TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE APRIL 2021

TOURISM | HOSPITALITY | BUSINESS | DIPLOMACY | CULTURE

FEBRUARY 2021

Exclusive interview with

BESIANA KADARE

Albania’s Ambassador to the United Nations

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Albania Bids for a 2-Year Mandate in the United Nations Security Council Exclusive interview with Besiana Kadare

BY RUDINA HOXHA

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Over the past years, my team and I have constantly been lobbying for this important election, which will take place on 11 June. I have also worked extensively on the whole scale of preparations for our membership in the Security Council during 2022-2023, from drafting our priorities and sharing best practices with former and upcoming members in the Security Council, to establishing the organigramme and building our team in New York. As the elections approach, our work has considerably intensified,” Albania’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Besiana Kadare, told us in an exclusive interview with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE.

Nations, in 65 years of membership, considers this event a milestone and “a big challenge for Albanian diplomacy.”

According to her, Albania is ready to do its part in contributing to maintaining global peace and security, and bolstering multilateralism.

“If elected, Albania intends to contribute to the strengthening of the international rules-based order. Our priorities in the Council will include championing the agenda of Women, Peace and Security, promotion of human rights and international law, conflict prevention, protection of civilians, countering violent extremism, and tackling the climatesecurity nexus, which addresses the consequences of climate change and its links to security,” Ambassador Kadare said.

During its two-year mandate in the Security Council, she added, Albania will gain the greatest visibility and influence ever on the international scene.

Albania has never served in the Security Council, during its 65 years of membership in the UN. Ms. Kadare, the first woman Ambassador representing Albania at the United Last June, Ms.Kadare was elected Vice President for the 75th session of the UN General Assembly 6

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D I P L O M AC Y

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FULL INTERVIEW BELOW:

Security Council, to establishing the organigramme and building our team in New York. As the elections approach, our work has considerably intensified.

You have an extensive diplomatic experience having served in the Albanian Embassy in Paris, then as Albania’s Ambassador to UNESCO, and currently as Albania’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York and to Cuba, non-resident.

What are your key priorities in your current mission?

The main priority of the Mission of Albania to the UN is our bid for a 2-year mandate 2022-2023 in the Security Council, which is the most important body in the UN Organization. Albania has never served in the Security Council, during its 65 years of membership in the UN.

This candidacy represents a big challenge for Albanian diplomacy. There are only 15 countries that are members of the Security Council, five of which are permanent members (US, China, Russia, UK and France). Getting Albania to participate in the decision-making process regarding the planet’s peace and security, alongside the great powers of the world, is a huge task and deserves every effort in order to carry it out successfully.

Other priorities are human rights and women empowerment. Human rights and fundamental freedoms are areas in which I feel a special responsibility to speak up, given Albania’s history with a brutal communist dictatorship. Together with other like-minded countries, we are convinced that Human Rights are a core security issue, because at the root of many of the conflicts that the UN is dealing with, there are grave violations of human rights.

Over the past years, my team and I have constantly been lobbying for this important election, which will take place on 11 June. I have also worked extensively on the whole scale of

“My team and I have constantly been lobbying for this important election” preparations for our membership in the Security Council, from drafting our priorities and sharing best practices with former and upcoming members in the

Why is Albania running for a seat in the Security Council and what its

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priorities will be?

Albania is a respected and engaged member of the international community and as such, is ready to do its part in actively contributing to maintaining global peace and security. It’s also an opportunity to work with our partners in order to bolster multilateralism.

The Covid 19 pandemic has tested multilateralism and its existing institutions. But it has also demonstrated the alarming consequences when global cooperation is lacking. The pandemic has shed a new light on humanity’s need for a strengthened multilateral system.

In today’s interconnected and unpredictable world, no country, no matter how powerful, can tackle alone the global and unprecedented challenges that we are facing, such as climate change, pandemics, irregular migration, cyber-security, or international terrorism.

alone. It’s as simple as that.

If elected, Albania intends to contribute to the strengthening of the international rules-based order. Our priorities in the Council will include championing the agenda of Women, Peace and Security, promotion of human rights and international law, conflict prevention, protection of civilians, countering violent extremism, and tackling the climatesecurity nexus, which addresses the consequences of climate change and its links to security.

These challenges have no borders. So, one thing is clear: we are far stronger acting collectively than we are acting

During its two-year mandate in the Security Council, Albania will gain the

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greatest visibility and influence ever on the international scene. We would seek to build bridges and find common solutions that win broad support.

Why is the UN important?

The UN is the only universal and global organization in the world, where can be addressed issues that transcend borders and cannot be resolved by countries acting alone. Its most important role remains fostering constant dialogue among world’s most powerful countries, on matters of global importance.

It’s also a useful stage that allows the big powers to publicly vent their disagreements, but also to make quiet compromises.

Another important aspect of UN is the work that its agencies do in the field. To name just a few things: the UN sends peacekeeping troops to help countries

no enforcement power and it depends on the consensus of Member States. Its mission is even more difficult in today’s world, which is increasingly marked by great powers’ rivalry.

We should be glad that we have the United Nations, because given the current geopolitical divisions, countries could have never built it today.

You are a great supporter of gender equality and of the “Women, peace and security” agenda. Can you tell us a bit more about your work at the UN on these important topics?

Having the chance of being the first woman Ambassador representing Albania at the United Nations, in 65 years of membership, I felt naturally compelled to become an advocate for women empowerment and gender equality. I am also an International Gender Champion, which is a leadership network that brings together men and women decisionmakers, who are determined to break down gender barriers in their spheres of influence.

“My team and I have constantly been lobbying for this important election” torn by conflicts, assists refugees, delivers humanitarian aid, promotes sustainable development, upholds human rights and empowers women.

The UN has also its obvious limits: it has

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Women’s equal participation in public life and women’s economic empowerment are key issues. It’s imperative to include women in all

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stages of decision-making processes. Yet, across the world, women’s voices are missing from the highest levels of leadership.

Although women make up half of the population in the world, they make up for only a quarter of national legislators, a third of local government members, and just one fifth of cabinet ministers worldwide.

Only 22 countries (out of 193) are headed by a woman Head of State or Government.

In this context, it’s always a moment of pride when I have the opportunity to mention in different international fora that Albania is among the 13 countries in the world where women hold 50 % or more of ministerial positions.

a deliberate strategy to silence women and push them out of the political sphere, thus endangering the whole democratic system. Together with UN Women, we are discussing the idea of a regional event on this key area of concern.

Women’s participation in politics is also an important issue. Last week I participated in an event on online harassment of women leaders, on the sidelines of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN. In my intervention I emphasized that online abuse and sexist narratives targeting women are a significant barrier to their political participation. Online harassment and threats are not just expressions of ordinary misogyny, but

The “Women, peace and security” agenda is very important also, and Albania has been championing it at the UN. Its essence is simple: more women means more peace. When women have a seat at the table where peace agreements are negotiated, it has been demonstrated through facts that those agreements last longer. In addition, women are good peacekeepers and mediators, and also play a crucial role

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within the communities in building peace after the conflicts.

Here I would like to share a quote by US congresswoman Shirley Chisholm: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”. I like this way of thinking, it’s inspiring.

Last June, you were elected Vice President for the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

How does it feel to represent Albania in this prestigious post?

Representing the country that I love on the most important international forum has been the greatest honor of my life.

Of course, serving as Vice President for the historic 75th session of the UNGA is a great opportunity. Serving Albania in this important post, with great visibility, carries also a tremendous responsibility.

My job is to do everything I can to make Albania respected internationally and 12

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appreciated as a partner.

One of the most impressive aspects of the job has been chairing a number of important meetings, including during the high-level week in September, and giving the floor to many world leaders.

Symbolically, it’s quite a thrill to preside the General Assembly from the iconic podium.

Could you share with us some of the events that have impacted you the most during your tenure in New York?

There have been many. But there is one that stands out as one of the most rewarding and moving moments of my diplomatic career: the event that the Mission of Albania organized at the United Nations headquarters in January 2019, in cooperation with the UN and World Jewish Congress, on the theme «A story of humanity: the rescue of Jews in Albania ». The event told the exceptional story of those brave Albanians who, during the dark days of the Holocaust, when Jewish life in Europe didn’t count much, risked their lives to save all the Jews residing in Albania.

Listening to all these ambassadors, including the American and the Israeli

ones, as well as high-ranking US and UN officials praise and honor Albanians for upholding the moral compass of the world during those dark times, was truly exceptional. These were powerful moments of pride for the country I represent, moments that I will always cherish.

What impact has on your work being the daughter of two remarkable world-known writers on your work?

Having an internationally well-known and respected name opens many doors, everywhere. In that sense, it has facilitated my access and has been an asset which positively influences the way I am received, in various circles. It’s always nice when I hand my business card to a colleague ambassador and upon reading the name, they ask whether “I am related to the writer”.

depend all the rest.

Listening actively and trying to understand the other’s point of view, is also a key element.

And finally: always be curious. Curious about other cultures, other people, other perceptions of reality. Ask questions and listen closely.

Whoever can master these skills, will become a truly great diplomat.

I am actually writing a book about my experience in the Albanian diplomacy, the challenges and lessons learnt, and I hope that young diplomats (and not only) will find it interesting to read. I feel it’s important to tell the story of our experience and also of the future we want to share.

Especially when it happens with ambassadors representing far-away countries like Brazil, Philippines or Mozambique!

“I felt naturally compelled to become an advocate for women empowerment and gender equality.”

What advice do you have for the young Albanian diplomats?

Three important things come to mind.

“Over the past years, my team and I have constantly been lobbying for a 2-year mandate 2022-2023 in the Security Council, an important election, which will take place on 11 June.”

The first rule of diplomacy is to gain trust. The main added value of a good diplomat is to be able to build relationships and connections based on trust. This is the foundation from which

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MARTIN MATA:

The Pyramid Project, the Educational Future of the Kids

BY RUDINA HOXHA & JOSE PINTO MARTIN MATA, CO-CEO OF ALBANIAN-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (AADF) SAT WITH TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE AND GAVE A REVEALING LOOK INTO THE AADF PROJECTS AND PORTFOLIO WHILE STOPPED MORE ON THE VERY MUCH EXPECTED TIRANA PYRAMID REVITALIZATION PROJECT.

“ o-Ce Mata, C tion in t r a M da Mr. nt Foun e m p lo e Dev

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aniano Of Alb

In general, it is fair to say that today our financial commitment for the entire portfolio of AADF is more than $78 million for more than 65 projects. One thing that is common about the projects, that we finance and develop, is that in the majority of the cases we research for a viable, proven and successful international model to emulate in Albania,” Mata stated in this exclusive interview.

Amidst all these projects, the latest – The Tirana Pyramid revitalization project made a hit for its concept and its focuseducation of kids with 21st century skills at the intersection of technology and design, in animation, robotics, programming, game development.

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“The whole project in itself is an immense challenge,” Mata said.

According to him, “the Pyramid will invite up to, we hope, 3000 kids/month, and in after school courses through the TUMO curricula kids will have access to a new kind of educational experience in technology and arts.”

Actually TUMO Tirana is located at Arena Center. “We hope that two years later when the Pyramid will be ready up and running, and TUMO Tirana will be located there, we will be able to use all the experience, the knowledge and the know-how that we gained during these two years,” he said.

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FULL INTERVIEW BELOW: Mr. Mata, thank you for sitting with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE. Please let’s start from what is the buzzword - The Tirana Pyramid revitalization project. How did AADF come up with the strategy to transform this city icon?

The Pyramid has been there forever, more than 30 years, and when AADF was considering the implementation and the introduction of TUMO project in Albania, one of the things we were looking for, was the location of this project. TUMO is about the education of kids with 21st century skills at the intersection of technology and design, in animation, robotics, programming, game development, etc., and it has been proved as one of the most modern and advanced curricula world-wide now days. In order to sustain the model to make it lifelong and build a legacy, we needed a location which would reflect

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and make it possible for AADF to place and to execute the TUMO project in a way that when AADF would exit from this project, it would continue to thrive. That is why we came up with the idea of the Pyramid of Tirana. When we proposed it to the Municipality of Tirana leadership it was agreed that the Pyramid, because of its location, size and its available space, it would be ideal so as that we could have TUMO there. More than half of the total space of the Pyramid would be used for the TUMO project, and the rest of it would be rented out as commercial space to tech companies and startups and the rest from those spaces would be leased to cover the costs that are necessary to maintain and manage the Pyramid.

In what aspects is this project so much different from the others fulfilled so far in Tirana and in the other cities by AADF? Who will benefit more from this incoming project?

