Page 49 - Special Issue QTM 2021

Maximilian Von Reden

(General Manager- Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa - Switzerland):

“ Switzerland has done a good job handling the pandemic
Leisure travel will be our number one priority during 2022 ”

Before moving to the capital city of Switzerland, Maximilian von Reden has led the 5-
star Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Prague as General Manager. Previously, he held roles
throughout Asia as General Manager of the Mandarin Oriental in Jakarta, as well as the
Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo and The Portmann Ritz-Carlton in Shanghai. A veteran in the
hospitality industry, von Reden also has extensive management experience in food and bev-
erage operations, including positions at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and The Peninsula
in Beijing. He joined the position as General Manager of the Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa
in 2019. Al Bayan Magazine met von Reden during the Qatar Travel Mart and conducted
the following interview.

* How do you evaluate the tourism with 6 salons and meeting spaces * What will be your strategy for 2022?
sector overall during 2021? including the Salon Trainon, a leg- - Because we do anticipate that MICE and
- I believe Switzerland has done a good endary ballroom ideal for events of all corporate business is going to take longer
job handling the pandemic, we have kinds, Jack’s Brasserie with its 14 Gault to recover, we are going to focus more on
recovered pretty fast. Actually the num- Millau points, the modern Lobby- the leisure customers. We have seen
bers from the Arabic market have been Lounge-Bar, a sophisticated Cigar already that during the crisis there’s a big
up over 2019 so they have been even Lounge, the Spa with its 500m2 of luxu- opportunity and we will focus on the Arab
higher than last summer. We look posi- rious wellness facilities, and the unique countries and the bordering countries to
tive into the future and Switzerland is Sky Terrace with an outstanding 360° Switzerland. Thus, leisure travel will be our
offering a lot of things that become even view over the UNESCO city Bern. number one priority and we do believe that
more relevant after the crisis such as in order to attract the leisure business, we
very good security system and a safe “ Katara Hospitality is a big opera-
country, the health sector is extremely tor of many different hotels as well as will have to create experience. I
well established and people have the ”the connections think Switzerland has a lot to
opportunity to see a lot of things without * What is the importance of being under offer in this term so we are
having to travel that far and that much. the umbrella of Katara Hospitality? putting together our activities
They can travel by car or train - There is a lot of value in terms of that the customers who are
between the different destinations in knowledge & expertise especially that going to come to Bern can
Switzerland. These will all be assets Katara is a big operator of many differ- experience and be part of the
going forward. ent hotels as well as the connections it portfolio of the Bürgenstock
has with all the other properties that are Selection which includes
* Can you give us an idea about your spread around the world. Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort
hotel? Lake Lucerne and the Royal
- For over 160 years, the Hotel Savoy Hotel & Spa Lausanne;
Schweizerhof Bern & Spa has thus combining the three hotels
been the leading hotel in and have this seamless travel
Switzerland’s capital city, where visitors can visit the
attracting a demanding clien- three hotels which are very
tele of business and event different from each other.
visitors, and guests from
Bern itself. Situated in Bern’s
most central location near
the train station, the five-star
superior hotel blends
classical grand tradition with
contemporary flair, elegant
design and world-class
service. The Hotel
Schweizerhof Bern & Spa
offers 99 stylish rooms and
suites, the 800m2 Bel Etage

49 AL BAYAN ECONOMIC MAG - ISSUE 603 - FEBRUARY 2022