London was always my dream city, but I never bothered to do more research and learn about it because what is more interesting than their accent, right? The pre-departure lessons and quizzes quickly opened my eyes to the history, culture, and differences between American and British hospitality, leadership, and communication styles. Moreover, when I arrived in London, I was instantly captured by the city. From visiting the city on top of the red buses and getting a taste of their food at the welcome dinner, I was amazed and out of my comfort zone, but in a good way.
Cultural Insights So Far
In terms of cultural insights and hospitality, I have always heard people say that British hospitality is reserved, composed, and more formal. Whereas American hospitality is a more enthusiastic and friendly culture, which I totally agree with. However, those people were wrong. British hospitality is excellent; the service I witnessed was terrific, friendly, and polite. The hotel was not particularly welcoming, but it did not make a strong impression on me. However, the employees were thoughtful and polite.
Leadership Comparison
Each country prioritizes its leadership differently. The US emphasizes results, innovation, and continuous growth, while the British focus on balance and equity. It was interesting to see those differences and realize how changing your leadership style in certain situations is necessary to be great, have a strong team, and achieve great things. The quizzes on different leadership styles helped me see the difference between the two cultures and also helped me understand the kind of leader I am.
Cross-Cultural Communication
Furthermore, in London, I will adapt to their communication style, use some keywords or phrases like toilets, lift, the famous “mind the gap,” and most importantly, always be kind and respectful. One thing I always do, wherever I go, is be observant and listen to my surroundings. From there, I will adapt as needed.
Personal Reflection
I am most excited about learning as much as I can about the culture, the city’s history, and the hospitality aspect as well. Mentally, I am fully prepared to be open-minded, curious, and open to evolution during this trip. In my professional life, I want to learn as much as I can about the hospitality sector, including how to improve the visitor experience, experiment with alternative approaches, and integrate many cultures to obtain an expanded point of view to understand the needs of our guests.
This adventure is about developing into the kind of hospitality worker who can succeed anywhere in the world, learning new leadership and service techniques, and respectfully engaging with a different culture. I am eager to experience more!