In a certain way it couldn’t be more different, while our interventions in the majority of the city centers consist of in revitalizing historical centers, like The New Bazaar in Tirana, Old Bazaar in Korça, the Historic Neighborhood in Kruja, Gjirokastra, Berat, Vlora, and we have a new project in Durres, the latest one, whereas the Pyramid project is different because it is focused on education of the kids.

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The previous projects that I mentioned are focused on entrepreneurship ideas and developing a BID/TID Model for the associations of these businesses in each area, creating them and giving them a tool to sustain the model and to increase revenues, services, activities, to the benefit each of the businesses there. The Pyramid will invite up to, we hope, 3000 kids/month, and in after school courses through the TUMO curricula kids will have access to a new kind of educational experience in technology and arts. TUMO Tirana will offer learning programs in programming, animation, game development, graphic design, filmmaking, robotics, music, 3D modeling, etc., which to our opinion here at the AADF represent the future and educational for the kids for the years to come.

Could you discuss the challenges of the Pyramid project?

The whole project in itself is an

immense challenge. First of all, it envisages the reconstruction of the Pyramid, a sophisticated architecture as we know, at least my generation, it was built to celebrate, to commemorate the name, the history and the activity of one of the worst dictators in Europe, Enver Hoxha. It is a massive building and over the last 30 years, the irony is that this building has lived through every possible experiment. The building became USAID office space quarter, at some point it became a NATO headquarter, and then at some point in time it became a disco, coffee bar. Later on, there was an effort to transform it onto a theater, and then it was abandoned, decaying and creating a worsening condition of the building in every possible aspect. So, the first main challenge it is its reconstruction and revitalization.

After reconstruction, of course the second in our opinion, the most important challenge it is the embodiment of the Pyramid with the new idea that we have, of transforming it into the most attractive after school educational center in Albania. Of course, to make it happen we will focus on making TUMO Tirana the backbone of the Pyramid and creating a

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management model which will provide the sustainability and the legacy of this building for the decades to come.

At what stage is the project now and how many stages it has to go through? When is it expected to be completed and inaugurated?

That is a good question. We have started to work about two and a half years ago with this project and there have been a few stages that we have been going through. We financed and we completed: the detailed architectural and engineering project design.

We were lucky and we were able to cooperate and get the project designed by one of the most renowned architects in the world today, Winy Maas and his company MVRDV. The project was completed and submitted to the AADF in 2020.

Another important stage has been

the signing of all the cooperation agreements with the Municipality of Tirana to secure and to guarantee the financing of this project. I should say that this project has been made possible only thanks to the partnership with the Municipality of Tirana, not just because of the financing, which is very important, but also because of the way that we have interlined our interests and the way how the Municipality of Tirana has supported the AADF efforts to provide more educational programs like TUMO for the kids in Tirana.

Another important stage was the selection of the construction company which would make possible the reconstruction of this building. As we speak today, the reconstruction the Pyramid has started and we hope that it will be completed by the end of the year 2022 and ready for operation.

By the end of next year, we will have a new management of the Pyramid Center as a not-forprofit organization which will be responsible for the management of TUMO Tirana and the Pyramid itself in a rentable way to the benefit of course to the center itself, as it is, for the years to come.

Can you share with us more about TUMO Tirana?

One of the discussions we had at

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the AADF was the importance of time.

We had two options: one was that we could wait for the Pyramid of Tirana to be reconstructed and then start TUMO as a project in Albania, which meant that we would be losing proximately two years; the other option was that we could introduce TUMO Tirana right away and that is what we did. TUMO is a program that is created and established in Yerevan, Armenia and we have built an excellent working relationship with the management of TUMO Yerevan where we to open TUMO Tirana right away.

As we speak today the center is up and running at the Arena Center, where we have rented a considerable space and the classes have started. What we have been encouraged to see, is that both, the investment and the interest of the kids has matched the expectations that we have forecasted. The enthusiasm and the trust that kids and their parents have put on TUMO Tirana put a lot of responsibilities and weight on our

shoulders. The TUMO Yerevan oversight, audit, professional development of the local educational team, the curricula are key to the success of TUMO Tirana.

We hope that two years later when the Pyramid will be ready up and running, and TUMO Tirana will be located there, we will be able to use all the experience, the knowledge and the know-how that we gained during these two years.

Could you give us a breakdown of the other AADF projects and AADF portfolio?

It is a question that can take days to discuss in detail about the portfolio of AADF. In general, it is fair to say that today our financial commitment for the entire portfolio of AADF is more than $78 million for more than 65 projects. One thing that is common about the projects, that we finance and develop, is that in the majority of the cases we research for a viable, proven and successful international model to emulate in Albania.

For example, LEAD Albania is modeled after the White House Fellowship Program; Junior Achievement Albania is a branch of Junior Achievement Worldwide and Junior Achievement

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Europe; BIDs/TIDs (Business/ Tourism Improvement Districts) are based upon the famous model that was developed first in the United States of America and then in Europe; the School of Principals is emulated after a very successful program that was implemented 12 years ago in Israel and in the US and Software Development Academy (SDA) by Protik built upon the international SDA model in Europe with HQ in Poland.

Hence, the portfolio of AADF reflects a combination between what is proven successful in the world and the needs that Albania has had in these sectors.

What we have done as AADF is that we have developed these projects in accordance with the needs and the opportunities that are created in Albania.

21 years of work experience with AAEF/AADF. What are the learnings?

Well, it is a lifetime of learnings and experiences! I have 32 years of working experience: 21 of them within the Fund and the Foundation, 5 of them are with the US Embassy, and the rest a combination for the Albanian government and public sector. When you look back, after 32 years of work, you realize that some lessons have become milestones in your professional life that they have motivated me to do more and better. I think that the most important lesson I have learned personally, in this experience, is the ability and the opportunity to impact and to transform for the better the lives of people, whether they are businesses all over the country, whether they are young entrepreneurs, kids, teachers, students or whether

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they are staff, associates, employees that we work together. Nothing makes my day better than being able to see how we all together create value and improve lives of people. I should say that another lesson learned is that when you are blessed to work for an American organization as the AAEF/AADF or the US Embassy are, and when institutions like these are led by terrific Board of Trustees as ours is, the only chance that is left to grab there is to make the best out of it. If I would turn it back, I would not change a dime about anything I have done, but I would do it the same, with the same passion with the same enthusiasm and with the same trust that it is always worth it. Another lesson, the

last to close this interview, is about the future. We do have a moto here at the Foundation: Future is Today! It says a lot because each of us if we truly mean and want to do something that tomorrow will impact our lives for better, today is the time to start and do it. That is what we try to do here!

More than half of the total space of the Pyramid would be used for the TUMO project, and the rest of it would be rented out as commercial space to tech companies and startups and the rest from those spaces would be leased to cover the costs that are necessary to maintain and manage the Pyramid.

The Pyramid project is different because it is focused on education of the kids.

The most important challenge it is the embodiment of the Pyramid with the new idea that we have, of transforming it into the most attractive after school educational center in Albania.

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innovative approach combines the

set to become the most fashionable

optimum health. Here, guests will be

principles of traditional Chinese healing

destination on the Adriatic. This

able to experience industry-leading,

with the latest scientific advances in

ultimate resort will include Chenot

comprehensive wellness alongside a

medicine and state-of-the-art diagnostic

Espace – a first-of-its-kind wellness

vibrant and captivating Riviera-style

technology.

concept for guests looking to lead a

lifestyle, in one ultra-luxury destination

more active, healthy and balanced life.

for the first time.

“We are thrilled to be launching Chenot Espace at One&Only Portonovi” said

One&Only Portonovi sits at the entrance

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Advanced diagnostic tests pioneered by

Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer,

Chenot will allow guests

Kerzner International. “Backed by

to understand what is

almost 50 years of scientific research and

ageing their bodies,

expertise, Chenot shares One&Only’s

and how to set new

vision to create joy and vitality, tailoring

pathways to positively

every experience to each individual’s

improve performance

needs. Our guests will have access to

and wellbeing.

an exclusive, immersive and distinct

Following this initial

experience that will nurture optimum

stage of consultation,

personal results and extend far beyond

guests will receive a

the spa. We pride ourselves in delivering

personalised programme,

extraordinary guest experiences, from

involving nutritional

culinary to once-in-a lifetime excursions,

recommendations,

and now the ultimate in holistic

detox menus, fitness

wellbeing, whilst bringing a new level of

schedules, targeted spa

luxury to Montenegro.”

“The coming together of One&Only and Chenot Espace at One&Only Portonovi presents guests with an extraordinary array of possibilities from peace, tranquillity and improved health to an altogether more energetic and sociable time in this nautical playground,” said Dr. George Gaitanos, Chief Scientific and Operating Officer, Chenot (HC International S.A.). “I am convinced

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that together, One&Only and Chenot,

parameters, known as Chenot Lifestyle

can be seamlessly

we will inspire a transformative journey

Biomarkers® that assess the impact

woven into their

to wellness and further strengthen our

of lifestyle on the vitality status and

overall holiday or

shared philosophical belief in the value

ageing process. Biomarkers® range

select individual

of life, energy and vitality.”

from vascular age (arterial stiffness

treatments.

assessment), intoxication (minerals and DIAGNOSTICS

heavy metals analysis) and skin collagen

The iconic and

Guests will begin their wellness

thickness (ultrasound assessment) to

transformative

journey with a series of diagnostic tests

body composition analysis, emotional

one-week

designed to understand their individual

stress (HRV analysis) and endurance

Advanced Detox

needs, which will lead to the creation

performance (cardiorespiratory fitness

programme

of an effective, bespoke programme.

assessment).

induces a deep

Carried out by specialised professionals,

purification and

the holistic diagnostics will evaluate

TAILORED PROGRAMMES

detoxification of the body and is a

an important array of physiological

Following the diagnostic tests, a

signature pillar of Chenot’s pioneering

sophisticated set of

philosophy. The tailored programme

bespoke treatments

includes advanced diagnostic tests with

and culinary plans will

Chenot Lifestyle Biomarkers®, medical

be created for each

and nutritional consultations, a plant-

individual, that in synergy,

based nutritional plan and targeted

work to stimulate the

energetic massage, bio-energetic,

body to eliminate toxins,

hydro-aromatherapy, phyto-mud and

increase vitality, activate

hydro-jet treatments. Following the

energy channels and

Advanced Detox, there is the follow-

rebalance the body’s

up Fundamental Detox, a one-week

physiology. Guests can

programme which can be taken within

choose to take a fully

six months to maintain the effect.

immersive one-week programme, engage in

For guests looking for a blend of

shorter experiences that

wellness and relaxation, there are a range of programmes to choose from,

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including De-Stress and Re-Charge (four days / five nights) which seeks to restore inner balance and the body’s natural rhythms, Detox (three days) which is ideal as a regular cleanse undertaken several times a year and Weekend Spa Deluxe (two days) which includes several massages and aromatherapy treatments.

There is also the Fitness Programme (three days) which strengthens the body and helps guests learn how to reach their fitness performance potential.

CHENOT ESPACE TREATMENTS Chenot Espace at One&Only Portonovi will cover an expanse of 4,000 m2 and will feature state-of-the-art facilities and 28 treatment rooms. There will be an

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Guests can choose from a range of

Chenot Espace will feature hydrotherapy

healthy eating a lifestyle. Scientifically

highly effective aesthetic treatments

and cryotherapy facilities, sauna, steam

formulated by Chenot, this diet is

to help restore natural beauty, from

room, indoor pool and relaxation

designed based on extensive research

cellulite remedies and dedicated eye

areas, ensuring guests leave feeling

into ingredients, nutrition and cooking

treatments to purifying detox facials.

fully recharged. In addition, the year-

methods, and will be available at La

Body treatments will be performed

round destination resort will also offer

Veranda for guests following Chenot’s

by highly trained therapists using

an Oriental Hamman, a hair salon and

tailored programmes.

skilled techniques and specialist

the men’s grooming salon, Barber &

products to achieve specific benefits,

Blade by One&OnlyTM. A selection

for example Chenot Detox Body

of guest rooms and suites are located

Massage drains toxins, while Chenot

directly above the spa, offering privacy

the UNESCO World Heritage site of

Energetic Massage activates meridians

and easy access for those taking part

Kotor and a 238-berth superyacht marina

to re-energise the body. Additional

in more intensive or longer treatment

and helipad. One&Only Portonovi is

body treatments are targeted to

programmes.

designed on an impressive scale to

improve posture, promote deeper

array of targeted treatments curated by expert practitioners, from neuro-acoustic deep relaxation treatments, acupuncture and ozone therapy to intravenous nutrient therapy and hydro-colon treatments. Diagnostics and treatments fall under six different departments; Medical, Human Performance, Medical Aesthetic, Aesthetic, Hydro-therapy and Sport & Fitness.

