Travel And Tour World – More than 36 years with Hilton – the tenure tells a lot about your commitment. What were the reasons that made you stay with Hilton Worldwide for such a long time? Mr. Ronald van Weezel:
Initially, I was attracted to the high quality of Hilton’s product as well as to the global aspect of the company. I saw a brand that could offer many opportunities such as world-class training, and the prospect of discovering new cultures. The company is dynamic and has continued to grow; it always gave me the opportunities to further my career throughout the years. I’ve always felt privileged of being surrounded by experienced professionals who often acted as great mentors to me. Travel And Tour World – You started your journey with Hilton from Amsterdam 36 years back, would you like to tell our readers about some of the most difficult challenges you had to deal in this journey? Mr. Ronald van Weezel:
I consider myself very fortunate that, for the most part, the journey for me has been a pleasant one. If I had to give a definitive answer, I would say that hardest situation to manage are in countries where the political environment has been prone to unpredictable change which can in turn affect business. It’s about being able to adapt to such situations – adjusting strategies and continuing on an upward trajectory where possible. Of course there are ‘challenges’ associated with any job but I prefer to see each challenge as an opportunity.
Travel And Tour World: You have served your guests in Amsterdam, the UK, Israel, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and various other assignments across Europe. What has been the most satisfying part in your career? Mr. Ronald van Weezel:
For me the most satisfying part of what I do is the journey of discovery that inevitably results from travel and actually living different cultures. Each culture has its differences and as such, we need to be able to adapt and adjust accordingly. For me, it’s also been about meeting new people along the way, connecting with them, and providing a service that satisfies guests.
Travel And Tour World: In a nutshell, what are your latest plans for development for Hilton Sydney? Mr. Ronald van Weezel:
Put simply, I plan to continue to manage the already impressive team at Hilton Sydney and strive to get the best possible results. It’s also important to continue to be innovative in our approach. There isn’t room for complacency in this ever changing marketplace.
Travel And Tour World: According to you, what are the most imperative qualities a hospitality professional must possess to excel in the long run? Mr. Ronald van Weezel: 1) A passion for the industry
2) A strong guest/customer focus
3) A drive for development, training and coaching Travel And Tour World: A career in food and beverage is quite lucrative for young professionals, what would be your word of advice for them to excel in this field? Mr. Ronald van Weezel:
I think a warm personality will always take you a long way in this industry. This, teamed with an ever-growing interest and will to learn will stand you in good stead. As our industry has such a strong customer focus, it’s important to forge connections both with colleagues and with guests to achieve at a high level.
Travel And Tour World: You have experienced the evolution of technology in the hotel industry. Share your thoughts about the future of hospitality industry. Mr. Ronald van Weezel:
We have certainly come a long way since the time of the rack slips at reception and banqueting reservation logbooks with pencils and erasers! There have obviously been enormous changes in technology within the industry and I’m pleased to say that often Hilton has been at the forefront of these movements. For example, we were the first hotel company to install televisions in the guest rooms in the 40s, fast forward to today, we just launched a Digital eCheckin and Room Select system. We place a high focus on innovation and this is something we’re very proud of at Hilton. We’re constantly striving to improve through innovation and have some exciting surprises planned for Hilton Sydney so stay tuned!
| 
