PETER A. BHEDA

Peter A. Bheda is the Principal of PB Global Advisory (an international hotel advisory and consulting firm) and Chairman/CEO of Frontera Hotel Group, a US based hotel management company based in Dallas, Texas.

POWERHOUSE GLOBAL MAGAZINE (PGMAG)

INTERVIEW WITH: PETER A. BHEDA (PB)

PGMAG: Thank you for granting us this interview.

PB: It is my pleasure to be with you.

PGMAG: Our research shows an exceptional leader, and a significant contributor in the 'Humanitarian' arena. Please share a brief of who you are and what you are about in the world.

PB: Never give up. It is simple. It is an 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 and 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.

PGMAG: As an experienced leader, what are the five top keys to leading a successful team?

PB: Dynamism. I keep strong, capable, excited

people on my team. I have taught leaders who have gone on to 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.

PGMAG: In this current global climate (COVID-19), what do you think leaders should be doing in order to promote diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace?

PB: I recently posted an article on LinkedIn that garnered over 40,000 likes, which may not be a lot for many leaders and entrepreneurs; but for me it was remarkablenot because it was me that penned the message, but because it touched the heart of the line level employees who were struggling to survive the unprecedented times we live in. My message was to the CEO's and the large financial institutions and owners of the hotels, to please take care of their staff. I presented a formula hereby the stakeholders would set aside funds to address emergencies like COVID-19 so they will never be caught off guard and unprepared to help support their employees in times of need. No CEO called me, but I received thousands of messages from hotel housekeepers, a cook, and utility workers, bellmen, doormen, servers, customer service representatives and many other hourly staff to thank me for fighting for their welfare. That was quite gratifying.

PGMAG: As a successful entrepreneur, what are the few key steps leaders could apply to aid business recovery in this challenged time?

PB: 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 till 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 pay bills and feed their families and pursue their own passions and interests. I want to be a catalyst for that. I speak to my staff once every other day via zoom and tell them how much I appreciate their commitment to serve, despite their hours being cut. I also speak to the furloughed staff to check up on them and see if they need any help in finding a new job or helping them update their CV's and in some cases preparing them for an interview. My passion to

help others who do not have a voice is not limited to my own staff, but it encompasses the entire world. I sometime reflect on my own difficulties when I first came to this country with nothing in my pocket, yet I survived, through sheer determination and the will of God.

PGMAG: What is your message for aspiring leaders?

PB: An aspiring leader must conduct himself or herself to leave a positive impression with whom they may be working with, like a footprint in the sand. A leader must be constantly aware of how others experience him or her and should be mapped along seven dimensions: • Authenticity, the quality of being true to oneself. • Competence, the capacity to do the work of leadership and take his/her team where it needs to go. • Humility, acknowledging other's contribution and realizing your own areas of weakness and limitations. • Resolve, a steadfast and powerful commitment to see things through to the end of the process. • Warmth, likeability and caring about other as human beings and individuals. Elevation, and setting high expectations to energize others and finally… Faith, creating a sense of possibility and confidence in what can be achieved.

PGMAG: What are the top three books that changed your life?

PB: Hamlet, Gone with the Wind and Pride & Prejudice. All these books read over a period of the last 10 years has had a profound impact on how I view the family dynamics, the close family ties and its implications. While these books were quite interesting to read, some of the content appeared to out of touch from the reality of today's environment. I think my best teacher and guide and what truly changed my life was the superb guidance I received from my father. My Dad has always been my inspiration and while he did not even complete his high school, 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,

Be prepared and always expect the unexpected.

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

My mountain is my profession, and I must climb it everyday.

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.

PGMAG: How would you describe your style of leadership?

PB: I recently learned through my Harvard Leadership Certification, that a true leader is approachable and must have credibility. I think credibility is not only on the technical side of the equation, but it encompasses humility and resolve which together conveys know-how and authority. I also feel that an effective leader must be trusted and be a “student of solution rather than a master of problems. It is that drive to improve my leadership skills, and after 30 years in the c-suite, I am an adjunct Professor at Boston University while getting my master's degree at the same institution. It is an incredible opportunity, and I cannot wait to engage in a classroom environment with other cohorts from around the world.

PGMAG: What would you say to your younger self? PB: 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 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.

PGMAG: If you knew what you know now, what would you do differently?

PB: I would not change a thing! I would still collect trash and remember earning $2.25 per hour in 1972, work long hours, shed tears, live through turbulent times yet succeed at every project I embraced. I now know that everything I went through was a life lesson and these lessons are now the core values stemming from those difficult moments.

PGMAG: What makes you laugh?

PB: Children make me laugh, life makes me laugh, animals make me laugh. and something I laugh at myself for acting like a child when I am with them. Its an important trait to be at lest happy so your life has some memorable moments. PGMAG: Thank you once again for granting us this interview. We wish you every success on your journey.

PB: I am honored that to have been selected for your iconic publication that is read and admired by world leaders and I wish you the best in the future.

PGMAG: Please share your links with our readers. linkedin.com/in/peterbheda

www.pbglobaladvisory.com www.fronterahotelgroup.com

BIO OF PETER A. BHEDA

Peter A. Bheda, Principal at PB Global Advisory LLC

Known as a fearless and dynamic leader with over forty years of experience in the global hospitality business, Mr. Bheda is revered in the highest stature by his team of associates and investors. Prior to establishing his own hospitality ownership and management firm in 2013, he excelled as SVP of Operations with Highgate Hotels and oversaw 32 major assets across the United States, generating a total of $1.6 billion in revenue with Net Asset Value at $4.6 billion. He was instrumental in bringing 13 branded and independent hotels to the portfolio and was honored with the “Finest Westin Conversion” award by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. As VP of Operations & Development for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, he provided global direction to the most profitable division within Wyndham, consisting of 22 hotels with annual revenue exceeding $200 million. In addition to his recent accomplishments, Mr. Bheda spent time as VP of Pakistan Service Limited and provided corporate oversight and operational expertise for Pearl Continental Hotels & Resorts, all of which were members of the “Leading Hotels of the World”. Mr. Bheda holds an Executive Leadership Certificate from Harvard Business School. He is a professor at Boston University’s School of Hotel Administration and is simultaneously pursuing a Master’s Degree from the institution.