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BEYOND THE SPA This nautical playground is adjacent to

reflect the architectural style of the old

breathing, boost circulation to the

CULINARY CHOICES

hands and feet, or relieve tension.

Nutrition is key pillar in the Chenot

grand facades, majestic colonnades,

Facial treatments using Chenot

Method® and guests at One&Only

signature red terracotta roofs, gardens

Cosmeceutical Products are designed

Portonovi will be able to

to deliver tangible enhancements to

follow a personalised diet

the skin, from exceptional hydration

plan, carefully designed to

to improved tone. Deep facial

work in synergy with their

rejuvenation and optimum skin health

wellbeing programmes. The

can be attained through a HydraFacial

Chenot Diet is an everyday,

MD, whilst SKINeo ultrasound and

balanced eating plan, offering

electrotherapy, Cellactor acoustic waves

nutrients from a wide range of

and LymphaStim compression therapy

foods without compromising

aid skin tightening and body contouring.

the pleasure of taste - ideal

Venetian palaces of the region including

for those wishing to restore energy levels, optimise their metabolism and make

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and an extraordinary array of indoor and outdoor pools. A private sandy beach will rival the finest of the Mediterranean.

A Tennis Club with two floodlit professional hard courts will provide the finest facilities for tennis enthusiasts of all levels, while a state-of-the-art Fitness Centre will offer private one-on-one training sessions, as well as movement and exercise classes and the latest

cuisine in La Veranda. Tapasake Club

Technogym™ equipment. Alternatively,

will be the energetic soul of the resort,

guests can head outdoors to take

where guests can lounge by the pool

advantage of running routes through

and experience the atmosphere

the extraordinary landscape, cruise

building during the day, culminating in

the dramatic Adriatic coastline by

performances by legendary DJs.

yacht or speedboat, or learn to dive or sail through the clear, calm waters.

Situated on the Adriatic Coast, Portonovi

For guests seeking a mindful exercise,

is an easy drive from Dubrovnik (one

the resort will offer yoga classes

hour), Tivat (50 minutes), and Podgorica

surrounded by the magnificent vistas

(two and a half hours) airports, all of

of Boka Bay, and beautiful pools will be

which are served by a variety of airlines,

sprinkled throughout the resort. The

and well equipped to handle private

culinary experience, led by executive

jets. One&Only Portonovi will begin

chef Nancy Kinchela, will include

welcoming guests on 1 May 2021.

refined Italian dishes with a focus on wellness from Giorgio Locatelli at

For more information or reservations,

Sabia, Japanese dining at Tapasake

please visit: oneandonlyresorts.com.

and farm-to-table fresh Montenegrin 36

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PREPARING ALBANIA FOR THE SWEDISH TOURISTS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH

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ELSA HÅSTAD

BY RUDINA HOXHA & JOSE PINTO

Ambassador of Sweden to Albania, Elsa Håstad has been travelling across Albania for a year and a half to visit some of the Sweden-funded projects and to meet the partners Sweden has all over Albania. Such trips have made Albania more famous in the eyes of the Swedes. The newest project on the list of Swedish projects in Albania is the restoration of old houses in Gjirokastra city, south of Albania, by Swedish funding with the support of Culture Heritage without Borders Organization.

“Our new thing, which we talked about this time during my trip to Gjirokastra, is the restoration project. Sweden has financed professionals to help restore some of the houses in Gjirokastra city which date back to the 17th century, both in the old bazaar area and those which are still inhabited,” Håstad told Trailblazing Magazine, adding “Now the next step is to connect that with the Swedish tourists because we believe that if we have Swedish tourists coming to Albania, they can visit these houses They can stay overnight, have lunch and that would improve sustainable tourism.”

Upon touring Nëna Farm, Olive Oil and Donkey Farm, Håstad underlined that she and her team are in the phase of linking people to each other in the tourism sector and preparing for when the Swedish tourists come.

Donkey Farm producing donkey milk

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H.E. Ambassador Elsa Håstad visiting Donkey Farm

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FULL INTERVIEW BELOW: Hello Your Excellency! Thank you so much for speaking with me today.

I’ve had the opportunity to look at your trips around Albania. Please, I wanted to know more about your experiences. What were your impressions?

I have been travelling around Albania for the last year and a half predominantly to the south of the country although I have previously visited the north and the centre of Albania too. On this occasion, I wanted to visit some projects and some of our partners in the south. It is interesting everywhere and I am happy that Sweden has partners in all regions

So, is there a Swedish strategy in place about this?

Yes of course. Together with our Albanian colleagues, Sweden does a lot of work in respect of the environment such as water and waste management, which operate at the municipal level.

Then we have a big project on genderbased violence and we assist the municipalities reporting on this. We are implementing this project together with the United Nations at the municipal level. So, to give you an example, even though the partners are in Tirana, implementation is on the municipal level where the people are.

Any news about the signing of the Swedish Development Cooperation Strategy with Albania?

Unfortunately, no news to date. What we know is that it is still under consideration. And we are just waiting for it to be signed. The bottleneck is in Sweden. It has nothing to do with Albania or the Western Balkans in general because it is a big strategy involving all the countries in the Western Balkans, including Turkey.

There is a lot of discussion in Sweden about what areas to prioritise, where can we have a comparative advantage and

“Sweden does a lot of work in respect of the environment” of Albania. I have been trying to connect with the mayors from the north, centre and south because it is interesting for me to hear about municipalities and the work that is being done at the municipal level. Also, a lot of Swedish support goes through the municipalities like gender equality, environment and community policing, just to mention a few.

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so on and so forth. Although we foresee that it will be very similar to what we are doing now.

How will these trips you are doing around Albania help to promote Albania in Sweden given all the information you have collected about the values, advantages, benefits, culture, and other positive aspects of our country?

It is a very good question.

When we travel, we have several purposes in mind. One is of course, for me to meet our partners. By that I mean people that we support in their daily work in civil society, innovations and institutions and municipality.

visiting my hometown; it’s so lovely what you are doing for Albania.” The other group of followers are the Albanians in Albania who love to interact with us about their hometowns. “I come from that village. It is such an abandoned

The other purpose is to show Albania to the Albanians as well as to the Swedish people and to Albanians living in Sweden, and to sort of report back to them: ‘this is Albania and this is what we are doing’. We have 50,000 followers and there is so much attention when we travel around, an enormous amount of attention, and this is for many reasons. One group are the Albanians living in Sweden, who feel nostalgic when they see such photos. Their reaction is immediate: “wow you are

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village. I am so happy you are visiting it.” So, that is also of value. But we also get a lot of feedback from the Swedish people working in civil society in Albania or in the tourism sector. The outreach is enormous. I think we are making Albania much more famous than before. I think, and this is my wish for the future, is that these innovative projects such as the donkey farm or olive oil project, can establish links with tourism and this will encourage Swedish tourists to go and visit the Swedish-funded projects. They are not only interesting of themselves but it would also be nice for the Swedish tourists to see what we are doing in Albania.

and breakfast and agrotourism in the countryside. But our new thing, which we talked about this time during my trip to Gjirokastra, and you saw the photos, is the restoration project. Sweden has financed professionals to help restore some of the houses in Gjirokastra city which date back to the 17th century, both in the old bazaar area and those which are still inhabited. So, we have funded that. Now the next step is to connect that with the Swedish tourists because we believe that if we have Swedish tourists coming to Albania, they can visit these houses. They can stay overnight, have lunch and that would improve sustainable tourism.

Tourism that is not destroying Albania, but actually helping Albania. This is the really big potential for Albania because there is so much to do. The tourists from Sweden are so well-educated and also retired people who like to see and visit things, not just lying on the beach.

“They need to prepare the environment if they want to receive tourists” How is Sweden helping Albania to develop tourism? The start of direct flights from Tirana to Stockholm and vice-versa is really big news.

Really big news! I agree with you. It is fantastic news!

In the past we have helped farmers to develop agrotourism together with the United States of America. We have a program to develop the concept of bed

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We are in the phase of linking people to each other in the tourism sector and preparing for when the Swedish tourists come. We need to prepare the ground.

Say, the Olive Oil Farm – Nëna Farm, is producing olive oil which is fantastic, and they are thinking to export it. But if they are prepared to receive tourists as well,

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this would be awesome. Swedish tourists like to try olive oils, they like to go to wineries. It is our tradition to organise evenings where people can try different types of olive oils. So, you need to make some preparations to turn the whole process into something attractive, preparing a nice room with tables and chairs set out, where you can warmly welcome the tourists. So, it needs a bit of preparation.

what Albania can offer and because they are mainly based in Sweden, they know what Swedish tourists need.

The other area is business. I think if we could find Albanian businesses that can

The same with the donkey farm. They need to prepare the environment if they want to receive tourists because they are currently just focussed on production, exporting and selling.

But if they want to receive tourists as well, which I think would be a fantastic income for them, they need to make some preparations to turn the place into a magnet for tourists.

What can you say about the Albanian Diaspora in Sweden and how it can help be a bridge for bilateral businesses?

It is a good question. There is great potential for two things: one is to establish relations in the area of tourism. The two agencies we are working with now are built by Albanians living in Sweden because they know

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work with the Swedish spirit, you know being a good employer, having good working conditions and an environment which provokes thinking, and link them to a Swedish business which has the same ideas, that would be fantastic.

We have not yet found that. We are still looking. That’s why we sometimes post things like, “Albania is number one exporter of sage” hoping some Albanian-Swedish business-person in Albania will see this and think ‘wow, here we have a potential export trade relationship.’

when we travelled to Çorovoda and to other parts of the centre of Albania.

We met with these companies which specialise in herb production. We were marvelled by the richness of Albania with such natural herbs such as oregano, rosemary, lavender, sage and others but our support is about connecting these businesses with the poor farmers who collect this or cultivate them and to make the links so they can sell them to bigger companies and the latter can export to the EU. This way, we help the farmers but also help Albania to get exposed to the EU market. Albania is one of the top sage exporters.

The same goes for chrome. Sweden is developing a sustainable steel industry based on renewable energy. For that, chrome is needed. So, Sweden needs to diversify its business relations.

Albania is close, so we are trying to promote this cooperation and help the chrome industry to be better, more environmentally aware and have better working conditions. If we can find some Albanian businesses here it would be fantastic. I am looking for Diaspora business-people to do business.

How is the CNVP project on the export of herbs going on?

We met with CNVP people

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ADC AT A GLIMPSE Albania has been a priority country of Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) since 1992. The Austrian Coordination Office in Tirana is part of the Austrian Embassy Tirana. In Albania, we concentrate our support according to the ADC Albania Country Strategy on three priority areas: Integrated Water Management, Governance/Rule of Law, Vocational Education and Employability. We work with Government Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, International Organizations and we have business partnerships with the Private Sector.

Meeting at ADC’s Coo rdination Office in T irana

SIMONE UNGERSBÖCK:

Albania, a priority country of Austrian Development Cooperation since 1992

BY RUDINA HOXHA

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imone Ungersböck, Head of the Austrian Development Cooperation’s Coordination Office in Tirana, says that in 2021, Austrian Development Cooperation will focus on continuing its partnership with Albania and on designing a new strategy for its engagement in its partner country.

She underlines that the ADC’s main mission is and will remain to support Albania’s accession process to the European Union (EU) and to focus even more on areas where Austria can bring added value to Albania.

The Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation, and the European Union for example jointly support and co-finance the project “EU Support to Integrated Water Management”, which is implemented by ADA and aims to improve the legal and institutional framework in Albania’s water sector.

We asked Ms. Ungersböck a series of questions for readers of Trailblazing Magazine. We thank her for this exclusive interview.

How was 2020 for Austrian Development Cooperation in Albania and what projects were carried out?

TThe effects of the pandemic have been challenging for many people across Albania, but it particularly had an impact on women and marginalized

persons, such as people with disabilities, the Roma community and survivors of domestic violence. Our partner organizations, which directly work with disadvantaged members of the Albanian society, told us about the difficult situation many people found themselves in due to the pandemic. We stayed in very close contact with our partners and managed to maintain a high level of flexibility. Our Coordination Office in Tirana obviously also faced unprecedented challenges, but we managed to sustain our work thanks to the joint efforts of our team and those of our partners.

