![\"Aleksandar](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Aleksandar-Vasilijevi\u0107-General-Manager.jpg\" "\\"Aleksandar")
Several years later, he left for Montenegro to run Saint Stefan\u2019s Villa Montenegro. After he returned to Serbia he took on the role of reception manager at the newly opened Country Club Hotel Babe. He then transferred to the President in Kovilovo, where he was in charge of the housekeeping and reception departments. However, Aleksandar\u2019s \u201creal\u201d hotel story started at the hotel Zira in Belgrade.
\nThere he was met with crucial support from the then hotel manager Mr. Richard Bamford, who recognized Aleksandar\u2019s great potential. As he often points out, this is the man who has helped his career most and whom he sees as his mentor. After Mr. Bamford left, Aleksandar
\nassumed the duties of general manager at the Zira, where he stayed until 2012. This year was a professional turning point \u2013 he was invited to take up the reins at the Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade. Today, Aleksandar Vasilijevic is one of the leaders in the Serbian hotel industry, and the atmosphere in his team is regarded as one of the hotel\u2019s trademark.
Over the past 18 years, we have been witnessing great technological advancement that resulted in global changes in nearly every industry \u2013 the hotel industry was no exception. Much has changed, but above all I would say that present-day guests\u2019 way of thinking
\n has changed the most. The guests are more demanding and have far greater access to information; they are already extremely knowledgeable before they even arrive in a particular destination or at a particular hotel… Hospitality professionals have no choice but to adapt, adopt new technologies, use social media, monitor online reviews, etc. In short, the hotel industry was forced to keep pace with novelties and \u201crevamp\u201d itself. Digitization has taken over the lead, and those who don\u2019t get in on the act will not be able to survive.
All employees know my expectations very well, and I would be lying if I said that I never expected success. As the general manager, I had to believe in that success so that \u2013 in the days filled with challenges \u2013 I would be able to pass it on to my team. I think that the team is precisely one of the main reasons that our hotel has become synonymous with high quality service. Our guests often comment how they feel a relaxed and positive ambiance at our hotel, and this is possible only if you have a good, happy team of people. I believe that this also answers the second question regarding the principles I subscribe to when it comes tomanagement. Together with the rest of the management, I strive to foster a trustful ambiance. Employees know that they have to work hard, but at the same time they are welcomed with understanding and a relaxed ambiance.
\n![\"Falkensteiner](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/verzija-za-text.jpg\" "\\"Falkensteiner")
Of course, in addition to the impressive conference space we offer (more than 700 m2 including a banquet hall, four multifunction rooms, two boardrooms, and two conference foyers), a deciding factor is also the tailored service we provide during event preparations and organization, attention to detail, flexibility, and high quality catering at our events, which has now become a trademark of ours.
\nAll I need to say here is: Dusko, Marko, and Dragan \u2013 who are on the frontlines \u2013 as well as Nadja and Erzebet, who are in charge o fbanquet sales and event preparation. All of them have been with us from the very opening and make up a tight team that I am extremely proud of. It may sound like a clich\u00e9, but a good team is made up of good people, and we try to surround ourselves only by those. Sometimes even pure luck \u2013 allowing you to meet good candidates and recruit them \u2013 also factors in. And turning good candidates into excellent employees and keeping them in the team \u2013 now that\u2019s serious work.
\n![\"Falkensteiner](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Falkensteiner-Hotel-Belgrade-tim-sa-SEEbtm-Award-priznanjem.jpg\")
I\u2019ve already mentioned the Falkensteiner has a relaxed vibe about it. Our people just like coming to work. And it\u2019s well known that relaxed breeds creativity. For example, when our employees have an issue and also a suggestion, they\u2019re not afraid to bring them forth. Yes, our employees indeed work hard, but they know very well that we as their employers are there to support them in every sense of the word.
