HotelsMag July-August 2017 | Page 16

PROMOTE FROM WITHIN
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TRENDING

PROMOTE FROM WITHIN

Guy Stehlik , CEO of South Africa-based Bon Hotels :
“ We ’ re nowhere close to where we should be ( in South Africa ) in terms of the number of black general managers … ( The government ) still believe that the industry is white-dominated , white-owned and white-managed , and by most accounts , they ’ re right .” How to improve the situation : ( 1 ) “ We ’ ve got to work twice as hard to make sure that these kids get through and get their qualifications .” ( 2 ) “ Retention of those individuals once they ' ve graduated is critical . You ’ ve got to retain their services so that you can work with them and mentor them to the top … We ’ ve got a mentorship approach , where our directors , including myself , have got four mentees that we meet with every month for an hour , and we work very closely with them .” ( 3 ) “ I don ’ t believe that we ’ ll be able to develop a proper relationship with government until we ’ ve shown and clearly demonstrated that we have more black role players in our industry at the top level .”

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By BARBARA BOHN , MANAGING EDITOR
“ As long as Americans can still come , it ' s still OK ,” says John Flood of the recent U . S . clampdown on business in Cuba . Easy for him to say : He ’ s president and CEO of Jakartabased Archipelago International , which this year signed a management contract with Gaviota , the hotel development arm of the Ministry of Defense , for a 430-room , newbuild hotel .
The policy reversal still allows American companies to contract with other Cuban agencies . For European and Asian concerns , such as Kempinski , which recently opened
the luxe Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana , it ' s business as usual .
The Cubans “ were looking for an Asian operator that was used to dealing in developing countries rather than European or American groups ,” Flood says . Archipelago , with 131 hotels open and 90 in the pipeline , primarily in Indonesia , fits that bill . The contract is for a 5-star Grand Aston brand expected to open in December 2019 in Varadero , east of Havana . Flood says Gaviota didn ’ t ask for , and didn ’ t want , a financial stake . “ They just want our expertise
and our sales and marketing systems and strategies .”
American companies might be careful what they wish for . A management agreement versus a JV or development deal means the Cubans supply food , furnishings , uniforms and just about everything else . “ You don ’ t have a lot of say in what it is ,” Flood says . There is little to no pull in hiring staff , giving bonuses , sourcing produce and
equipment . Infrastructure – physical and technological – needs work . And while U . S . tourists must travel with organized groups , the country must do it fast and do it right , wherever tourists are coming from . According to STR , Cuba has six hotel projects in various stages of planning and construction totaling 3,324 keys .
“ The Cubans are working hard and doing a great job , but
A view of Old Havana from the Kempinski ' s rooftop pool
they still need three or four years to get up to speed where they can properly cater to such a big increase and the more demanding U . S . traveler , and ensure they become return visitors and not just disgruntled one-time visitors ,” Flood says , adding a prediction : “ In four years , Trump will probably be gone , and hopefully the next president will bring back Obama ’ s good intentions and be more open to working with Cuba .”
14 hotelsmag . com July-August 2017