Furthermore, soon after the pandemic started, Austria immediately responded to the needs of the most affected people in Albania by providing gloves and hand disinfectants via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Together with our partners, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the Albanian Red Cross and Caritas Albania, Austrian Development Cooperation distributed cash assistance, food parcels and hygiene kits to vulnerable and quarantined persons and families, and we supported medical and psychosocial assistance for patients, their families and medical staff involved in tackling the consequences of the pandemic.

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three free legal aid centres in Fier, Lezha and Durres in 2020. In addition, two more centres were opened in Pogradec and Gjirokastra recently. They specifically target marginalized members of the society as well as survivors of genderbased violence, persons with disabilities and people living in poverty. With this initiative, we complement the ongoing justice reform in Albania and give it a human face.

Could you give us an example of Austrian Development Cooperation’s contribution to our country to make it more tangible?

Mneed for legal aid is very high. The findings of a survey on access to justice in Albania, conducted by the Catalytic Fund, showed that 48.7% out of the 1785 people surveyed had legal problems in the last five years. The survey found this to be particularly true for members of disadvantaged groups.

One example of our engagement in Albania would therefore be the Austrian contribution to improve access to justice. Together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Austrian Development Cooperation supports the Albanian Ministry of Justice to establish free legal aid centres in different municipalities – and to train their staff accordingly. With ADC’s support, 708 persons were assisted by

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We regularly inform about our engagement in Albania via Twitter @ ADCinAlbania. Besides, our website offers comprehensive information about our projects https://www.entwicklung.at/ en/countries/southeast-europe/albania.

How is Austrian Development Cooperation helping Albania in converging its national standards with the EU guidelines in the water sector?

Austrian Development Cooperation and the European Union jointly support and co-finance the project “EU Support to Integrated Water Management”, which is implemented by the Austrian Development Agency and aims to improve the legal and institutional framework in Albania’s water sector.

As part of this project, we are working in close cooperation with Albania’s National Agency for Water Resources Management (AMBU) and other institutions at the local, national and international level. Together with AMBU,

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major milestones have been achieved so far – for example the development of a water law which is in line with EU law, and the preparation of a complex management plan for Ishem/Erzen and Mati rivers. A new legal framework is currently under consultation. It will support Albania in achieving EU requirements and standards, and in making a significant step forward towards the EU integration process.

Clean and safe rivers also contribute to sustainable tourism in Albania and sustainability in general.

career and employment opportunities, Austrian Development Cooperation supported the “AL-Tour”-project from 2016 until 2020 with a focus on education and employability in the tourism sector The goal was to attract more young Albanians to vocational training in the tourism sector. Our implementing partner, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalization

Among many aspects of collaboration, both countries are involved in the modernization of a strong vocational training system. What has been done so far in this regard?

The tourism sector in Albania has great potential to spur employment and contribute to economic growth. One of Albania’s development priorities is therefore to increase the quality of tourism services. Practice-oriented, state-of-the-art training opportunities are central to this goal. They must both meet the requirements of the labor market and become accessible to more people. However, while vocational training is, for instance, common in Austria, it is not very attractive amongst young Albanians according to our experience.

Since the tourism sector offers great

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and restaurant lab (both supported by the “AL-Tour”-project), he was able to complete internships at businesses, which helped him to find a job as a cook in the Colosseo Hotel in Tirana.

(OeAD), supported the Albanian partners to develop occupational standards for five tourism professions such as waiters and waitresses, tour guides and tour operators. Hands-on experience, insights and needs from the private sector were included in the drafting of these standards, while at the same time we constantly focused on international trends, sustainability as well as and gender-sensitive language.

The tourism schools in Korca, Saranda, Durres and Pogradec received a new, more practice-oriented curriculum, which now serves as a model for other tourism schools in Albania and ensures that graduates are fit for the labor market.

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ADA EUSIWM with AMBU - World Water Day in Permet

The Austrian Development Cooperation’s Country Strategy Albania 2015-2020 has been extended until the end of 2021. What are its orientations for this year?

Albania has been a priority country of Austrian Development Cooperation since 1992. During the last six years, we concentrated our efforts on three priority areas defined in our Country Strategy for Albania: Governance and Rule of Law, Integrated Water Management and labor market-oriented Vocational Education and Training linked with Employability. In all our projects, we mainstream and include as many aspects of social inclusion, gender equality and environmental protection as possible.

The one-year extension of our country strategy allowed us to consolidate the existing interventions together with our partners and to finalize the evaluation of this strategy. The year 2021 will focus on discussing and designing a new strategy for our engagement in Albania considering the recommendations and findings of that evaluation. Our main mission is and will remain to support Albania’s EU accession process and to focus even more on areas where Austria can bring added value to Albania.

Ruzhdin Birbili, for example, is one of about 2500 students who benefitted from the initiative. He graduated in 2019 from the Albanian tourism school in Saranda. With the support of his teachers and the opportunity to practice in the school’s new kitchen

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While vocational education and training is, for instance, common in Austria, it is not very attractive amongst young Albanians according to our experience.

Since the tourism sector offers great career and employment opportunities, Austrian Development Cooperation supported the “AL-Tour”-project from 2016 until 2020 with a focus on education and employability in the tourism sector. The goal was to attract more young Albanians to vocational training in the tourism sector and to increase the quality of tourism services.

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A Conversation with Chef Pâtissier of Sacher Hotel in Salzburg,

KRISTA FERTL Photo Credit: Sacher Hotel

BY RUDINA HOXHA & JOSE PINTO

With a great liking for hotel’s kitchen and patisserie, Krista Fertl is the distinguished Chef Pâtissier of Sacher Hotel in Salzburg, Austria. When she newly started, she immediately fell in love with the smell of vanilla sugar, violet sirup and chocolate fudge cake.

She considers herself so lucky to start her career in Hotel Sacher’s patisserie, right in the center of Salzburg, Mozart’s hometown. “It is impossible to tire of looking at the Hohensalzburg Fortress from the window of the hotels bakery,” Fertl said in this exclusive interview.

For this issue of Trailblazing Magazine, Ms. Fertl shared her thoughts on what it is that makes her pastries so unique and authentic as Sacher Hotel is.

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Thank you Mrs. Fertl for sitting with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE.

nutritional science at the University of Vienna. Missing hands-on experience, I abandoned my theoretical studies after five terms and enrolled in a two-year course on hotel management at the Vienna Business School. This field of study was much more to my liking and included basic education in a hotel’s kitchen and patisserie. I immediately fell in love with the smell of vanilla sugar, violet sirup and chocolate fudge cake.

I finally knew the occupational path I wanted to take and was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to start my career in Hotel Sacher’s patisserie, right in the centre of Salzburg, Mozart’s hometown.

Please can you introduce yourself to us?

My name is Krista Fertl. I was born in Vienna and grew up in Klosterneuburg, a small town in Lower Austria situated close to Austria’s capital city. I attended an economic high school and after successfully taking my final exams at the age of 18, I started studying

“I immediately fell in love with the smell of vanilla sugar”

How do you feel working as Chef pâtissier in a landmark hotel like Sacher Hotel in Salzburg?

It is a great honour, and I’m incredibly grateful to be able to work here. It is impossible to tire of looking at the Hohensalzburg Fortress from the window of the hotels bakery.

Do you follow ‘vintage’ recipes, meaning from mothers, region, masters etc, or do you create your own?

To invent new and unique desserts, you can either wait to be kissed by the muse, ideally in your sleep, or you can get there by learning your craft, first practicing the basics, baking others’ 56

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tried-and-true recipes, putting a new spin on classics, and gradually getting better at creating your own sweet dishes. I value not only the work of fellow professional bakers, but also recipes passed down to me from my ancestors, especially my grandmothers and my mother. I even fall back on these recipes at work. Moreover, it is necessary to pay attention to the Austrian pastry tradition, which is famous all over the world.

Are you the type of professional that you like to taste your own makings?

What are your preferences? Are the ingredients local? Where do you get your ‘secret’ chocolate? What is your preferred mix?

Of course, I always try my own creations.

Without trying them it is impossible to find out whether they taste the way they should or if something must be changed and improved next time.

Personally I prefer sweet dishes and cakes with chocolate and nuts.

When ordering products for the patisserie I always try to stick to local ingredients, eggs from local farmers, for example, regional dairy goods and Viennese sugar.

What are some of the most favorite flavor combinations in the Hotel? Any specific dessert for which the clients go crazy?

In general, guests visiting Salzburg for the first time order Salzburger Nockerl, a fluffy egg soufflé with raspberry cream.

Locals who already know the typical Austrian desserts are often more eager to try out different and more unusual flavour combinations. The most popular cake for locals as well as foreign guests is our Original Sacher-Torte served with whipped cream.

For each new dessert or cake we try different kinds of chocolate and choose the one we think is best. I really like milk chocolate, especially with a touch of caramel.

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From where have you inherited such skills, from your family or are they inborn?

My parents are both teachers, so they have nothing to do with gastronomy or tourism. Although my dad always helps in the kitchen, it is my mother whom I have baked with for as long as I can remember and beyond. There are photos of me as a two-year-old, full of flour, happily stirring in a mixing bowl. I am blessed with a family who is passionate and patient at the same time, which sounds like a rather contradictory combination at first. But my grandmother and my mother have both been passionate about baking and still very patient with me. My grandmother taught me to make “Vanillekipferl”, a

traditional Austrian Christmas cookie, and other sweets when I was little. I also inherited my great-grandmothers’ ancient baking recipe books, which I am very proud of.

Like Sacher brand that is authentic, what does it require to make ‘authentic” pastries?

I think the most important ingredients you need to make authentic desserts are passion, love, expertise, support and honesty. You have to be a passionate pastry cook and must love what you do.

Of course, you need the right know-how and the technical skills, but these are things you can learn, the passion has to be inside you. Furthermore, you need an excellent team who supports you and from whom you get honest feedback on your creations.

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Café Sacher Graz XVII © Hotel Sacher

Hotel Sacher Wien, Rigaud-Miniatur Wien © Hotel Sacher

Krista’s photo as a two-year-old, full of flour, happily stirring in a mixing bowl.

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Elena Mendez: Important to ‘Connect the Dots’ in Hospitality Industry

BY JOSE PINTO & RUDINA HOXHA

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My career is quite a reflection of my life…full of diversity, full of change and packed with adventures. I started off with Starwood Hotels and Resorts 28 years ago on property and worked in a number of departments (Banquets, F&B, Reception, Sales and PR). Following that, my experience includes both regional and global roles in Marketing, Branding and Corporate Communications,” says Elena Mendez, a Spanish lady, full of grace and warmth, who works as Luxury Hospitality, Marketing, Communications & Branding

Leader for Shangri-La, founded in 1971 and today with 86 hotels and resorts in over 76 destinations and spanning over 22 countries.

Mendez knows hospitality at her fingertips. ‘Whys’ are chapters of a wonderful book whose excerpts are highlighted in the following interview with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE. Enjoy reading it!

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JP TRAIBLAZING MAGAZINE

Can you please make a detailed introduction of yourself?

I’ll keep this short and sweet (like me!)…

Elena Mendez, VP F&B Marketing and Corporate Communications for global luxury brand Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in the MEIA region. Shangrila was founded in 1971 and today, we have 86 hotels and resorts in over 76 destinations and spanning over 22 countries.

As a person, I guess you could say

a number of departments (Banquets, F&B, Reception, Sales and PR). Following that, my experience includes both regional and global roles in Marketing, Branding and Corporate Communications.

It’s such a rewarding career path. An incredibly lively, warm and vibrant industry I am the true definition of a global citizen. Born in Kenya, and lived in Portugal, Spain, Syria, Kuwait, Pakistan, Switzerland, Belgium and United Arab Emirates. I am currently working remote out of Barcelona with my 13th move planned back to Dubai in the summer!

My career is quite a reflection of my life…full of diversity, full of change and packed with adventures. I started off with Starwood Hotels and Resorts 28 years ago on property and worked in

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When and how did you decide to enter the world of hospitality and what made you realize that this is what you wanted to follow?

I started literally calling hotels my home at the early age of 6 months as my father was a hotelier. I pretty much grew up in them until I left to join Hotel School in Switzerland. I loved every second of it all…the buzz in the back of house, the collaboration between all the amazing staff that was required and then seeing the magic they produced bringing joy to

so many people.

It also taught me some valuable life lessons. I learnt to appreciate that as simple as things seem, like a flower arrangement you come across or a special amenity require effort and passion from so many. Never take things for granted.

So when the time came to choose my own career, I genuinely didn’t think of anything else. That was it for me!

It’s such a rewarding career path. An incredibly lively, warm and vibrant industry that’s all about generating joy.

It is so diverse with opportunities that speak to every passion and the icing on the cake is it gives you opportunities to travel the world and meet incredible people.

