ENTREPRENEUR PETER BHEDA

PETER BHEDA A Universal Success Magnate Story and Interview by Jasmina Siderovski

How often do you reap the rewards of success? Or define an inner strength that creates our passion to step into a sense of completion. Greatness is not about the materialistic possessions we value as keepsakes, but the worldliness we create as others observe the impact that notion of achievement leaves in our shadow.

It’s rare we meet people who leave an aura well beyond the words, actions and their journey, and Global Entrepreneur Peter A. Bheda is no exception. He is the Chairman and CEO for Frontera Hotel Group and the Founder and Principal for PB Global Advisory, LLC, Dallas, Texas, USA—and no stranger to the world stage. A Global Goodwill Ambassador, GGA, and a philanthropist who has changed the lives of many around the world. Mr Bheda is a silent observer who strives to bring out the best in others. A mentor, businessman and wonderful husband, and father. Recently, celebrating his daughter’s wedding Mr Bheda exhumed pride and love for his family, appreciating the changing world our children are raised and the importance to succeed and be at peace with the choices they have made along the way.

Mr Bheda believes that as a leader it’s important to motivate and ensure performance on all levels is met to deliver a sound and lasting impression with key driven results within a work and team environment. A long standing highly respected Hotelier, and CEO, Mr Bheda values the commitment level and what it takes for a leader to succeed and achieve best results through maximising the essential ingredients of experience. These include performance based and collaboration in a meaningful work environment.

The second oldest of eight children, Mr Bheda moved to America in 1972 to create an opportunity for himself and help toward the finances for his family. Working long hours, and multiple jobs taught him that to excel one must have a desire to learn, educate and self-development that all play active roles toward the end goals—in his case the hospitality industry. A strong advocate for education, Mr Bheda considers that learning is an important element of any educational and professional environment. The diverse backgrounds everyone brings with them are the foundation for building understanding of best practices and methodologies; as key influences for both individuals and collective groups. His passion for a wealth of knowledge continues today after 40 years of senior level experience in hospitality, enriching his vast array of leadership qualities as he begins his Master’s Program at Boston University a role model for us all.

Mr Bheda is a humble and dedicated changemaker, a mentor who utilises his wisdom, experiences and lessons learned along the way. Known to women and children in vulnerable communities as a philanthropist providing essentials, food and clothing, education and guidance that create hope, opportunity and a sense of peace touching the hearts of many thankful people from around the globe. An amazing humanitarian, and exemplary figure to emulate in more ways than one. Driven, ambitious and results orientated, his virtue is contagious. An altruistic and leading example for empowering men, women and children, and entrepreneurs to pay it forward and give back to the communities that need a helping hand. Appreciating cultural diversity at its best and sensitizes a global populace about the importance and benefits that come with education, opportunity and protecting our world to become a better place.

Could you tell our readers a little about your background?

I came to the United States in 1972. I am the second eldest of eight, and I always felt the need to set an example and impress upon my siblings the rewards of hard work and knowing I have done the job well. I felt it was my responsibility not only to set this example, but to provide financial support for my family and often held down more than one job.

I was a very busy young man from an early age. My first hotel job was as a trash collector with the 1200 room Philadelphia Sheraton in Pennsylvania, USA. I was eager to be the best at my job. Our guests have always been important to me, and I knew they, along with my colleagues and coworkers, were counting on an excellent stay. It was up to me to do more than just my part to provide that service excellence, the acronym I frequently use today. I would also deliver linens to guestrooms and I would make sure bed covers were folded correctly in every guest room, even rooms that were not assigned to me.

My boss took notice of my work right away and promoted me to a highly coveted position in the front office. This was a dream come true for me. I felt as if I had won the lottery. It was an incredible feeling, knowing that I had been recognized and my work had been noticed by everyone. I made my way through a corporate management training program at what was then known as ITT Sheraton Corporation and became a General Manager. I received numerous awards and accolades like General Manger of the Year in Minneapolis, achieving Hotel of the Year in Baltimore and managing renowned luxury hotels like the Parc 55 and Westin in San Francisco, the Park Central in New York City and the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino at 2,500 rooms in Las Vegas.

I still hold the belief that hard work, dedication and doing the job well, pays off. Recognition and promotion are wonderful to receive, but I have been driven by my desire to see and experience my own hard work lift me to incredible heights. I have always set the bar high for myself and strive to reach them. Doing so has been the best reward.

How did you end up in the hospitality industry?

I enjoy surrounding myself with good people. I enjoy meeting new people, finding new experiences and opportunities, and making new discoveries. Our industry offers so many learning experiences to see the world and experience culture. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and true-life experience is an incredible teacher. I found hospitality at a young age, and it taught me something I did not know about myself: the enjoyment of being with and serving people. I thrive on providing excellent service to guests from around the corner or around the world. I have met people from many backgrounds going in many directions, and I have learned from so many of them what it takes to make an incredible hotel stay and experience. That is what we do: we provide excellence. I am passionate about that, and I am grateful that this industry found me rather than me discovering it.

