ANANTARA THE MARKER DUBLIN HOTEL
KEEPING UP WITH THE FUTURE IN DUBLIN’S DOCKLANDS
Taking over at a well-known hotel at the same time as it has altered its name presents a certain type of challenge for the incumbent GM, but relaxed Dutchman Ludo de Jong seems more than up to this particular challenge, along with whatever else the world might throw at him in his new role in Dublin – as General Manager of Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel.
Born in The Hague, Ludo grew up in the Dutch capital before going to study hotel management for four years in Amsterdam.
“My brothers were involved in the catering industry,” says Ludo.
“So from that, I saw from a very young age that it’s very nice to work in hospitality, that you can create very nice experiences.”
“I worked in stewarding at a restaurant where my brother was a manager…”
The four-year diploma course he studied was an internationally recognized one and, he says, “it was a very rounded education in the hospitality industry – covering everything from knowledge of wines to grappling with hotel accounts management.”
A Distinguished Career
During that first Belgian internship, Ludo found that he had a particular passion for the food-and-beverages area.
“I liked the fact that every day was a bit different,” says Ludo, “that every day you can make new changes and new directions and set out for success. That’s something I really liked. You can have small successes and bigger successes. It was also very important that I had the right people around me to help develop and that has always been possible in my career.”
After continuing with Marriott back in Holland, Ludo’s first major role came as Director of Event Management at their Renaissance Hotel in Amsterdam. It was a multifaceted role that also involved him managing the bar and ‘F&B’ section of the hotel, with good support and guidance from the General Manager.
The Thrill of the Challenge
“I’m a strong believer in the idea that if you put the effort in and you show your dedication and your willingness to learn, then you can progress. And that’s something that I encourage from my team as well”.
“When I was younger, I was trying to manage people who were much older than me that there’s a better way of doing things… when I think back on that now, I think that I was also trying to help them to do things better. Some people are eager to change and some people are more challenging in that respect. But that’s also part of the job, I think.”
It’s the thrill of the challenge in his career that drives him, he says; whether it’s working with three-star Michelin chefs such as Jacob Jan Boerma or making a success of a restaurant that’s on the 13th floor and doesn’t open out onto the street.
“The idea is that you make a destination out of it and it’s vital to get local people to use it. It’s important for tourists too, because when people are travelling around the world, they all really want to mix with the locals and eat where the local people are eating.”
“One of the things that we want to do here is to work on brand awareness. We’re part of the Anantara brand. When I walk around Dublin city, everybody still refers to it as The Marker Hotel but it’s Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel, so our brand needs to be publicised locally. In addition, we need to completely reposition the hotel within the local market.”
Ludo de Jong, General Manager of Anantara The
Marker Dublin Hotel
Anantara The Marker Hotel
“We have so much to offer. Of course, there have been many additions in the city –new hotels and new restaurants – so it’s very important to stay relevant and I think that the offering we have is excellent. We’re going to do some enhancements in our afternoon tea. We’re going to refurbish our rooftop bar… for me, the key would be to reposition it locally and to drive it more.”
The Docklands is gaining in popularity all the time as an exciting destination in its own right, being the ‘new’ part of town and housing one of its main theatres. With Ludo’s guidance, he aims to ensure
Anantara The Marker’s continuance as one of the key destinations within that destination. The hotel is offering a series of unique experiences that set them apart from other hotels. These include taking a boat trip off Howth with Executive Chef Gareth Mullins, wild sea swimming and adding poetry readings as part of a revamped Afternoon Tea service. In terms of managing the staff in the hotel, the main characteristic that Ludo seeks in hiring staff is the right attitude.
“The right people are not always the ones with the best professional career,” says Ludo.
“For me, it’s very much about the right attitude. If a person wants to make the right attitude and that it fills them with joy, then we can teach that person everything, but it’s about finding that right fit for the hotel… a willingness to drive to make that experience for our guest.”
“We are continuously working on our product and enhancing it to stay relevant… if you come to the theatre, it’s great to have a good bar close by… to enjoy the Rooftop or have the best cocktail, for example. They also have their own beer (Misery Hill Beer) brand and a resident custodian /storyteller Derek Brennan.”
LUDO DE JONG
Staying Connected
Being part of hospitality organisations has been an important part of Ludo’s career path and it’s something he would advise to anyone else working in the industry.
“For sure it’s important. Staying connected is key, whether it's finding that new supplier or staying in touch with new products and technologies in the industry. Having a drive for change is also necessary.”
“In the Netherlands, for example, I was board member of the Amsterdam division of the Royal Dutch hospitality institute – the Koninklijke Horeca Nederland Amsterdam. With that organisation, we managed to get some changes in a number of areas and also for the team.”
“Next to that, we have the Luxury Hotels of Amsterdam, where you sit if you are a GM of one of the five-star hotels in the city and where you can also make an impact. I’m also a member of European Hotel Managers Association and with these kinds of memberships, you get to talk to other people in similar positions around Europe and you learn from them and get inspired by them.”
Leading Hotels of the World
“With this hotel, we’re part of the Leading Hotels of the World – one of the most prestigious global hotel brand organisations. Being part of this prestigious group is very important for us as it allows us to network with our industry colleagues across the world and allows us the opportunity to share ideas and experiences. It is also globally recognised by luxury buyers and agents all around the world who recognise the Leading Hotels of the World brand.”
As for any advice he might have to offer people considering a career in hospitality, Ludo says that it’s always important to have a goal in mind:
“If you set your own goal, then you need to understand what is the path to get there and who do you need to support you in getting there.
As I say, if you put the effort in and showcase that you’re willing to invest yourself in learning and developing, then you have the opportunity to grow in any company. And within hospitality, it’s so great again because you have the opportunity to do this anywhere around the world.”
LUDO