What’s not to like ?

Can you share some of the main highlights of your studies at Les Roches Hotel Management School, and how such give you the impulse to start your career?

The years in hotel school were probably some of the best years of my life. We were studying in a melting pot of cultures from as far as Australia, hidden away in a tiny beautiful Swiss village with a few hundred people. So international yet so local.

Then there was the diversity in the types of classes we were taking and a few practical training programmes to put everything into perspective… One minute you were doing economics, the next you were cooking a Coq au Vin from scratch and then you were learning about how to schedule housekeeping staff.

For me, I think hotel school just reconfirmed things. I wanted to be in hotels and do something that has an impact on people…but I wasn’t sure which department. In hotels you can explore things instead of being so linear with your career. I worked in 8 different departments/roles before I entered the Marketing world. Being diverse in what you have done gives you the ability to ‘connect the dots’ in order to get the

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best results, in the most effective way and I now have a broad overview of the industry. This has been invaluable for me in my career.

Over all what did it for me was the people I met who until today are some of my closest friends. An amazing bunch who are now successful business owners, hotel GMs, wine makers, chefs, incredible mothers (the toughest job of all) or in completely different industries.

Hotel studies and experiences give you that opportunity in case you decide you want to jump ship and do something different.

To whom do you attribute your success so far knowing that since at a young age, you have been living in Hotels?

I would need to start off with my parents.

My dad was a wonderful GM (and is just such a great human being – always a strong advocate of doing the right thing and putting people first). I was always moved when we would leave a hotel and see the impact he had on his teams during his few years there. Whether hotel staff, or guests, or local residents, people would be in tears. Made me realize how you can impact so many lives through this industry and how gratifying it is when you do. Always be kind…no one will remember you for the revenues you produced. But they will remember

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you for how you made them feel.

His career gave me the opportunity to call hotels my ‘home’ (literally) for 18 years and the hotelier life also introduced us to many incredible parts of the world, where I met some amazing people, and got to experience amazing cultures.

These life experiences gave me a huge foundation for my life ahead and taught me incredible soft skills such as cultural understanding, teamwork, languages, multi-tasking and flexibility. These skills are not only transferrable to almost all other industries, but are highly sought after by employers nowadays.

I have to give credit to my mother as well who is a perfectionist in every way. Her attention to detail (a flower out of place, a crooked painting or a light bulb that

was off), her charm and her networking abilities are second to none. She was always an incredible host and through her warmth and genuine friendships came a lot of business my dad’s way! I guess you could say it was perfect team work.

That’s I guess where things started…. along the way, too many people that have inspired me to mention. My bosses, my teams, my colleagues, guests, hotel staff, journalists, friends from all walks of life…the list is endless.

They have made me who I am today both personally and professionally.

As a Marketing and Communications Executive, how are you planning the marketing strategy plan for the re-opening of hotels in a post Covid time? Do you consider them much different from the past “ERA”

strategic plans?

As a headline, it’s about planning short term and thinking long term. We need to focus on supporting the short-term health of the hotels where speed, adaptability and agility are of essence and bring in cash-flow and revenues. But also not lose sight of the future, and support hotels so they are in a position to address the long term realities and opportunities that the ‘new normal’ will represent for them.

You don’t want to be stuck in reactionary mode and focusing only on managing the crisis now means you may win the battle but lose the war.

The basic fundamentals of Marketing are still the same. Who is your target audience, get to know them inside out, understand what they want, create relevant and exciting offers and figure out how they want you to communicate so you can influence them. As a customer-centric organization, we need to be in a continuous cycle of listening, testing, learning and optimizing as all these points are in continuous motion right now. We need to adopt more of that ‘start up’ mentality.

In a lot of markets, our target audience is now domestic. We have formed a stronger and long-lasting relationship and our strategy includes giving back to

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local communities. New consumer needs have led us to look into new revenue streams such as delivery and retail.

We’ve reimagined hotel experiences and formed incredibly creative partnerships that differentiate our dining experiences.

And naturally, we have focused on online channels of communication.

And let’s not forget our people.

The importance of motivating and rallying the troops at times like these.

We can’t deny it’s been a rough ride and our teams may have gone through unprecedented personal and

didn’t really pay close attention to cleaning procedures provided the room looked clean. I think now, the consumer expectations will be much deeper and Hygiene will become an important currency as safety remains top of mind.

In your opinion and as per your experience, what will be different in the Hospitality and Hotel business and trends once hotels reopen to Business and Tourism? Do you expect major changes on the customer needs?

I think most industries across the globe are experiencing the surge of accelerated and new trends. Hospitality is no exception and we are likely witnessing an era that will influence customer behavior permanently and help shape the future of our industry.

Hygiene will become an important currency as safety remains top of mind. professional situations we need to empathize with. After all, the success of all these plans will depend on them. So clear and continuous communication with them so they feel supported at all times, is key.

I would like to close off with a quote Andy Grove, founder of Intel, who said in 1994: “bad companies are destroyed by a crisis, good companies survive the crisis; but great companies are defined by a crisis”

Whether we are or aren’t vaccinated, I think this pandemic will leave its mark with some wondering ‘when is the next one coming?’. In the past, consumers

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Technology will help there, enabling peace of mind and limiting human contact through mobile check-in, digital menus, in-room ordering etc…

It will support cleaning procedures as we see Germ-Zapping Robots and Electrostatic Sprayers coming into use.

Having said all that, one thing that won’t change is the fact that consumers will more than ever, appreciate human connection and the warmth of our heartfelt service so we’ll need to make sure our smiles are felt through the masks! You don’t want to be checking into a hospital.

Digital acceleration will continue and as a result of that, the Global Nomad has been born embracing the fact that we can work from just about everywhere.

I think this will become the way of life for some and not only for the single, millennial. It will include families who will want their kids to grow up with the lessons of life learnt through travel all made possible through a digital classroom approach.

Love for the Local will also remain as consumers, forced to stay in their home ground have formed a new respect for their neighborhoods and now more than ever, understand the importance of supporting local businesses so they can survive. This will also happen when they travel abroad where consumers will want to connect with their destinations on a deeper more authentic way and support local communities.

This brings me to the Travel for Good trend which also includes an increased commitment to sustainability as we come out of this pandemic with a respect for nature and the world we live in, like never before. Travelers will be more committed to seeking eco-friendly properties and no longer leaving a place like they found it. They want to improve it.

And lastly there is Wellness of course, a trend that we were already seeing for a few years but now has a renewed focus as people realize the importance of health. This will also see a more holistic relationship with food for consumers, who will begin choosing what they eat not only for nutrition and pleasure, but for the emotional, physical and mental benefits it provides; what is good for the immunity system, what foods provide Vitamin D, what tea helps you relax and sleep better etc…

Not sure about you, but I for sure am

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very excited about what the hospitality tomorrow will look like!

Finally may we ask you how life has changed for you since you became a mother and had to share your day between your job and family? What can you suggest or advice to the new others with a career within the hospitality business?

I had 3 babies under the age of 1….so trust me, my life changed! I had my daughter and then immediately after got pregnant with twins. It was crazy but I wouldn’t change a thing. My family is my priority above everything else, but I

day? There will be times when the balance will sway one way or another, but eventually, it should all balance out…

are also plenty of jobs on property that can work if you get the right shifts or the right department.

finding balance is not easy all the time whether a mother, or a father also love my job so I guess you could say work is my equivalent of ‘me time’.

I had kids at a later age than most (in my late 30’s) so had done all the crazy hours on property by then and was in an office environment which made it easier. Whilst I still work long hours, if not longer hours, than on property I try to fit around the family making sure I put them to bed where possible. That’s ‘our time’. Then I can go back to work if needed. But there

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A big part of keeping your head above water is to find the right employer and the right boss who will support you especially when the kids are young. And let’s not forget the right team. But an even bigger part includes finding the right incredibly supportive husband who takes on more than his share of the workload. I was lucky with all of those.

You also need to prioritize. I love ‘The Five Balls in the Air’ speech by Coca Cola’s former CEO Brian Dyson as it puts things into perspective. He said : Imagine life as a game in which you are

juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit. And you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.

You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.

What I can assure you is that being a mother and working in this incredible industry is not only very possible, but you will become a better employee and a better person for it. I learn constantly from my kids and they make me do different things and look at things in different ways. And let’s not forget the skills you learn around negotiation, selflessness and the ability to multi task! Priceless.

My dad was a wonderful GM (and is just such a great human being – always a strong advocate of doing the right thing and putting people first).

I was always moved when we would leave a hotel and see the impact he had on his teams during his few years there. Whether hotel staff, or guests, or local residents, people would be in tears. Made me realize how you can impact so many lives through this industry and how gratifying it is when you do. Always be kind…no one will remember you for the revenues you produced. But they will remember you for how you made them feel.

Now frankly speaking, finding balance is not easy all the time whether a mother, or a father. You will have days or even weeks where you will be focused on work because there is a special happening or you have a new job and others, where you will need to focus on family more. Maybe we need to look at balance as a long-term goal versus getting it right each and every 69

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commercial initiative was fragmented.

ALSWISS fills the void by channelling the various bilateral commercial relations of both markets,” Demneri told TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE. Taking into account the current policies of Albania, as well as the business climate, Demneri underlined, ALSWISS concentrates its activities in areas such as tourism, agriculture, culture, real estate investments, the services industry and others.

heart of Geneva, Switzerland as a joint initiative thanks to the conception by the entrepreneur and financier Mr. Erenik Yzeiraj, who has vast financial experience and supported by myself as someone coming from the world of multilateral diplomacy with a legal background.

This great initiative has been well supported since the beginning of its journey by the Embassy of the Republic

The Swiss development and cooperation program with Albania 2018-2021 envisages a total investment of CHF 26 million per year.

AL S W I S S

TO OR G A N IZ E A N E CO NO MIC FO RUM ON A LB A N IA N TO URISM IN 2021

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atjon Demneri, the CoFounder of the AlbanianSwiss Chamber of Commerce (ALSWISS) says that there are more than 1,700 companies in Switzerland established by Albanian entrepreneurs, as well as around 100 Swiss companies operating in Albania.

ALSWISS was co-founded in the heart of Geneva, Switzerland thanks to the conception by the entrepreneur and

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financier Mr. Erenik Yzeiraj, who has vast financial experience and supported by Fatjon Demneri coming from the world of multilateral diplomacy with a legal background.

“ALSWISS was constituted due to a lack of an institutional basis in terms of commercial relationships between Albania and Switzerland. Until recently, every business agreement or

FULL INTERVIEW BELOW: What is the story behind the establishment of the AlbanianSwiss Chamber of Commerce?

Is it a joint initiative?

ALSWISS was constituted due to a lack of an institutional basis in terms of commercial relationships between Albania and Switzerland. Until recently, every business agreement or commercial initiative was fragmented. ALSWISS fills the void by channelling the various bilateral commercial relations of both markets.

ALSWISS was co-founded in the 71

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meet sustainability criteria and preserve the environment.

Sustainable development remains at the heart of the Chamber’s core principles. Albania has taken some steps on thinking ‘GREEN’ and is embracing and developing new policies aimed at facilitating tariffs and taxes for the introduction of products stemming from recycled materials.

of Albania in Switzerland, the Geneva Canton Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIG) and dozens of representatives from Swiss and Albanian companies.

Can you describe the objectives and projects of the Chamber for 2021 and beyond?

The main objective of the Chamber is to serve as a networking organization.

ALSWISS aims to establish and develop business and commercial relations between the Swiss Confederation and Albania.

At the core of our activities are events on different business topics, or VIP events with company executives, that we organize mainly in Geneva, Switzerland.

These events provide excellent opportunities to meet business leaders from different regions and industries.

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Taking into account the current policies of Albania, as well as the business climate, ALSWISS concentrates its activities in areas such as tourism, agriculture, culture, real estate investments, the services industry, etc.

In 2021, ALSWISS will try to organize an economic forum with a focus on Albanian Tourism. The idea will be to have panellists from the world of business, Albanian Government representatives and various entrepreneurs from both countries.

What are the main issues the Chamber is advocating for? What is keeping it busy?

Right now, the Chamber is undertaking market analysis and conducting research of the Albanian market on how to introduce certain recycled Swiss products. Dealing with these kinds of products should always be easy as they

to date with the latest information about Albania on tourism, agriculture, culture, investment policies and so on.

Albania is a hidden gem and Swiss investors are very interested to explore the different opportunities that the market offers. Primarily, the focus of Swiss investors is on the Albanian agriculture sector, the BIO products and the medicinal plants.

Moreover, for the benefit of our members, we are creating platforms where company executives and individuals can meet, connect and generate business opportunities.

