Horst Schulze

Service, everything we talk about is hospitality here.

The first person who taught hospitality was Saint Benedict.

the creator of the Benedict Monasteries throughout Europe.

He sent a letter to the head of his monasteries in the year 500 and said, if a guest arrives, treat him as if it was Jesus himself.

But otherwise, treat everyone as if they were the most important people in the world.

And he recommended, in fact, even if you're on a fast, break your fast if the guest is by himself and have dinner with them after you wash their feet.

Now, how close do we come for that?

Why wouldn't we try and come close to that in businesses?

Isn't that much more fulfilling for us rather than just fulfilling a function?

It was Hotel Corporation of America, which became Sonesta later.

So I went to Houston.

Frankly, I didn't stay long.

Very short, because I was totally new.

And when you have cultural beliefs, they're sometimes very stupid.

And the first day there, first of all, I lived in Hawaii, no air condition.

And I got there late June.

I've never experienced heat like that.

In Houston?

In Houston.

And next door I worked, and the first day I worked as a waiter actually, I was there a few days.