Fabian Fernekess MBA (right)
Bereichsleiter Personal, Recht & IT (Human Resources, Legal, IT)
1.How did your studies in the USA help in your current position?
It actually helped and still helps me in several situations in my position today. Beginning from the wide range of subjects I studied, to the active practice of “real world” issues you need to be able to handle in a professional way, like the elevator pitch. It happens on a daily basis that I only have a few seconds to convince people and point out why they should want to work for Dormero.
2. What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your education at CIBU?
The most valuable lesson was probably constant teamwork and discussions with people from all over the world. There is no better way to understand different cultures, than working in international teams.
3. What was your favorite class? Why?
My favorite classes were ethical law with the judge including the field trip to court and the start up class with Brian including the trips to LA and Berkeley.
4. What is the greatest challenge you see for your industry in today’s marketplace?
Today’s greatest challenge is the fact that more hotels exist, than people actually need. Therefore, you have to be better than your competitors surrounding you at the hotspots of every city. Don’t be afraid of investing in new technology and come up with new ideas to make people want to stay in your hotel. If you are like all the others, you have the same problems and fears like them. That’s why we work daily on the perfect Dormero Concept.
5. What would you say is the greatest change occurring in your industry?
The greatest change I see especially in “my” branch, HR Management, is finding well educated young employees, who have the motivation to work in the hotel industry. Nowadays, the hotel industry is not the favorite place to work for young students. Therefore it is not easy to find the right candidate who thinks out of the box and has a hands-on mentality. The ones who get into it and work hard will love it and make quite a career in this field.
6. What’s the greatest pleasure you get in your work?
Dormero is not a typical start-up company anymore, after almost 7 years in business with 9 Hotels, including our management department with over 60 employees in Berlin. But it definitely feels like working for a start-up company. There is so much change every single year due to the quick rise of the company, like yearly hotel acquisitions and the focus on our guests, especially staying always on top with technical equipment and installations.
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