2011 Diversey Contest
Kaisa Laukkanen, winner of the Diversey Contest 2011I hauled my overweight suitcase into the trunk of our car and hopped in the front seat. After a 2-minute drive we were at our destination. The charming associates at the Sacher Vienna welcomed me to the legendary hotel and I entered the beautiful guestroom I had been given for the night. What better way to leave Vienna for 3 weeks than residing in this elegance, tradition and style. Pre-dinner drinks in the Blaue Bar, a multiple-course menu at the Rote Bar, short but sweet slumber and a wake-up call at 04:00 AM. I was ready for take-off. The hotel chauffeur cruised smoothly through the streets of Vienna to the airport and sent me off via Frankfurt with the grandiose Airbus 380 to New York.
I breathed in the humid air of the city, laden with a pungent fragrance ranging from take-away coffee to Chinese dumplings and couldn't stop smiling. After an exciting weekend in the city that never sleeps, I jumped on the convenient Campus-2-Campus bus, leaving the lights of Manhattan behind as we headed towards the beautiful Cornell campus, embedded in the breathtaking nature of upstate New York. The four hour ride passed quickly as I tried hard to wrap my head around the fact that I was now finally headed to my destination. The months of strenuous preparation for the Young Hotelier Award, the helpful seminars, the exhilarating presentation day itself, and the exciting award ceremony were now culminating into this main prize and I was headed to Cornell University.
Classes commenced promptly at 08:30 AM the following Monday and the 2-week stay at the renowned hotel school was an experience of a lifetime - an honor and pleasure to attend. The courses and professors were of highest standard. The generosity of the Diversey scholarship allowed for me to attend 3 courses: Building the Human Capital Base, Essential Skills in Leadership, and Interactive Marketing. The volume of knowledge and experience that I walk away with will accompany me for the remainder of my professional and personal life. The real value of the experience is created by the participants. Attendees from across the globe, representing a wide range of hospitality careers bring with them so much information and perspectives which truly add to one's understanding of professional dynamics, hospitality trends, personal networks, and general life know-how.
Attending the courses at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University is an exceptional opportunity - and with determination and hard work it's possible! The time and effort that I dedicated towards the Young Hotelier Award and the unforgettable prize(s) that I was granted have made me realize the essence of hard work and the outcomes thereof. To future candidates of the competition - I can only recommend that you grasp the chance to participatein this challenging yet inspiring experience.
I would like to thank all those involved in the organization and realization of the Young Hotelier Award - an exemplary initiative to challenge, encourage, and develop young talent in the dynamic, exciting, and rewarding hospitality industry.Thank you!
