Floortje Jeukens is general manager at the new Sheraton Bratislava Hotel
Dutch-born Floortje Jeukens began her career with Starwood in 1994 at Le Meridien Apollo Amsterdam. Since then she has worked in leading positions in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Warsaw and southern France. The Sheraton Bratislava is Starwood's first foray into Slovakia. Bratislava has few international chains. Radisson Blu (the Carlton Hotel) arrived in 2001 followed by Crowne Plaza in 2005. Park Inn opened late 2007. The Sheraton Bratislava opened in February this year and will be followed by Kempinski Hotel River Park, due to open in June.
What was it like opening a new hotel in a new country for Starwood?
Before I became general manager here I was in the South of France, working at Le Meridien Juan Les Pins, between Nice and Cannes. I was there for three years. I found the move to Bratislava extremely exciting, because not only was it the first time Starwood had a property in Slovakia, but it was a new hotel too. A new hotel in a new country. It's a challenge because you don't know the people and you don't know the skills they have here, and we had to make sure that the service was lifted up to five star level.
Is Bratislava ready for the Sheraton brand?
There was an idea that Bratislava would not go above the four-star hotel level, but from the beginning we have wanted to change this and change the perception of quality service. International travellers know what they want and Bratislava did not always have this, so we came in and said to people, come for the day don't bring your CV, just bring your attitude and we had a whole [recruitment] day without paperwork. The people who came to join us are fantastic. Bratislava lost a lot of young people who went abroad to work but since the financial crisis a lot of them have returned and they have brought their experience and skills from working in top hotels in western Europe. The brand recognition here has amazed me. When we did the ‘awareness' test before the opening we had brand recognition of 95 per cent. People had heard of Sheraton, they could pronounce it, spell it and they knew it was an American company.
What's different about this hotel?
The Sheraton brand has undergone a US$6 million investment to make the brand reflect our guests who are ‘lifestyle enthusiasts'. So this is a brilliant opportunity to implement everything that is new to the Sheraton brand. Link @ Sheraton Cafe is a new concept by the Sheraton brand - it's a reflection of what is happening with Starbucks. We have a great opportunity here because most of the small cafes and shops don't offer the healthy eating option, but here you can grab a freshly made sandwich or salad, or a pastry and coffee [as well as use the internet]. This is the first Link @ Sheraton Cafe in the EMEA region.
Does the competition from the new Kempinski concern you?
The new Kempinski Hotel River Park of course is competition for us but we are very happy to have them here as it raises expectations, and will push the country to a new level of expectation and experience. We need to help build that other level and Kempinski will underline what we are doing here.
Why are two five star properties opening in Bratislava this year?
There is demand for this type of property here. On opening we are over 70 per cent occupancy, which is a dream come true. Developers and investors have money to invest and the country has moved rapidly from joining NATO to joining the EU to joining the Euro, and it has really put itself on the map in Central Europe. It is a very attractive tax climate and big multinationals are opening their offices over here and the supply and demand works, so with that the hotels follow.
What do you like most about your job?
I get to come to work each day and be with people. It is new every day and what makes the heart of the business is the people you work with. I've been all round the world in the last ten years and I keep meeting people I have worked with and see how far they have progressed, and you realise what a great team everyone is.