Gabriela Ditetova, general manager of Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel Belgrade - I've slept in both luxury apartments and a wooden house in a jungle

(Gabriela Ditetova) Gabriela Ditetova fell in love with hotels as a child, while traveling with her parents and often staying at the same places. She later got employed in a hotel as an aerobics instructor.

It turned out that it was a good training for her later “sprint” through the hotel business. The success came quickly, and she has been developing her career working in sales and marketing, management and operating management in the Rezidor Group hotels throughout Europe. Since August 1, 2016, she has been the general manager of Radisson Blu Old Mill Belgrade.

She has a twelve-year-old son with a partner living in Prague.

– The time for the family to get together is limited, but I try to have quality family time to compensate for it. Our son often changes schools, friends and countries and cultural change are a part of our life, but we have friends all over the world – Gabriela Ditetova says for eKapija.

She likes skiing, horseback riding, reading and traveling and spending time with her dogs. She was born in 1972 in Prague.

eKapija: How did you earn your first salary?

– My first real salary was when I started to work as a professional Certified Aerobics instructor at the InterContinental Hotel Fitness Club. I don’t remember how much it was, but that was not really important as I was doing what I loved to do and, on top of that, I was paid for it. Same as it is today! I love to do my job and I'm paid well, today, I guess, a bit more than 20 years ago for aerobic lessons (laughs). But I strongly believe you can succeed only if you enjoy your job. Salary is important, but not the main part of package.

That's how my career in the hotel industry started, in the Fitness and Wellness at the Intercontinental Hotel in Prague.

eKapija: What happened afterwards? How did you turn from an aerobics instructor into the general manager of a prestigious hotel?

– After gaining experience in operation, I moved slowly up to hotel Sales and Marketing department. Eighteen year ago, I got an opportunity to be a part of the fantastic project to bring back the renowned hotel Alcron, the number 1 hotel from the Czech history, as Radisson SAS Hotel.

With Rezidor Hotel Group I developed my career on an international level. I moved to Sofia to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing, later opening Park Inn by Radisson in Sarvar Spa in Hungary, pre-opening Radisson Blu Hotel in Bucharest, and moving to Bratislava.

I got my first position of General Manager in Ostrava, the Czech Republic. After living there for 5 years, I started exploring possibilities for new experiences and I got the position in Russia. It was the opening of the hotel in Sochi prior to the 2014 Winter Olympics. Later I exchanged the warm climate of Black Sea cost for the beauty of the cold St. Petersburg and finally I am here in the beautiful and friendly Belgrade.

eKapija: What are the key criteria for a successful functioning of a hotel?

The most important thing is to have great team! If service is on a high level, if the hotel is clean and guests are served with care, if everybody is friendly, if the food is good and you are exceeding your guests' expectations, they will be happy, come back and recommend you. The rest will follow – occupancy, AHR, Revpar, profitability and return of investments.

eKapija: How is a “winning team” created? What do you take into consideration when choosing assistants?

– Spotting the right talent is the key to success. I believe in selecting candidates based on attitude more than based on skills or experience. It is important to take into consideration the whole team, whether people match together and can support each other. Hospitality is an industry you love or you can’t work in.

eKapija: Employee motivation must certainly be important?

– First of all, the General Manager has to be a good leader. It's important to have open conversations with each team member, be fair and able to make decisions and recognize a job well done on every level. I am trying to create a good working place everybody feels safe, comfortable and happy to be in.

eKapija: What does Gabriela Ditetova's work day at Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel in Belgrade look like?

– First I perform a quick check of the hotel, greet guests in the lobby and the breakfast room, have a morning operational meeting with Head of Departments, followed by a short revenue meeting, and then the day can start with a to-do list.

eKapija: Can you compare your managing position in Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel with leading positions in other countries you've worked in?

– Every team and every property is bit different. It is hard to compare pre-opening experience with working on operating projects. I have to say that the team in Belgrade is great, friendly, supportive, open, and creative and guest-oriented. I am a very lucky, happy GM with a beautiful hotel and a great team.

eKapija: Your career has enabled you to experience life in various countries. What are your most significant experiences from those countries and what is your favorite place of the ones you've lived in?

– From every place you take something with you when you move. In every destination you have friends for life. I can’t say that any place is more favorite than the other. In Bulgaria I enjoyed the wild nature a lot, in Sochi the Olympic atmosphere and sunny days and sea, in St. Petersburg the beauty of city and culture on every corner, in Sarvar great thermal hot springs pools. Now it is Belgrade and Serbia. I am looking very much forward to exploring this beautiful country and I am sure I have lot of new experience in front of me.

eKapija: Is there someone you consider to be your idol? Can you think of any personal or professional advice you've been given?

– I was lucky to have great colleagues sharing knowledge with me and encouraging me and pushing me up. I believe they are standing behind my success and knowledge. I believe in developing people and now I am trying to share my knowledge and experience with my colleagues and friends.

eKapija: What would your advice be to somebody just starting their career?

– To do what they like to do, something they are burning for and something that makes them happy. I think it is easiest way to succeed, no matter what field you are working in.

eKapija: If you were not in this business, what would you like to do?

I think I would like to be a veterinarian.

eKapija: When you look back, were there any turning points in your life, something which changed the way you see the world?

– Becoming a mother is a turning point, as there's somebody who is more important than you and or any career step! It is also very good for your life balance and setting priorities differently.

eKapija: What are you most proud of in life? Do you have any regrets?

– I have no regrets. I am proud of being able to balance an international career with that of a working mother.

eKapija: What is your favorite holiday destination?

– I've just come back from Kamchatka and I am in love with its wild nature. For my next vacation, I would like to explore some new wild destination.

eKapija: What is the most unusual hotel where you stayed?

– Sleeping on the floor of a wooden house in a jungle was very unusual for me, but it's hard to say if that was a hotel. Maybe so, as we did pay for the accommodation.

eKapija: Are you personally a demanding hotel guest?

– Yes and no. When there's a problem in the hotel I am a guest in, I understand it as a colleague, but when I get unfriendly service, I do not stand for that at all.

eKapija: What are your plans for the period ahead?

– I would like continue positioning Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel in the local market and internationally as the number 1 place in Belgrade to be. I believe investments like our property and International brand name with lot of PR and Marketing activity of Rezidor Hotel Group are also supporting Belgrade as a destination and building its image.

eKapija: Where do you see yourself in five years?

– In Belgrade in the General Manager position at Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel. I've just started and I have lot of work in front of me. But you never know.

Milica Milosavljevic

Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade

Gabriela Ditetova

Gabriela Ditetova CV

Radisson Blu Old Mill

hotel buisness

hotel industry

Prague

Rezidor Hotel Group

aerobics

fitness

aerobics instructor

fitness instructor

Alcron Hotel

Radisson SAS Hotel

Sofia

Park Inn by Radisson Sarvar

Sarvar Spa

Radisson Blu Bucharest

Park Inn by Radisson Ostrava Hotel

Sochi