You have been recently appointed to be General Manager of Hyatt Regency in Belgrade, could you give a brief overview of the importance of this hotel including the commitment to stay present during the Nato bombing?
The importance of HYATT in Belgrade is obvious, since there are only two five-star hotels in Belgrade: Hotel Intercontinental opened in the early 80's, and HYATT opened in the 1990s.
During the bombings, the people who worked here before me were in a unique situation. They managed to keep the hotel open at all times, and to keep our employees working at the same time as well.
At one stage, the hotel facilities were used for the needs of the staff too, for example baking bread for our employees during the war, a kindergarten for the children of our staff was organized in HYATT as well, as it started before the war but the initiative was maintained. It was very important to keep our staff during those evil events, and although everyone had to prove themselves and work very hard, the same staff that used to work then is still here.
The time of the bombings has been very difficult for everyone - the General Manager and some other members of the team had to leave the country, and then the hotel was ran by local employee Division Heads.
I could say I am the lucky one, being appointed at the moment when the country is taking off - it has been almost a year since the revolution in October, the doors are opening, sanctions are lifted, and there is no reason why our business should not increase.
The business community is returning to Belgrade now. What are your indicators as far as the number of business people arriving here?
It is a fact that more and more business people are coming to Belgrade.
One of the indicators might be our occupancy level - by the end of the year 2001 we should reach 60%. At least it was the plan before the events in New York took place.
Definitely more and more companies are coming to Serbia interested for development, attracted by the amount of money promised by the USA and EU for the future development. Large construction companies start to arrive, foreign government institutions are coming as well, lot of embassies are reopening, and foreigners are coming back to Serbia, which is a good sign.
What is your role to attract companies, in organizing conferences, in order to attract their business delegations as well ?
Any company that wants to come today to Belgrade does not have many options - first of all, my role is to offer the best possible facilities and services, and to make sure they are up to international standards.
People are usually surprised upon their arrival when they find out that there are only two hotels of that kind in the city, and to see how this hotel has been maintained through the past ten years. We are now doing some refurbishment to keep our hotel really up to international standards and we are also looking forward to raise the level of services.
The ownership of the hotel is jointly with NIS Jugopetrol. How has this experience been for HYATT?
The experience with Oil Industry of Serbia/NIS Jugopetrol, has been very good. I think Jugopetrol has been a very loyal partner who always supported us for the past ten years, during the hard times and the good times.
| If we talk about competition, do you think more hotels will be coming to open in Belgrade considering the capacity potential present here, since the occupancy rate is only at 60%?
Competition is definitely coming, it has to come! The market is opening now, and definitely, international hotel chains will look for a space in Belgrade (New Belgrade and city centre). In a couple of years, I believe new five-star hotels will start to rise in Belgrade.
Is this an important new market for HYATT, or is it only a question of business strategy?
It is an important market. Moreover, if things continue in this way and the economy improves, Belgrade will become the key city in this region very soon.
That is why 11 years ago this hotel was built. Of course nobody could foresee the things that have happened during these 11 years.
Do you think that staff training is a challenge here?
Staff training is a challenge everywhere, not more than in France or in Spain. Staff training is of the highest importance for us and we put a lot of efforts into it, in order to maintain our standards and the quality of service.
Many employees of this hotel who "grew up" in the HYATT Regency Belgrade, were sent later to other Hyatt properties to continue a very successful careers. That is a good example of the level of quality of the staff here.
Could you tell us something about the famous people who chose your hotel?
There have been plenty of them. For example, the French President, Mr. Chirac, stayed with us, then the American Embassy had their offices here for 5 months during this year, Ms. Karla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor of the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague is staying with us each time she is visiting the country, and many more.
You took over this position several months ago. What were your first impressions, how did you compare them with your other international experiences?
I came for the first time in Belgrade in May 2001. I was here first for a couple of days with my wife to look at the city and the hotel before accepting this assignment. And I must say that I was positively surprised. I found the city to be very lively and the people very friendly and welcoming, very Mediterranean in a way… So after Tahiti, Paris, Istanbul, Cancun and La Manga (South of Spain) I am very happy to be in Belgrade.
What would be your message to the readers of FORBES Global, who might stay one day at HYATT Belgrade?
Come to Belgrade, we would be delighted to offer you our services!
Belgrade should be visited and seen, it has a lot to offer, but we have to change the perception of the people towards the city and country and this is a challenge.
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