RUES Hotel  Management & Consulting 

Foreword

I grew up during World War II. Since 1960’s I have been working on five continents, mostly in developing countries, primarily in Latin America. I have witnessed both war and the destruction of tourism’s primary resources. Thus, formed my character and the ability to confront to crises.

“Crisis and Sustainability” share common grounds; both require determination and resilience to overcome challenges. Hence, destructive events made me an advocate against war and destruction of natural resources. Both topics follow my leitmotiv for “Tourism promotes Peace.” That gave birth to an array of challenging projects initiated in 1976: The launch of the first RUES EcoLodge in the Amazon in Ecuador, the involvement in “Sustainable Hotel and Tourism Development.” And the “Rebirth of the former El Salvador Sheraton in midst the guerrilla warfare in El Salvador," where I was General Manager between 1983 and 1987. This challenging assignment is my greatest asset in both “once in life time experience” and “live university.”

When I started as General Manager at the former Sheraton in midst El Salvador’s guerilla war. I could not find a guide book on Risk and Crisis Management. From the first month on, I wrote a recovery plan aiming to write a guidebook, after the first storm was over in 1985. Excerpts of the book “Facing the Volcano: The experience of Hotelier in El Salvador Central” (1986) can be viewed at Risk Management in El Salvador 

I have selected two real cases of “Crisis and Risk Management” and “Sustainable Tourism Development” that I would like to share with my colleague hoteliers, tourism professionals and experts in the field that confront different crises from terrorism, hijacking, bomb attacks and others in the beginning of the 21 century in hot spots around the globe. On the other hand, providing a guide of our diversified consulting services, and the opportunity of partnering within our multi-disciplinary activities.

It is my sincerest wish that the many initiatives for “Tourism Promotes Peace” shall contribute for a more peaceful World and for the preservation of our natural and cultural attractions “Tourism Primary Resources” for our future generations.



                                                                                                                                                                                           Eberhardt H. Rues