How is Albania in the eyes of the Swiss investors and what does the Chamber plan to do to further promote the Albanian image in Switzerland?

Swiss investors see great potential in Albania and this is key for us. ALSWISS will try to promote as much as it can on what Albania offers. This couldn’t be achieved without the support of the Albanian Embassy in Bern. The Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Ilir Gjoni, has always shown a readiness to cooperate with ALSWISS and to facilitate the promotion of the Albanian image.

With the current, challenging situation in Switzerland caused by Covid-19, social media advertising is very helpful.

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There are currently more than 1,700 companies in Switzerland established

by Albanian entrepreneurs, as well as around 100 Swiss companies operating in Albania. The Swiss development and cooperation program with Albania 20182021 envisages a total investment of CHF 26 million per year.

Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you are taking on in this position?

The pandemic situation itself is a limitation, per se, for ALSWISS activity.

Having two hats in an institution is never easy. Starting an association from scratch requires hard work and lots of effort.

On one hand, as a co-founder I would like to see ALSWISS achieve and deliver what has been in place from the beginning. On the other hand, as a General Manager, I must complete the duties asked of me and have to report periodically to the Board of Directors.

Switzerland is a highly demanding country when it comes to standards and quality. So, if an Albanian product has to be introduced into the Swiss market, it

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should meet certain criteria and for this, as a Chamber representative, you need to be well informed and simultaneously convincing to the business people about the policies in place to help them meet the criteria at the lowest cost possible.

Do you have a message for the Swiss business community interested in investing in Albania?

The creation of ALSWISS in this difficult global economic situation is an example of faith and conviction and will serve as a generator of new energy and opportunities for Albanian and Swiss companies in the future. It will be an open door and a valuable instrument for entrepreneurs and investors wishing to carry out commercial and economic exchanges between the two countries.

I see ALSWISS growing little by little and progressing in a Strong, Healthy and Sustainable way. ALSWISS will be the perfect hub not just for commercial exchanges, but will also serve individuals interested in business relations between Albania and Switzerland.

Sustainable development remains at the heart of the Chamber’s core principles. Albania has taken some steps on thinking ‘GREEN’ and is embracing and developing new policies aimed at facilitating tariffs and taxes for the introduction of products stemming from recycled materials.

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View from a multi-purpose golf range. Courtesy of Piza Golf

The Evolution of the Golf Driving Range

BY STEPHEN RIDGWAY * 76

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he humble golf practice range had, for many years, been a simple ‘grassed’ area squeezed into a spare parcel of land alongside a golf club to allow its members and the occasional visitor, to practice their game or warm up before heading out to the first tee. Some even had a few covered bays installed and if you were really lucky, perhaps even some floodlights perched on top.

Over the last 20 years or so though the

golf range has gone through a rather radical evolution. Some golf clubs and entrepreneurial land-owners realised that there was money to be made out of people whacking golf balls into a field.

The advent of ball dispensing machines and a fortified golf cart adapted for ball collection meant that more than one or two people could practice at any one time and you could charge golfers for this service. The addition of better lighting and even heated bays allowed golfers to practice late into the evening

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operators resorted to constructing ‘containment’ mounding and/or netting to reduce this as well as for health and safety purposes.

and in all weather. Golf practice ranges became more commercialised and profitable and were seen as a ‘must have’ facility for any self-respecting club.

However, with increased popularity came problems. Continuous pummelling by golf balls and collectors meant most range outfields suffered from wear and compaction resulting in poor drainage, reduced turf growth and plugged golf balls. Some ranges even had to close during winter months when the poor ground conditions prevented the ball collector from being used. Many facilities had to install sub-surface drainage across their outfields to enable year-round play to continue.

Improving golf club technology meant golf balls were going further, and wider, greatly increasing ball loss. This had an impact on profitability, so range

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Not until recently however, has the real potential of the golf driving range really been uncovered.

Whilst your typical range is fine if you’re a golfer just wanting to hit a few golf balls, it doesn’t really deliver that experiential feeling of actually playing or, make full use of what is often quite a valuable parcel of land.

The current era of golf driving ranges are now embracing new technologies and providing innovative solutions to attract non-golfers as well.

For instance, the ‘multi-purpose’ range. This is where a range can also be transformed into a par 3 course or footgolf course. Nine, raised target green complexes are constructed within the outfield and these are used both for hitting toward on the range as well as to create a short course for beginners and families. Small teeing areas can either be incorporated into surrounding mounding or within the range outfield itself. Obviously the two cannot be used simultaneously but the idea is

that the outfield area can be used for more than one function and can attract a larger demographic. The range also has a more realistic aesthetic when more elaborate green and bunker complexes are used.

At the higher end of the technological spectrum are ranges which incorporate GPS and/or microchip technology to track the path and destination of the golf ball. On the one hand you have a system which allows golfers to track their ball flight, speed, carry, spin etc to help them hone their games. On the other hand, this technology can be used to simulate playing a round at a Championship golf venue or even their local golf course if they don’t have time to walk round it.

the target green is, the more points you can score. The key is that golfers and non-golfers can compete against each other to score the most points in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

These facilities also have table service to the bays. The format is ideal for engaging families, groups of friends or work outings and are proving hugely popular in the US, UK, Europe and Asia.

From an unused grass field to a multimillion dollar, high tech, entertainment facility. Golf driving ranges really have come a long way and are a fantastic way to introduce non-golfers to a fantastic game. *Director of Ridgway Golf Design Ltd.

Finally, you have a system such as Topgolf which is essentially like going ten-pin bowling, but for golfers. Topgolf uses a chip-in-ball system along with coloured, artificial target greens at increasing distances from the bays. The closer to the flag and further away

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ELIAS MAZLOUM:

“My first Rule in Developing a Business is NO FEAR OF REJECTION”

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his is the key to the success of Elias Mazloum, a serial entrepreneur from Lebanon, who is living and working in Albania for 4 and a half year by now. Shouldering 19 years of international experience in Lebanon, Ghana, Namibia, Mozambique and Albania, Mazloum stands out for his skills in marketing and sales, accounting and finance management.

After moving to Albania with his wife (from Albania), he founded Social Development Investment (SDI) , an NGO in charge of implementing projects in collaboration with international and local organizations. The SDI has received money from German and Swiss development agencies to train 125 women in wool production and weaving.

Founder Elias Mazloum sits with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE to share his business story and his projects with our readers.

“I started my first business at the age of 13 by opening a candy shop near the playground in our neighborhood, after that I started to work as helper in a center that produced prosthesis (hands, legs.) I was 15 years old when my friends would call me insane but the pay was good considering my age,” Mazloum told TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE in an exclusive interview.

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FULL INTERVIEW BELOW: Thank you Elias for accepting our request for an interview. You are a serial entrepreneur turned business consultant. Kindly tell us a bit more about your operating career. How did it start?

Firstly, I highly appreciate being interviewed by you, it is a great honor for me.

The first 10 years of my life corresponded with the civil war in Lebanon. A long transition followed the war. So I was lucky to be raised in an interesting period of time where

center that produced prosthesis (hands, legs.) I was 15 years old when my friends would call me insane but the pay was good considering my age.

I began my full-time job all around the year at the age of 19, as an accountant while I was studying in the university; I was sleeping 4 hours in 24 and at the same time I started a Karaoke business in parallel during the night. After working till 2007 in Lebanon, I had the chance to have a job in Ghana, Africa due to a family situation. I interrupted my Master studies and took that opportunity to be an accountant in one of the biggest business groups in Ghana. As soon as I had a chance to communicate with clients, I discovered my talent and joy to be working in marketing and sales. I was nominated Xerox best sales person in west Africa in 2009. During this time, my career rapidly developed, exceeding expectations and managed to be in the premium league of the Ghanaian business scene. In 2011, I opened my own company in the field of Marketing and Advertising which did well until I lost the interest in becoming a prototype of a young Lebanese in west Africa that is where I decided to have a deviation on my career path from private business, commercial corporate mind to the development sector. In 2013, I joined a

I learned how to survive in the most difficult times.

I learned how to survive in the most difficult times. Especially that my father and most of my family were selfemployed. With basic education they could manage to diversify their activities and provide a living to their family and I definitely learned a lot from this experience.

I started my first business at the age of 13 by opening a candy shop near the playground in our neighborhood, after that I started to work as helper in a

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project in Namibia developing a newly known sector - MicroInsurance. Combining my experience on sales with the motivation to help vulnerable groups have resulted a great success in developing and selling Micro-insurance products. In 2015, I was assigned to duplicate the Namibian experience in the north of Mozambique and help develop the Academy of Financial and Insurance Inclusions, till 2017 when I moved to Albania and founded Social Development Investment and NGO that have been implementing projects since in collaboration with international and local organizations.

Here I am.

17 years of international working experience in project management implementation of donor financed projects in Africa, Albania, Kosovo and other SEE countries. Based on your long experience, what does it take to grow and manage businesses?

I believe there is no magic for business success. Generally speaking, it takes commitment and smart and hard work.

But this attitude should be combined with innovation of the existing available resources in order to amplify work and have the desired growth.

You are based in Tirana, Albania since 2017. What is the story, how did you end up here?

I have been living and working in Tirana since 2017. I would say I started off here after me and my wife moved to Albania when she was first pregnant.

My wife is Albanian but we met in Africa and we have been working together for the same company since 2013. We got married when we were expecting our baby which is 4 years and half now and after we decided to move to Albania. I am Lebanese so we share the Mediterranean family culture. My mother passed away in 2010 and we wanted our daughter to experience what it is to grow up next to a grandmother. I never regretted this decision, as Albania is full of opportunities, and a very interesting different market to discover.

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Can you describe the projects you are working on in Albania? Who are your major partners and sponsors?

While I was applying to get my first resident permit in Albania, I saw some ladies knitting organic wool under rain in poor conditions near the immigration office. I went to ask how much they sell

Tirana a small project and that is how Modern Albanian Tradition (MAT) have been created. It was the project for empowering women through economic activities in the wool artisanal sectors in Tirana. More specifically, 25 women have been trained on modern artisanal products and soft business skills.

It was the project for empowering women through economic activities

After that we applied to the call of ReLoad program in Roskovec municipality, a project financed by European Union and implemented by UNDP, and for 3 years we have been implementing Sapune Organic Roskovec I (SOR I) which created new economic activities for the community of Roskovec, especially for women and young people through vocational education of soap production from unsold olive oil, hence, creating employment and increasing households’ income. The SOR I trained a group of 20 women, residents in the Municipality of Roskovec to produce and sell organic soap from olive oil, and Sapune Organic Roskovec II was the extension of the Sapune Organic Roskovec (SOR) I a women empowerment project aimed at enhancing economic activities and job creation by developing the new product based on olive oil (shampoo and liquid soap).

a pair of socks. I was amazed when they told me 300 Lek, less than 3 euros. I googled handmade organic wool socks and I saw that the cheapest online was 10 euros. This was the inspiration to write the first project on reactivation of the wool value chain and market development of artisanal wool products.

We presented the project to many donors and we got the funds to pilot in

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Market Development of Artisanal Wool in Kukës (MDAWK) as a project is creating access and developing a national and foreign market for wool artisans by standardizing their products, linking the stakeholders of the wool value chains through trainings (on product development and presentation, and soft business skills), workshops and marketing activities to meet the requirements and demands of the modern and foreign market.

Via Dinarica Scout Movement, Scouts of Via Dinarica is to create a scout movement dedicated to supporting the young people in the cities of Tropojë and Gjakovë and promote activism in adventure tourism by using the model of the International Scout Movement.

Establishment of the Scouts of Via Dinarica is supported through a grant provided by the Regional Cooperation Council’s Tourism Development and Promotion Project. The Project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the RCC in an effort to contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the six Western Balkans economies by supporting development and promotion

of joint regional cultural and adventure tourism offer.

MATH Modern Albanian Tradition Hub, MATH Financed by GIZ Albania in the frame of Sustainable Economic

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and regional development, employment promotion and Vocational Education and Training – ProSeed, SDI is implementing the project MATH Modern Albanian Tradition Hub in Kukes, reactivating the value chain of wool in the region training 100 people to be active in this value chain.

EBRD, Albanian Development Fund, to support MSME. What are the most common issues you face while dealing with Albanian clients?

Are there any specific practices you and your company are putting into place to help potential clients deal with the current climate?

The most common issues that we face while dealing with Albanian clients is informality, and the self confidence that Albanian products could have great value in the international market. It just needs standardization and the right sales and marketing strategies to access new markets.

