Mikaela, you have an exciting mission – to build and lead an expanding hotel chain! We are curious – how do you do this and what is the most important thing to consider?
I have a fantastic and exciting mission as CEO of Jula Hotell, where we have a clear vision to grow by 2 hotels per year and continue the expansion journey we have started. The Jula Group's owner, Karl Johan Blank, is a fantastic entrepreneur and visionary who wants to invest long-term, so when we look for new prospects, it is important that the hotel properties are also for sale.
Of course, the employees are a very important piece of the puzzle; many left our industry during Covid, and the entire industry experienced a significant loss of knowledge. It requires that the organization has employees who are engaged and courageous, who want to be involved and participate in our expansion journey and want to build this together with me. I think we have succeeded with this and continue to work hard for it.
What demands does this place on you as a leader to succeed with this?
I need to be both a strategic visionary and operationally show a clear path forward for the organization. We work with people, so my commitment and presence are very important in the organization. I truly believe in a present and modern leadership. It is important to create secure employees who are given responsibility, trust, and mandate. Then, of course, we should have fun at work and create a wonderful atmosphere and culture. Joy is contagious to our guests; it should be felt when you come to our hotels and are greeted with a big smile.
What experiences and lessons have you learned so far?
Every day is a new experience. I have learned that anything can happen if you are the CEO of a hotel chain, and no day is ever quite as you planned. That is also the great charm and fun of my job. The biggest lesson is that if you renovate properties from the late 1800s, it requires both courage and patience.