“This Hotel Inspires Me with Awe”
Alma, you seem extremely busy, even now that you’ve joined us for a coffee you’ve brought along two mobile phones. What does your typical day at work look like?
Here at the Hotel, I’m in charge of F&B and I start my working day by going through all of the processes. First I, of course, say hi to everyone at work, so we can kick off the day together, check the kitchen staff, the waitstaff, the pâtisserie etc. Then I check how everything is going, read my emails and organise the meetings.
We know that Grand Hotel Union boasts a distinguished tradition of more than a century. Do you feel any special honour because of it?
That’s true. I will gladly admit that this hotel inspires me with awe and I believe everyone, especially the people living in the centre of Ljubljana, should be aware of its tradition. Whenever I walk through the Grand Union Hall this make me feel very good and I’m really proud to be working at Grand Hotel Union.
In addition to the hotel’s rich history, at Grand Hotel Union a lot of attention is devoted to the values, in particular those that are focused on everyone feeling well doing their work.
The company’s key values can without doubt be felt at work and I think we are doing a good job at preserving them. Respect, excellence, creativity … I think these are the values that everyone in our line of work should be fostering. Luckily, I do believe that generally these types of jobs are applied for by people who are creative, innovative and treat others with respect.
What is the favourite part of your job?
I feel best when I am getting ready for one of our major events. The final week before an event is usually particularly full-on work-wise; what makes it all the more exciting is that so many people are involved in the organisation of any event. In addition to the food and beverages, a number of other things need to be taken care of, such as sound accompaniment, music, decoration etc. But the great reward is the moment when an event is successfully brought to a close and when people are pleased with your work.
Grand Hotel Union is well-known for hosting world-famous guests. What is the protocol when a celebrity guest is to visit you?
It’s nothing out of the ordinary to get ready for each individual guest, but the preparations are most intense whenever someone famous is expected. Of course, some of the famous guests wish to remain unnoticed or to ‘hide’ in a way. They all have their own expectations of this and that kind; our job is to respect their privacy and this is what every receptionist, the waitstaff and all other Hotel employees need to keep in mind.