Our practices to help potential clients to deal with current situation is by literally prove to them the opportunities that they can have just by adjusting and adapting their business model (services, products) to the international market needs through getting them real orders from clients that are ready to sign a permanent contract if quality and standard are respected. Using the superman methodology, superman was a normal person in his planet but on earth he was superman the same could be for Albanian products, what is

My first rule in developing a business is NO FEAR OF REJECTION.

Katunar, is a spinoff project/brand from all SDI projects to create a sustainability for projects after intervention by building a brand that will help sell and market products from projects that have been implemented in Albania and abroad.

Many other projects smaller projects have been implemented with partners as

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a common unvalued product or service here could be of a great value in another market.

How important is it that we develop a more positive mindset especially during these times of uncertainly?

It is very important and crucial as my first rule in developing a business is NO FEAR OF REJECTION. If we are pessimist and we don’t believe it will work than no one else will do; being positive with the right calculation of risks it is a great formula. The uncertain time is on all of us, not only on me or you so we have to adapt to the situation and diversify our services or products.

Say, it was great to see most of the tailors started to produce masks during Covid-19 situation.

How is it combining the projects you have in North, South, West and East of Albania with your family? Have you still time for that?

Well, it is not easy sometimes. It is challenging but since we decided to be in the development sector, we need to follow the pace and we try to give our best, which sometimes is not easy to have the quality family time that is needed. But when is permitted or there is a chance we try to travel as family

to the cities so the children can learn about the work culture and discover new places.

Once again thank you very much.

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network want to be able to contribute to Albanian society by trying to give positive examples that we can move forward.”

Rukaj, who works as a public relations expert, is a Lund University alumni and a 2019 Swedish Institute Summer Academy for Young Professionals participant. Currently he is the chairman of the Sweden Alumni Network Albania.

Implementing the Knowledge Gained in Swedish Universities in Albania

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We are working hard to make Swedish Alumni Network Albania as influential as possible in the lives of Albanian citizens by organizing activities based on Sustainable Development Goals. There are currently 6 of us on the board of this network and many alumni who have studied at the best Swedish universities

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Please can you tell us more about yourself and your connection with Sweden and your personal motivation to become President of Sweden Alumni Albania?

Hello, I am Oltjon Rukaj, 30 years old, graduated in Journalism and Public Relations. I am currently the Head of Media and Public Relations at Epoka University and the Chairperson of

Sweden Alumni Network Albania.

My connection to Sweden came after my experience with the SAYP 2021 leadership program in Lund, Sweden.

Based on this unique and professional experience supported by the Swedish Institute, I built the contacts to apply in Albania the knowledge I received from this program. This is the second year that Sweden Alumni Network Albania is certified by the Swedish Institute. There are currently 6 of us on the board of this network and many alumni who have studied at the best Swedish universities or members who love Sweden, or the lifestyle, innovation, democracy etc. We are working hard to make this network as influential as possible in the lives of Albanian citizens by organizing activities based on Sustainable Development Goals.

or members who love Sweden, or the lifestyle, innovation, democracy and so on and so forth,” Oltjon Rukaj, Chairman of Sweden Alumni Network Albania told TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE in an exclusive interview.

In this interview he dwells on the plans of the Network and the cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden. “We as a

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What are some of your greatest memories of Sweden and how are they inspiring you in your role?

I have a lot of beautiful and valuable experiences from working with professionals and institutions operating in the field of innovation in Sweden. I have the best experiences from Lund University which has made me realize that the educational institutions with the governing ones must cooperate

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a lot to produce knowledge, science, research and innovation. In this regard, I am amazed at how state funds are managed and how transparent they are, the level of democracy, the law of human rights and many cultural elements such as FIKA, a fantastic social tradition that every country needs, I think.

What is your ambition and what do you want to change or achieve?

We as a network want to be able to contribute to Albanian society by trying to give positive examples that we can move forward, how our lives can be improved and how we want a society where everyone feels equal.

A transparent policy and quality education.

How has the cooperation of Sweden Alumni Albania with the Swedish Embassy and the Ambassador evolved during this time?

The main thing that impressed me the most after the program in Sweden was the very warm communication with the Swedish Embassy. The staff are very professional and friendly and the Ambassador is ultimately the example that each of us want to strive to be like. The merit of 90

this network that we have goes to the Swedish Embassy and the continuous support we have received.

Her Excellency, Mrs. Elsa Hastad, as an Ambassador, has constantly shown that we need to be more positive as a society, to stand up for our rights and definitely to be persistent in achieving the objectives we have. I am very happy that we work closely together to achieve common goals to bring a more positive spirit and to show that Albania has everything it needs to become a developed country with full rights in the EU.

Do you have any career or personal advice for Albanian students who graduate from Swedish universities?

I would like to thank current members of Sweden Alumni Network Albania and I would also invite them to be as cooperative as possible to bring the best for our country. Implementing the knowledge gained in Swedish universities in our country would be the right solution for a better future for all.

Leaving Albania is not the right choice to bring change to our country.

This is the second year that Sweden Alumni Network Albania is certified by the Swedish Institute.

I have the best experiences from Lund University which has made me realize that the educational institutions with the governing ones must cooperate a lot to produce knowledge, science, research and innovation.

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Hotels Are Passion!

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otel de Bourgtheroulde, Autograph Collection is a 15th century listed historic property in the heart of the ancient capital of Normandy, Rouen, home of the Vikings in France. This boutique hotel houses 78 rooms, a 700sqm Spa and an indoor 18/9m swimming pool, steam bath, sauna, gym and 6 treatment rooms. A fine dining restaurant, a brasserie, a bar in the atrium or the historic courtyard complete the experience. It is positioned in a perfect location in the city center close to the railway station and all the places of interest. The historic area of Rouen is one hour from Paris and at the heart of the Impressionists’ favorite sites. Monet and Pissaro painted extensively in Rouen and around.

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interaction and we all took advantage of that diversity to grow our knowledge and careers.

The Portuguese General Manager of Hotel de Bourgtheroulde, Fernando Horta, accepted to share with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE his vision of excellence about his hotel. With a MBA in Tourism Management and 30 Years of international experience at high level in hotel industry, he has been a general manager in both city and resort hotels.

FULL INTERVIEW BELOW: From an academic engineer at well-known hotels in Portugal, Spain, Africa, Abu Dhabi, Morocco, and many others, to tourism and hospitality. What led to this shift?

I started my journey at the iconic Le Meridien Lisbon in 1988 and over the years I gained a very solid understanding of the hotel’s operation in both city and resort properties. Not only was I keen on keeping the hotels in the best shape possible, but I also loved interacting with the guests. I used to ask my colleagues, “why is it that when I am Duty Manager, I sort out the problems at the Front Office, F&B outlets, golf operation, beach, pools and so on, but you guys call me at home when there is no electricity, or you have a problem with HVAC or hot water? Why can’t you tackle

those issues too?”

My GM at the Pine Cliffs Resort in 2003, who I consider my mentor, approved my request to apply for the MBA in Tourism Management and that was the final trigger for me to move to Operations.

How important was it for you to attend MBA studies at EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality (SSTH) in respect of opening your door to the world of tourism and hospitality?

It was absolutely paramount. It took place at the University of Applied Sciences in Chur, with various invited prominent teachers from Switzerland, the UK and the US. On top of the excellent faculty, I was lucky enough to have a group of top-notch colleagues from 12 different nationalities and backgrounds with whom I had great

I had the idea that an MBA would purely be about financial academic improvement. Yes, part of it was, but it was also an eye-opening discovery into human relationships, about empathy, about experiences and about hotel management as a whole. I want to thank my boss, Mr. Guido de Wilde, COO Middle East at Marriott International Inc, for the opportunity that he gave me.

Now you have moved to France serving as General Manager at Hotel de Bourgtheroulde, Marriott Autograph Collection. How have you embraced this new chapter in your career?

I have been with Starwood/Marriott most of my career. My last property was the Four Points by Sheraton in Sharjah, UAE, until late 2019. I was then supposed to move to Algeria and lead the Renaissance Tlemcen, another Marriott Brand, and was told the visa process would take 2 to 3 months. That period coincided with the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic which meant the visa was not granted as all the hotels closed.

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A few months later, an MBA colleague, Mr. Pablo Bandala, who now heads the SoHospitality SLIH, the owners of this and other hotels, kindly invited me to move to Rouen and manage this beautiful property.

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particular hotel and what you hope to achieve here? Can you explain more on Autograph Collection within Marriot and how many similar hotels we can find in the world?

Autograph Collection is one of the 30 Marriott brands and includes some 200, independent, upper-upscale to luxury hotels around the world. It’s a special collection of hotels curated to inspire trips to new places and the discovery of new experiences related to history and gastronomy.

Can you tell us more about this

Hotel de Bourgtheroulde is a perfect fit for the brand. Its 78 rooms were created following a major refurbishment of the building in 2010. The building was constructed back in 1502 and is full of historic features that portray the era of Kings François I and Henry VIII. The hotel reopened its doors at the end of 2020. We are still following government rules related to the current pandemic so we have taken advantage of this period to completely refurbish the restaurant and the kitchen as well as upgrading the SPA with the creation of new, more modern treatment rooms and facilities.

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Besides the hotel operation, I am also following up the works and am in continual liaison with the project engineers, architects and contractors.

As a hotelier with 30 years of international experience, what can you share with our readers and all the others who aspire to a career in the tourism sector?

Hotels are passion! They are not a factory that produces equal parts Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. Hotels are about people, the guests’ experiences, day in and day out, all year round. You need to love human connection and to embrace other cultures. It’s about constant learning. And above all, you need to be humble, have an open mind and enjoy mingling with others.

Autograph Collection is one of the 30 Marriott brands and includes some 200, independent, upper-upscale to luxury hotels around the world. It’s a special collection of hotels curated to inspire trips to new places and the discovery of new experiences related to history and gastronomy.

Hotel de Bourgtheroulde is a perfect fit for the brand. Its 78 rooms were created following a major refurbishment of the building in 2010. The building was constructed back in 1502 and is full of historic features that portray the era of Kings François I and Henry VIII. The hotel reopened its doors at the end of 2020.

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Shepherd Tours in Albania

BY FABJOLA ARAPI*

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he Albanian Alps, which seem to proudly scratch the sky, are a rare natural wonder that amaze anyone who visits them. Their peaks are covered with beech and pine forests, meadows and pasture which are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

These alpine meadows are covered by fields or ‘stalls’, most of which disappear in winter and reappear again each summer. These stalls are divided by dry stone walls and fences and serve as dwellings for shepherds.

In them, shepherds breed cattle, goats and sheep which supply milk to the dairies for the production of milk by-products such as yogurt, butter, white cheese and kackavall, etc. The mountain pastures are full of medicinal plants and fruits, and

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without a doubt, offer an incomparable and high-quality product.

Life in these stalls looks idyllic, away from the noise of the towns and cities, amidst the clean curative air and enveloped in the history and culture of these parts. There you will find not only fantastic local produce, but also a lot of legends and stories told by shepherds.

In these areas, one also finds traces of archaeological ruins, caves, castles, waterfalls, lakes, rivers and islands.

If you choose to travel through the stalls of the Albanian mountains, you will experience adventure and a simpler, more authentic way of life. Forget the luxury! A night spent in the mountains, under the sounds of the cicadas and listening to the history and traditions of

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the areas’ farmers and their legendary tales will give you a feeling of travelling back in time.

Tourists who decide to visit this region will feel a unique sense of hospitality, will consume 100% organic and traditional Albanian products, will sleep on skins, ride on horses, and will enjoy long nights under the sounds of sharkias and rhapsodies, true music for the soul.

It is up to you to discover this unique experience, which brings together the nature, food and tradition of these wild and magical places, which, without a doubt, are worth exploring. * Expert of rural development

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We, at Thurje Handmade, Envision the Future of Handcrafts in Albania THE IDEA CAME TO US ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN WE DECIDED TO BE PART OF THE 2ND CALL OF EU CHALLENGE FUND.

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ikaela Maçka, cofounder, manager and curator of Thurje Handmade, a successful start-up, supported by the Swedish EU Challenge Fund, sits alongside with her sister, Xhorxhia to talk about their business. The two sisters are grateful to their mom for the original idea of this business and then “to the ‘EU for Innovation’ project, which captured our vision and supported it.”

Their start-up came as a response to the disappearing culture of handicrafts with the modernization of today’s lifestyle in Albania. The concept of Thurje Handmade consists in rediscovering traditional ways of doing handcrafts while enriching it with new elements, which greatly fit with the home interiors and business spaces.