\nThe post Aleksandar Vasilijevic: Positive Team Atmosphere Is Key to Success appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Now at the helm of the Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade \u2013 a leader among hotels in the region \u2013 General Manager Aleksandar Vasilijevic started down his career path at the Hyatt Regency Belgrade\u2019s reception desk 18 years ago.\nSeveral years later, he left for Montenegro to run Saint Stefan\u2019s Villa Montenegro. After he returned to Serbia he took on the role of reception manager at the newly opened Country Club Hotel Babe. He then transferred to the President in Kovilovo, where he was in charge of the housekeeping and reception departments. However, Aleksandar\u2019s \u201creal\u201d hotel story started at the hotel Zira in Belgrade.\nAleksandar Vasilijevic, General Manager, Falkensteiner Hotel Blegrade\nThere he was met with crucial support from the then hotel manager Mr. Richard Bamford, who recognized Aleksandar\u2019s great potential. As he often points out, this is the man who has helped his career most and whom he sees as his mentor. After Mr. Bamford left, Aleksandar\nassumed the duties of general manager at the Zira, where he stayed until 2012. This year was a professional turning point \u2013 he was invited to take up the reins at the Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade. Today, Aleksandar Vasilijevic is one of the leaders in the Serbian hotel industry, and the atmosphere in his team is regarded as one of the hotel\u2019s trademark.\nYou have been in the hotel industry since 2000. How much has the industry changed since that time?\nOver the past 18 years, we have been witnessing great technological advancement that resulted in global changes in nearly every industry \u2013 the hotel industry was no exception. Much has changed, but above all I would say that present-day guests\u2019 way of thinking\n has changed the most. The guests are more demanding and have far greater access to information; they are already extremely knowledgeable before they even arrive in a particular destination or at a particular hotel… Hospitality professionals have no choice but to adapt, adopt new technologies, use social media, monitor online reviews, etc. In short, the hotel industry was forced to keep pace with novelties and \u201crevamp\u201d itself. Digitization has taken over the lead, and those who don\u2019t get in on the act will not be able to survive.\nThe Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade opened in December 2012, and not long ago it celebrated a very successful five-year run. Were you aware back then that you would exceed expectations in terms of business results? What main principles guide you when it comes to hotel management?\nAll employees know my expectations very well, and I would be lying if I said that I never expected success. As the general manager, I had to believe in that success so that \u2013 in the days filled with challenges \u2013 I would be able to pass it on to my team. I think that the team is precisely one of the main reasons that our hotel has become synonymous with high quality service. Our guests often comment how they feel a relaxed and positive ambiance at our hotel, and this is possible only if you have a good, happy team of people. I believe that this also answers the second question regarding the principles I subscribe to when it comes tomanagement. Together with the rest of the management, I strive to foster a trustful ambiance. Employees know that they have to work hard, but at the same time they are welcomed with understanding and a relaxed ambiance.\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade, New Year’s Party\nThis hotel is a frequent choice among event planners. What do you think largely determines this choice?\nOf course, in addition to the impressive conference space we offer (more than 700 m2 including a banquet hall, four multifunction rooms, two boardrooms, and two conference foyers), a deciding factor is also the tailored service we provide during event preparations and organization, attention to detail, flexibility, and high quality catering at our events, which has now become a trademark of ours.\nIn 2016, the Falkensteiner received the SEEbtm Award \u201cBest Conference and Banqueting Staff\u201d. What makes a good team and how is a winning team formed and created?\nAll I need to say here is: Dusko, Marko, and Dragan \u2013 who are on the frontlines \u2013 as well as Nadja and Erzebet, who are in charge o fbanquet sales and event preparation. All of them have been with us from the very opening and make up a tight team that I am extremely proud of. It may sound like a clich\u00e9, but a good team is made up of good people, and we try to surround ourselves only by those. Sometimes even pure luck \u2013 allowing you to meet good candidates and recruit them \u2013 also factors in. And turning good candidates into excellent employees and keeping them in the team \u2013 now that\u2019s serious work.\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade Team with SEEbtm Award\nHow do you encourage productivity and creativity among your team members?\nI\u2019ve already mentioned the Falkensteiner has a relaxed vibe about it. Our people just like coming to work. And it\u2019s well known that relaxed breeds creativity. For example, when our employees have an issue and also a suggestion, they\u2019re not afraid to bring them forth. Yes, our employees indeed work hard, but they know very well that we as their employers are there to support them in every sense of the word.\nThe post Aleksandar Vasilijevic: Positive Team Atmosphere Is Key to Success appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2018-03-20T15:18:43+01:00", "date_modified": "2018-05-04T10:32:25+02:00", "author": { "name": "Mirjana Novitovic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/officebs/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/slika-.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/naslovna-seebtm.jpg", "tags": [ "belgrade", "fALKENSTEINER HOTEL BELGRADE", "general manager", "hotel", "success", "Team", "team atmosphere", "Interviews" ] } ] }