In our newest “Influencer within the highlight” section, we’re joined by considered one of hospitality’s most interesting skilled. Safet Dokara, Director of Operations at Valencia Lodge Group, discusses his skilled insights, opinions, and views on present know-how tendencies within the hospitality business.
Safely discusses his private {and professional} journey, from arriving in USA with out figuring out any english to working within the kitchens and in the end rising to Director of Operations of a serious Lodge chain.
Superior Hospitality Applied sciences: Safet Dokara, the Director of Operations at Valencia Lodge Group I’m very grateful and excited to be interviewing you. You’ve been on this enterprise for a very long time and have huge expertise within the hospitality business. Are you able to inform us about your skilled journey, the key to your success, and the core values at your office?
Protected Dokara: Due to my pure expertise to supply service and my outgoing character I at all times wished to affix the hospitality business. My former nation Yugoslavia, (largely Croatia in trendy days) had a powerful tourism business and I at all times wished to be a part of it. After the struggle within the 90s, I used to be fortunate to get the chance to come back to the USA, and now I needed to plan my profession right here. Not figuring out English, I grabbed the very first job that my company Interfaith Ministry provided me. It was a kitchen steward job on the native nation membership, and that’s the place my hospitality profession began. As I realized English, I used to be in a position to get the chance to guide the workforce and I used to be promoted to a administration place. After spending three years in that nation membership, I joined the resort business. I moved up rapidly by means of the management place and by 2006 I used to be promoted to the manager degree in a luxurious resort. Since then, I labored in numerous management roles in resort operations and am presently in a company workplace, serving to with growth and coaching.
I do not assume I’ve a secret to success. Early on in my profession I created good habits and by no means deserted them. A robust working ethic is among the keys to success, in addition to being versatile and keen to adapt to vary. I used to be lucky to have a number of nice mentors round me and I absolutely took the benefit of their experience and willingness to share their information and assist me develop my abilities. I imagine I’m a fast learner and open-minded and I be taught quick, and I used to be at all times desirous to do all the pieces that was in my energy to amass new abilities. I strongly recommend to younger leaders to seek out not just one good mentor however extra of them and use their experience and steerage as a lot as doable. As I grew my profession, I at all times tried to encompass myself with nice individuals and create a constructive work setting, and repair tradition. A superb service tradition at all times attracted extra gifted professionals and made my job straightforward and helped me achieve success.
Superior Hospitality Know-how: We want to know extra about Valencia Lodge Group, and the way your resort maintains the very best requirements available in the market to draw visitors. Are you able to inform us about it?
Protected Dokara: Valencia group is a novel resort firm in some ways. It’s well-known for growing and constructing lovely motels with superb designs in rigorously chosen places. We’re additionally well-known for our wonderful service that creates nice experiences and long-lasting recollections for our visitors. We satisfaction ourselves on offering wonderful and customized service that we name “Hospitality with coronary heart”. We repeatedly concentrate on the event and coaching of our groups and that manner we’re in a position to always preserve the highest degree of service and be a frontrunner in our respective markets. We additionally create a service tradition the place each worker is empowered to do no matter it takes to exceed visitors’ expectations and fulfill visitors’ requests. We stay by “If the visitor request is authorized, we by no means say no”
Superior Hospitality Know-how: In your opinion, how can the hospitality business profit from utilizing know-how, and what technological improvements have been adopted by your resort to date?
Protected Dokara: There are a number of methods hospitality can profit from know-how. We definitely must take the benefit of know-how and offset the labor scarcity. We’re within the means of integrating a number of methods that can simplify communication not solely with our visitors but additionally between our workers. We’ll use QR code know-how to allow visitors’ touchless communication with out ever utilizing something besides their gadgets. We’re additionally utilizing just a few platforms to streamline the hiring course of and help us in managing labor.
Superior Hospitality Know-how: Which Hospitality exhibitions and conferences do you favor to attend and take part in as an exhibitor or speaker?
Protected Dokara: The Lodging Convention is my favourite, it’s properly organized and has an enormous attendance( over 2, 500 this yr) I additionally attend HITEC and Hunter conferences. I participated as a speaker at The Lodging Convention and HITEC convention.
Superior Hospitality Know-how: What challenges did your resort face post-Covid-19 and do you assume the know-how has modified the hospitality business and administration? Share your viewpoint with us.
Protected Dokara: Identical to each different hospitality institution, we confronted an enormous labor scarcity. Dropping many workers impacted our well-known service tradition and we needed to prepare all new workers from floor zero. As I discussed above, we use know-how to help us to beat labor shortages and make our operations more practical and environment friendly.
Superior Hospitality Know-how: What recommendation would you give to younger abilities keen to affix the hospitality business?
Protected Dokara: Hospitality is a tremendous business and presents over 200 completely different careers. Not solely is at all times enjoyable and dynamic however presents fairly quick upward transferring and allows quick profession progress.
Hospitality is one of some industries that’s identified to advertise inside and it is not uncommon that somebody that began as a bellman to grow to be a basic supervisor.
Superior Hospitality Know-how: What know-how gaps are nonetheless persistent within the Hospitality business, and the way can know-how assist motels enhance their visitor expertise?
Protected Dokara: I imagine that many corporations are nonetheless struggling to find out learn how to harness know-how, therefore there are nonetheless gaps. Many corporations are nonetheless utilizing outdated, archaic methods that aren’t keen to evolve and enhance. I imagine that methods integrations and streamlining processes utilizing know-how are the way in which to go, and corporations which are versatile and revolutionary and work intently with the hospitality business will take a lead and steal market share within the close to future.
Superior Hospitality Know-how: We’re excited to know extra about your pursuits, hobbies, and the way you spend your free time with your loved ones and mates.
Protected Dokara: I really like spending time with my household. We love touring when busy schedules allow. I additionally immensely take pleasure in cooking and spending time on my porch with household and mates.
I really like watching and enjoying sports activities with my boys, soccer being the highest one, in addition to mountaineering when have time. I additionally take pleasure in listening to books and management podcasts whereas driving.
Superior Hospitality Know-how: Are you able to identify some hospitality influencers that impressed you and helped you in your profession to date?
Protected Dokara: As I discussed beforehand, I used to be privileged to work with a number of nice hospitality professionals and leaders that impressed me, mentored me, and formed my profession.
1: Saddiq Mir, Hospitality Skilled, and my mentor
2: Juan Ruiz, Hospitality skilled, and my mentor
3: George Cozonis, Hospitality Skilled, and my mentor
4: Roy Kretschmer, Hospitality Skilled, and my mentor
5: Fritz Gietschner, Govt Grasp Chef and my mentor
Superior Hospitality Know-how: Protected, are you able to advocate 5 people everybody ought to observe if they’re critical a couple of profession in Hospitality Business?
Protected Dokara:
1: Horst Schulze, Legendary founding father of luxurious model Ritz Carlton and hospitality business legend
2: Daniel Goleman, Pioneer of Emotional Intelligence science that vastly determines leaders’ success
3: Simon Sinek, American creator, and motivational speaker
4: Gilda Perez, World Chief Govt Officer of JLL Resorts & Hospitality
5: Chip Conley, is among the iconic founders of the fashionable boutique resort motion
