Marc Lores Panades

Remote work has many benefits, such as better concentration on projects and allocating time for reflection. However, it creates a huge distance between teams, making it harder to harvest ideas and build connections. For me, the best way to manage this is by using a project manager to keep track of each property and communicate for mid-term and short-term matters. The rest can be handled through chat, but mostly calls. Feeling the person and connecting with them is more important than losing time chatting. We have lost a lot in the way we communicate. For me speaking is the fasest an best, and the time we spend sending messages and waiting for replies is huge.

The most important things to consider when implementing sustainability in your company are: - The scope should be mindful and within your capabilities. It is good to push yourself to reach further, but always within a healthy range. - Enjoy the process, even though it can be frustrating. Implementing sustainability is a huge deal for any company. Embrace it as a learning path and take note of every step. - Learn, discover, and share. Everyone uses different systems, and it is a great opportunity to learn from many people. - Networking around the world and different processes are cool. Instead of being upset by others' progress, appreciate it as a good thing!

Nothing can match the excitement of learning and improving. I have been involved in luxury operations sustainability for the past eight years, and the last four have been the most exciting and evolving in my career. Building systems, implementing improvements, and making many luxury hotels plastic-free, moving to a zero-waste mindset and systems. The bottom line has been to improve, learn, and change mindsets. That has been the most powerful way to grow. You can implement digesters, composters, biodegradable packaging, and other greenwashing stuff. If your team is committed to improving, the results will come, not just for one season, but they will grow exponentially.

Based on my experience, treating suppliers as your friends and partners is more effective than imposing your own system and way of working upon them. The key to success is having a long-term plan and aligning all levels of your organization. The relationship with suppliers should involve an ongoing conversation between different ecosystems. It is important to build the project step-by-step, rather than trying to rush everything at once. Although setbacks may occur, having a solid plan and maintaining a good relationship with your suppliers will ensure that everything falls into place in the right direction.

The most important thing to consider is whether the company is willing to invest time and money. It is also crucial to understand how to train and change the mindset of both the operational and office teams. This is the most critical part of the process. No matter how thorough the assessment, the investment, and the changes, if the mindset is not aligned with the plan, nothing will happen.

Providing a suitable framework with clear guidelines, enough space, and trust is essential to enable the team to perform. It is always best to lead by example and follow through with your words. Many times, I realized that what I had in mind wasn't aligned with the team's vision. Therefore, it's crucial to allocate enough time to clarify anything that could hinder their performance. This investment will pay off in the long run.