When and why did you become a leader in such a high turnover industry demanding nothing less than leadership at its best?

I enjoyed the fast pace of hotels early on. There is never a dull moment and always something new every day; a new opportunity to make a lasting impression. Hospitality offers the ability to welcome people to our hotel, our home, and we take pride in offering the best service, the best accommodations, the best of everything. That spoke to me and I enveloped myself in that mindset: welcoming people to my hotel, my home. I wanted to work hard and achieve and excel. I found recognition motivated me and the more I enjoyed, the more I wanted. I needed a place in a leadership capacity. I wanted to instill my work ethic, my habits, and my best practices. I enjoy mentoring and motivating others, and I learned I enjoyed this very early in my career. I find joy in seeing others succeed, and I am happy when I know I have played a part in one’s growth and success. We have a high turnover in our profession, but that means there are so many people to teach, and learn from, and grow with. I surround myself with new people and new opportunities every day and that is motivation itself to be the best leader I can.

What are some key lessons you have learned along the way that contributed to your success today?

Never give up. It is simple. It is an old adage, but it is one I have lived by and one I have taught my children, and all the leaders I have helped develop in my career. We have infinite possibilities before us in life, our profession, our calling, our passions. I have learned to always strive to be the best and find the resources and tools to help get there. My mountain is my profession, and I must climb it every day. I simply wanted to thrive and be the best I could. I started to climb the hospitality ladder, winning over recognition from my superiors, and that motivated me to continue to be my best. I quickly found myself sharing my success tools with others: hard work, preparation, a keen sense of being open and creative to try new things.

Can you walk us through your journey, mainly finding the motivation to commit to an art that requires patience, understanding, direction and guidance?

As I have said, my profession is my passion, my mountain. I have always felt the need to set the example and set the bar high for those in my life. Hard work has been integral in my success. I believe success is earned; no matter how you measure it. I came to America with very little money, but so much enthusiasm for my new home and my life ahead of me. I often held two jobs while in school and felt the need to provide for my family. That need to strive and achieve was all-encompassing, and I still have it.

As the CEO of PB Global, can you tell us about your vision and how this successful company has climbed to a global leader in the industry?

Dynamism. I keep strong, capable, excited people on my team. I have taught leaders who have excelled in real estate, finance, human resources, revenue management, sales and marketing and operations. I have a knack for finding and retaining talent and as much as I enjoy learning; I enjoy giving to those in my professional care and thrive on seeing their successes and professional growth. I encourage my team to experience and find newness. Additionally, I keep abreast of industry trends, keeping a vast professional network, sharing ideas and concepts, yet holding to my favorites: hard work and preparedness. Our industry is ever evolving and keeping a mix of fresh approaches combined with tried-and-true core beliefs has given me win after win.

Is there any advice you would like to offer anyone else who maybe interested to pursue the same path?

Be prepared and always expect the unexpected. I recently interviewed someone for a key position within my organization and during the discussion, he revealed that in the course of his work, he had “seen it all”. I was not impressed

with that statement as I do not subscribe to that point of view. There is no way any one of us has seen it all. Market conditions, consumer tastes, branding, and global activity shift everything we do. My advice is to prepare yourself. There is so much out there that one choosing to follow a similar path will see and do, and it will shape one as an individual, as a professional. Be open to receive that, and then share it with those coming behind you.

What motivates you to be a changemaker—especially during these challenging times?

I know that nothing is forever, including adversity. Our need to strive and to know and predict is inherent. I am not one to sit by and take the punches as they come. I need to be the driving force of change and development. I am always there to support and encourage my team to do things right. That does not mean that I do not trust others, or I do not delegate; instead, I surround myself with excellent team members and associates. I have always felt the need to take on the heavy lifting so we can all enjoy when the day is done. I enjoy being a driving force and seeing results: good and bad. With good news, we continue, and we reap the reward and celebrate as a team. With the bad, we try again and try something different until we reach the desired result.

Today, we have COVID-19 and it has turned us upside down. I am responsible for the success of my company, my employees, their ability to pay bills and feed their families and pursue their own passions and interests. I want to be a catalyst for that. In 1994, I was selected as the General Manager for a 700-room hotel in Baltimore, MD. The first task before me was to corral our entire hotel team as it had become known that there was trouble among them, and the hotel was in severe financial decline. I dove headfirst into understanding the culture that had existed for many years within the hotel.

Through some due diligence I found out that the associates were unhappy, never appreciated, and lacking in communication. I spent the next three months rallying my department heads and held a face-to-face meeting with each of my 200 employees. I got to know them, their families, their needs and wants and developed a bond with them. They knew I appreciated their hard work, and they began to support me and our collective endeavor to turn around the hotel. We won the Hotel of the Year award. This was one of my proudest achievements.

Who is your inspiration and why?

My Dad has always been my inspiration and while he did not even complete his high school education, he was a man of immense moral character with the highest of integrity. Though he left this world a little over three years ago, the profound, heart piercing, gut punching impact Mr. Bheda had on my personal and professional life has been very powerful. It was the loss of a great man I had admired, looked up to, and revered every minute that I had spent with him.

