Sponsored by is happening at Remington, he said. As COO of a sprawling organization that manages different types of assets, trust doesn’ t only matter; it’ s the cornerstone.“ We’ re a decentralized business, so we must have the best leaders in every market,” Kreul said.“ Best begets best, and if we get that right, we end up with highly engaged leaders and associates in every hotel at every level.”
Kreul calls Remington a property management company rather than a portfolio management company.“ Success is only final when every individual hotel and individual owner wins,” he said.
HELPFUL HINTS He credits much of his own success to those from his past; most notably, Keith
Daub, who was president of Winegardner & Hammons, where Kreul worked for more than 20 years. He saw something in Kreul and committed to developing him in various operational roles.“ It was tough love, but I always knew he cared about me and wanted me to succeed.” Unsurprisingly, he takes a similar tack with the leaders of tomorrow.“ When I see someone who wants to grow and has what it takes, I’ m brutally honest in their development,” he said.“ Leaders don’ t do this enough; if you care about your people’ s development, be transparent at every opportunity.”
As someone who worked his way up the hospitality ranks, advice flows easily from Kreul; following it is a different story altogether. For aspiring hoteliers, one of the most important things anyone can do, Kreul said, is to engage with fellow associates and managers— timidity will get you nowhere, so be curious.“ Ask your leaders for more experience. Be a sponge. Make an impact on the satisfaction of your guests and your fellow associates and get recognized for it,” he said. Another recommendation:“ Lead, regardless of your title or position.”
From cleaning pots to COO, Kreul is a success story no matter the industry. But this is an industry he loved from the jump. It’ s also, he said, a business where anyone, regardless of education, can rise to its apogee if they put their mind to it and work hard.“ The opportunity is there for the taking,” he said,“ but you have to be all in and fully committed.”
Remington Hospitality manages ONE | GT in Grand Cayman.
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