HOTELIER ’ S LIFE
A GM with a penchant for a
GOOD
CIGAR
GEORGES MIDLJEGE IS GENERAL MANAGER AT THE RENAISSANCE TUSCANY IL CIOCCO RESORT & SPA IN CASTELVECCHIO PASCOLI , ITALY . HOTELS TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT , AMONG OTHER THINGS , HIS LOVE FOR GUESTS AND HOW HOTELS ARE LIKE A GAME OF SOCCER .
HOTELS : Describe a typical day .
Georges Midljege : As most everyone in the business can tell you , there ’ s no such thing as a typical day . I do start each morning with a skim coffee and fette biscottate . Then it ’ s off to walk my dogs around the block to a nearby field . In the evening , I unwind with a good cigar and glass of red wine from my favorite local biodynamic winery .
H : Is your career path the one you thought you ’ d be following ?
GM : I always knew that I wanted to be in the hospitality industry and got started at the age of 18 . I wanted to work in city hotels and went for an interview with the GM at the Savoy Hotel London . He asked me where I saw myself in this career , to which I responded that by age 38 , I wanted to be in his shoes , leading a grand 5-star hotel . I did not get there at 38 , I got there at 36 . Be it luck , opportunity or just being at the right place at the right time , it ’ s an accomplishment I am proud of .
H : Where do you find inspiration outside your industry ?
GM : Sports . More specifically , soccer , and the teamwork required
AS MOST EVERYONE IN THE BUSINESS CAN TELL YOU ,
THERE ’ S NO SUCH THING AS A TYPICAL DAY .
to be victorious . This is an example that I always use when I meet with my heads of department — I always tell them that much like soccer , communication and teamwork are fundamental in the hotel business .
H : What ’ s one prediction you ’ re willing to make about your discipline in the coming year ?
GM : As trends keep pointing towards localization and travelers seek to experience a destination ’ s culture on a deeper level , I think some hoteliers will have to get personally involved in that process — step out of their comfort zones , invest time in getting to know their guests . We host complimentary biodynamic wine tastings on property every Wednesday and Friday night , and as long as I am not traveling , you will find me chatting with guests — most of the time laughing ... loudly !
H : Who inspires you ?
GM : Simply put , our guests . To me , hospitality means making a guest feel at home .
64 hotelsmag . com March 2018