His compassionate nature and his ability to win over anyone regardless of the age or gender was remarkable. He taught me to be humble, never to give up, never to lie, never to cheat or take advantage of people who are weak and cannot defend themselves. He instilled in me the positive energy to never let my age determine the will and determination to achieve greater things. He died at the age of 86 peacefully at home with his children, his grandchildren, and great grandchildren by his side all who had come to witness his graceful death, as he admonished every one of us to be kind and take good care of each other. He truly is my aspiration.

My journey has taught me that not all life experiences can be presented in a form of a framed degree that one can place in an office or home. The hard lessons I have learned throughout my career, and the amazing people I have met over the last four decades, became a reward in and of itself. Given the option, I would not change any of my experiences, both positive and negative, because they helped shape me into the person I am today. I feel I reflect how my father would want me to be. I also feel a sense of gratitude knowing that his soul may be content, knowing that I have not wavered in my commitment to uphold his legacy.

As a silent humanitarian who advocates for women and children worldwide and a well-respected mentor on so many levels as a philanthropist are there any initiatives you have played a role in that our readers can learn and be inspired from?

I honestly don’t recall nor have I ever counted projects, and or initiatives that I have worked on, except that, the most gratification I ever sensed in my heart were from projects that brought smiles on the faces of orphan children in the developing countries. I also recall that almost 2 decades ago, I partnered with the city officials in Baltimore, Maryland, USA to take hundreds of families off of the welfare plan and provide technical training at my hotels so they could learn a skill that would provide sustenance for their extended families. I am also constantly seeking collaboration from leaders around the world. The purpose is to allow me to participate in initiatives, that would improve the lives of young girls and women, as I feel that is one area we need to pay attention to. Gender discrimination and equality is a global issue and needs to be resolved by global public and private partnership.

Is there a challenge in your journey that stands out that may inspire others?

Yes, never stop learning, and be a student of solution rather than a master of problems. That is what my Harvard Business School Professor told me just 2 weeks ago, as I was completing my Leadership Certification. I thought I knew all the leadership imprints, but quickly realized that I still have much to learn, and that excited me to seek higher education as I prepare for my next step.

My next challenge is one that I hope inspires others. After forty years in my industry, I have decided to return to school and complete by studies in graduate school. I have always felt the value and power of education is second to none. It does not necessarily come in terms of classroom time, or a diploma. I have learned from the world, and the people around me, and in my daily experiences seeing one professional success after another. As I have said, I felt the financial responsibility for my family and my education.

I worked long hours between classes and often held second or third jobs to ensure I had enough money saved. I am ready now to complete my formal education and pursue a graduate degree. It would be the culmination of all that I have worked for; all that I came to America for so many years ago and I cannot wait to accomplish this. I hope that one would see the work and the dedication I have put in and committed to my education and realize that dreams are achievable with preparedness and determination.

What are your end goals? Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

I will always be learning. As I pursue my goals of higher education, it is important that I continue to explore the beauty surrounding our planet and manage to travel and learn. I wish to continue to mentor and teach our youngsters whom I consider to be the future. Last month I was asked to take an online class helping graduate students at the Hotel institute of Montreux in Switzerland to calm their fears about the hotel industry facing a major decline in occupancies around the world. The Dean of the hotel school asked me if I would consider conducting two zoom classes in August and provide guidance to the soon to be grad students and teach them how to make the adjustments in their job search. Not knowing what the future holds for any of us, I would like to share my knowledge and best practices I have acquired, including my most recent certification (completed July 25, 2020) from Harvard Business School in their executive leadership program.

You are stepping up as a role model to undertake your Masters—how do you feel about this decision and what made you take the plunge?

I felt that despite my successful endeavors in my profession, including many awards at the individual hotel, company, and on the national stage; I continued to feel a void that can only be explained from lack of achieving higher education, and not being able to teach, as I had always envisioned. In fact, while I have been a C level execute for over three decades, I was very hesitant in even applying for my Master’s Program. Afraid that most Universities I had wanted to apply to may reject me due to my age. I knew to go for it. Completing my education has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and I knew that the time had come to see that dream to come true.

What is your favorite pastime when you are not working?

I enjoy reading, teaching, leading, and mentoring. I enjoy flying as I have obtained my pilot’s license over 25 years ago and helped in the search and rescue mission of the Civil Air Patrol, which is an auxiliary branch of the United States Air Force. In fact, one of my claims to fame is that I have flown and logged in many flying hours with the late US astronaut Alan Shephard, who spearheaded the USA’s Apollo 13 Mission with NASA. My time in the cockpit with my friend Alan has been one of the most gratifying moment for me personally.

What are your greatest achievements?

I have raised a happy, healthy family. I am the father of three adult children, and I am very proud of each of them. They have all graduated from college and have gone on to lead successful, productive lives. I am proud of the professionals I have brought up as well. I am happy to say that I have contributed to the success of people I have worked with whom have gone on to become award winning hotel general managers, Vice Presidents and CEO’s.