Washington turn in his grave and their execution on a large scale ensure that the USA is near the top when it comes to measuring hospitality around the globe.
With this in mind we've brought together a collection of what's hot in the USA in a special feature starting on page 24. Some ideas may be outlandish, some may provoke the groan factor, or the response "only in America". But they provide some interesting food for thought and with some modifications might lead to new ideas on how to generate revenue in an increasingly competitive domestic marketplace.
Success stories
It's all good fun and interesting stuff. But before you subscribe lock, stock and barrel to the theory that the US hospitality industry contains the best the world has to offer, take a minute to think about the industry back home. The industry here may not function on as wide a scale as in the USA, but it is full of success stories that can sometimes be forgotten when we hear about ideas that appear to be more ambitious than our own.
It's an appropriate moment to consider success at home. At no time in the year are our successes more apparent than at the annual presentation of the Caterer & Hotelkeeper Awards, which took place just two nights ago at London's Grosvenor House hotel.
The recipients of this year's awards will take their rightful place in the prestigious Cateys academy. Like their American cousins they will have had innovative or creative ideas, a direct impact on the profitability of the business, or they will have exhibited natural leadership and team-building qualities.
Winning team
The Cateys also demonstrate the importance of teamwork. They may honour individuals, but their impact goes far further. Most Oscar winners acknowledge that without the support of a winning team, they would not be on stage collecting their accolades. The same is true of the Cateys. On the night only 15 people accept the awards, but the post-Cateys celebrations affect far wider circles.
It all goes to prove that success is down largely to teamwork, and it would be a foolish person who did not acknowledge the team in his or her success. This can also be seen in the build-up to the Cateys, from the involvement of this magazine, to the woman responsible for the flowers at the Grosvenor House, to the chefs and the front of house staff, as our behind-the-scenes feature shows.
And a team is already being set up for next year's event… only 363 days away and counting.
As athlete Roger Black said at this year's Chef Conference, egos will always exist, but no individual is more important than the team as a whole. And that goes for wherever that team is based and whatever ideas it comes up with, on either side of the Atlantic, or anywhere else for that matter.
JENNY WEBSTER
Deputy EditorCaterer & Hotelkeeper
