LAGNIAPPE
IN 2015 , HEIKO KUENSTLE RETURNED TO THE LOWELL HOTEL IN NEW YORK CITY AS GENERAL MANAGER AFTER A DECADE SERVING AS GENERAL MANAGER AT THE NEARBY PIERRE HOTEL . KUENSTLE HAS OVERSEEN THE ICONIC LOWELL ’ S REDESIGN AND RECENT OPENING OF MAJORELLE , A FRENCH RESTAURANT WITH A MEDITERRANEAN TWIST , AS WELL AS JACQUES BAR AND THE CLUB ROOM . ALTHOUGH HIS INITIAL ASPIRATION WAS A CAREER IN FINANCE , IT WASN ’ T LONG BEFORE KUENSTLE WAS BITTEN BY THE HOSPITALITY BUG .
What part of your job requires the most creative thinking or improvisation ?
How to consistently and intelligently improve both the product and services of the hotel that are ultimately geared for a better experience for guests , as well as employees . For example , with technology you have to know which trends and / or innovations to implement and incorporate into a guest experience and which ones to ignore .
If you weren ’ t a hotelier , what would you be ?
I truly love music . I would have loved to be a conductor of an ensemble .
Who taught you your biggest life lesson , and what was it ?
My parents , both in my professional and personal life . They taught me to be proud of my own talents , accomplishments and even my shortcomings , as well as being able to let go of things .
What is your favorite spot in New York City ?
Harlem , which I have called home for the last 14 years . Even just architecturally speaking , it is a truly remarkably beautiful area of Manhattan that still underappreciated .
HEIKO KUENSTLE , GENERAL MANAGER , THE LOWELL HOTEL , NEW YORK CITY
What advice do you have for up-and-coming hoteliers ?
Carefully select your environment and be sure it allows you to operate in the style that works best for you and lets you be most fulfilled in your role . In the old days , a general manager practically owned the hotel and really was able to leave a personal mark on every part of the property . This responsibility has more and more shifted to corporate offices , reducing the role of a general manager to simply acting on their behalf . But , when you feel that you own the property , you look at it with very different eyes . You truly live and breathe the hotel .
72 hotelsmag . com November 2016