“The innovation of our idea lies particularly in the vision that we want to

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embody in the traditional handicrafts, transforming them into exclusive design pieces, Mikaela Maçka told TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE. Whereas Xhorxhia underlines in this exclusive interview that “Combining tradition and innovation has resulted in mutual growth for everyone at Thurje Handmade.”

Both sisters and their staff hope that Thurje Handmade “will grow enough to rebuild a stable working environment for artisans in today’s job market and help this tradition not only survive, but be appreciated in a new light.”

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Before jumping into our interview, can you please give some quick background about the handicraft sector in Albania.

Mikaela: Currently, the handicraft sector is marginalized. Even though we might have many artisans in Albania, most of

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people purchase Thurje Handmade products for their home interior spaces, but businesses were interested in our work and would take advantage of our customisation option.

who had recently worked with women artisans in Korça as part of a civil society project. I had observed the difficulties of the artisans in adapting to the current market. My sister and I, coming from different backgrounds of design and marketing/sales, took the idea and decided to present it to EU Challenge Fund.

Has the company already reached capacity and how much has the EU Challenge Fund helped it in this regard?

Mikaela: Our idea was very well received

by Challenge Fund and we became part of the project. The innovation of our idea lies particularly in the vision that we want to embody in the traditional handicrafts, transforming them into exclusive design pieces. That’s exactly where the highest risk of our entrepreneurship stands,

Fortunately, awareness on this issue is increasing. them are having difficulties adapting in today’s market. Fortunately, awareness on this issue is increasing. Not only are there people and organizations working hard on the revival of the handicrafts sector, we believe that a restructuring of the sector is also underway, establishing a more sustainable, collaborative and creative working environment. This is how we, at Thurje Handmade, envision the future of handicrafts in Albania.

The vision of Thurje Handmade is superb: to rediscover traditional ways of doing handicrafts, conserving the same quality and offering refreshed products, designed to fit into the most curated and sophisticated contemporary interiors. How did it all start?

Xhorxhia: The idea came to us about a year ago when we decided to be part of the 2nd call of Challenge Fund.

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What materials do the local artisans use and where do they get the models and motifs? Who are the main buyers of such beauties?

Xhorxhia: The whole process of product realisation is undertaken by Thurje Handmade. The models are designed by young Albanian designers. The designs, together with the materials, are brought to the artisans who handcraft the products.

We use local materials as much as possible such as the wool, which is sourced from the sheep of the Korça region. Any materials that are not produced in Albania anymore are imported but we ensure they are 100% natural and of the finest quality. The natural materials are a characteristic of our products that we are very proud of.

After the launch of the sales, we were thrilled to discover that, not only would

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and we are grateful that the ‘EU for Innovation’ project, captured our vision and supported it. It gave us a great motivational boost and has encouraged us in different aspects. In less than one year from Thurje Handmade’s founding, we are grateful to see our idea turning into something concrete and physical, as

stable working environment for artisans in today’s job market and to help this tradition not only survive, but be appreciated in a new light.

What are the results achieved so far between tradition and innovation?

Xhorxhia: The results are both quantitative and qualitative. Besides having three beautiful Thurje Handmade readyto-buy collections on our website, the experience of sharing tradition and innovation between generations is the highlight of Thurje

Nowadays, their professional occupation is at risk. well as having the potential to grow and expand.

Tell us more about the local artisans who work for Thurje Handmade. From what areas are they from and what role does their culture play in this story?

Mikaela: The artisans working with Thurje Handmade come from different backgrounds. Not all of them practice handicrafts on a daily basis as their main profession. As we mentioned before, in the Korça region, the practice of handicrafts was an important aspect of girls’ and women’s pastimes as well as many women working full-time in the handicrafts industry. Nowadays, their professional occupation is at risk.

We hope to grow enough to rebuild a

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Handmade. The dialogue between our artisans and our designers is continual.

The artisans were introduced to the design trends and it was a challenge they grasped well by hand-making products they never imagined before.

On the other side, the designers experimented in a new field and got to know the specifics of the traditional textile production methods. Combining tradition and innovation has resulted in mutual growth for everyone at Thurje Handmade.

You are an architect by profession as well as the brand manager of Thurje Handmade. What is your opinion on transforming a traditional craft to something that is more modern?

Mikaela: There is beauty in traditional crafts that cannot be found in industrial products. This beauty is not only aesthetic, but it lies within the story of the object itself when someone brings it to their home. Almost all our parents and grandparents have practiced artisanal work as part of their daily routine in the past and recognize the value that comes with that.

Nowadays, with a different tempo to life, Thurje Handmade brings a calming experience of artisanal work. Since our homes have changed aesthetically, it is necessary to reinvent the visual identity of handicrafts to fit into them whilst retaining the same spirit of the products.

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“You go into sauna sometimes stressed, tense and rigid. You leave relaxed, feeling at ease, and refreshed – ready for day’s toil or good night of sound sleep”

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warming up the room to a temperature of 70ºC or more and allowing the bathers to “evoke löyly” or wake the spirit of sauna by creating steam. Most Finns don’t find it hard to clock total half an hour in the sauna which is suggested to maximize the health benefits.

“You go into sauna sometimes stressed, tense and rigid. You leave relaxed, feeling at ease, and refreshed – ready for day’s toil or good night of sound sleep”

In just a couple of years people around world have become curious about Finnish sauna, as solid scientific research has revealed many amazing facts about its effects. People who do sauna frequently seem to live longer and healthier, enjoying a decreased risk of cardiovascular mortality, hypertension, stroke, and dementia. What is this mysterious source of health that UNESCO has considered as humanity’s key cultural heritage since 2020?

spans centuries. Several 20th century innovation enabled Finns to build an unparalleled sauna infrastructure mostly consisting of small home saunas. The private saunas are moderate sized hot rooms, commonly co-located with the home spa, or making up for one in combination with a wash room. Their interior design follows latest trends, but the saunas remain recognizable because of the prominence of high benches and a heater.

Finland is a home to a tradition that

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design as a task of balancing three factors: heat, air quality, and interior design. He is happy to see saunas take many forms, as long as the constrains of function are obeyed in the design.

• Saunalogist and author of the upcoming book “The Secrets of Finnish Sauna Design”, published on 29th April 2021.

There is no reason to prevent you building one anywhere in the world. It is easiest around Europe, as authentic Finnish saunas and their supplies can be transported from the northern origin to destinations such as Albania.

Getting the design right is tricky though.

I have spent years guiding Finnish sauna constructors and designers into the craft at his digital publication Saunologia.fi. I have also helped builders near and to perfect their saunas. My upcoming book, The Secrets of Finnish Sauna Design, will reveal the design principles to international audiences in May 2021.

Building a Finnish style sauna room and equipping it is doable anywhere with a reasonable investment. But many small details require attention, and the designer must understand the fundamental sauna physics to succeed.

In his book, Liikkanen presents sauna

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CONTACTLESS TECHNOLOGY – AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE HOTELIERS TOOLKIT

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INTERVIEW WITH ZAPLOX NEW CEO ven Frydenberg stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Zaplox to take on the CEO role in October 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has not only turned out to hit the hotel industry very hard but perhaps unexpectedly also brought to light highly needed industry improvements.

We met up with Even to discuss the industry’s growing need for digitalization and to learn more about how he sees 2021 play out for the hotels recovering from the pandemic.

Even, you personally have a history of being a very frequent traveler, why are new digital improvements in the hotel industry of value to you?

As a frequent traveler, I appreciate having the option of choosing how

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much time and effort I want to spend on the different parts of my travel. If I’m on a hectic business trip where I arrive at the hotel at 10 pm and depart again at 6 am I want to have an as effective guest experience as possible where I can check in long before I even arrive at the hotel. I want to have access to the key to my hotel room without even talking to anyone and be able to go directly to my room so I can prepare for the next day.

However, if I’m on a leisure trip at a resort and have more time available I would like to have easy access to offers, experiences or maybe spa treatments and to be able to communicate with the hotel without standing in line to the front desk. Depending on your “trip persona” you want to use technology for different reasons. Nonetheless, it’s clear that people in general look for things that make things easier for them. We are already used to booking our flights, checking in at the airport, and order transportation via our own phone. However, when we arrive at the

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actual hotel we have to stand in a line – that doesn’t make any sense to me.

Regardless of what your trip persona is, you’re going to lean much more on technology now than you ever did before. I see no reason why I, whether I am on my business or leisure trips, should not have access to everything through my phone.

Historically the hospitality industry has been fairly spared from external pressure and has been able to operate in its own ingrained traditional way without any substantial disruptions. However, 2020 became a tipping point that changed many of these prerequisites.

What new guest expectations and demands did the year bring?

Well, you can’t really discuss 2020 without mentioning the covid-19 pandemic in some way. The year has been a very traumatic experience for the whole hospitality industry and has had far-reaching implications on the hotel guests, the hotel operators, the hotel staff, the local communities, and of course the real estate owners.

Having said that, it strangely enough also turned out to be a catalyst for the very conservative hotel industry to finally embrace technology and digitalization and make it into a natural tool in their toolkit. What we have seen lately is that hotel guests actually demand options.

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Guests want to choose how they book their stay, check-in and check-out and how they access their room keys. Guests want to maintain social distancing but still want the good personal service that you expect to get from a hotel.

The hotels, on the other hand, are now turning to technology to provide not only safety for their guests and staff but also to reduce operational costs and keep them down when the more normal business level starts to return.

As we expected, the research also shows that in 2021 and beyond the demand for these types of touchless mobile solutions that Zaplox offers, will continue to increase and increase quite dramatically, a clear continuation of the trend that we already saw in 2020. The guest demand for safety and a mobilefriendly guest journey has actually already changed the way the industry looks at these types of solutions. What once was nice to have is now something everybody needs to have.

During the last months of 2020, bookings through the direct channels of hotels increased dramatically, and with the appropriate focus from the hotels they are expected to increase even more during 2021.

What implications does this have for hoteliers?

This is a really interesting trend. Over the last decade, hotels have been faced

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with the reality of having more and more of their bookings coming through expensive online travel agencies (OTA:s).

However, there’s been a change to this trend. As a result of the pandemic, the OTA:s have been struck not only by very low business levels, but they have also been heavily criticized for their very poor and lacking refund policies as well as their complete absence of customer service. Therefore, if hoteliers become more knowledgeable and active on social media for example, and if they introduce easy to use online travel platforms and apps like the one we offer at Zaplox they now have a golden opportunity to capture and drive more direct bookings through these types of personal digital offering services.

With vaccinations in place and a world that is slowly preparing to adjust to the new normal, peoples’ eagerness to start traveling again are recommencing. What part do hoteliers play in enabling and resuming safe travels again?

It is clear that a giant joint responsibility lies across the different travel sectors to provide one safe end-to-end guest journey and meet the new expectations for travelers. The hotels themselves will without a doubt play a critical role in ensuring and stimulating the return of the business. One of the studies we just reviewed actually found that the most important changes that need

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to be made in order for travelers to be confident and have confidence in traveling again are purely in the hands of the hotels themselves: 1. Cleaning and cleanness 2. Contact-free payments.

3. Mobile keys.

4. Kiosk solutions.

5. The ability to communicate digitally.

You stepped in as the new interim CEO of Zaplox in October 2020 and became the permanent CEO in February, what are your top priorities for 2021?

My main priority is to ensure that our different teams and team members have the right focus and the tools and resources that they need to help us continue on our growth story. 2020 was a record year for us, with the second, third, and fourth quarter being the best in Zaplox history. We will continue this growth in 2021 and beyond and in order to achieve this my focus will be on four very critical things.

1. Ensure that the product and services that we are offering are competitive in the market and that they are scalable, we are in a business that needs to be scalable.

2. Our business model, a SaaS model, is based on recurring revenues. We are therefore also heavily impacted by our different sales partners. We want to

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continue to deepen the already good relationships we have with our existing partners, while we continuously look for the right new partners that share our values and customer focus.

3. By us being so customer-focused, we need to stay really close with our partners, the customers, and the endusers in order to ensure that we continue to improve and expand on the features of our products. We need to innovate, not for innovation’s sake but to innovate when appropriate.

guests now expect, will return faster to former occupancy levels and to a healthy business.

Source: Zaplox March 15, 2021

Lastly, with the hospitality industry changing and the digital transformation accelerating, will traveling ever go back to what it once was?

That is an easy question – absolutely!

I’m a born and bred hotelier and a very frequent traveler and it’s clear in my mind that eventually we will be back where we once were. The question is only how long it will take. Last summer when the restrictions were lifted people were back traveling in a second and the most recent research shows that the vaccinations will speed up everyone’s desire to travel even more. Having said that, I believe that the travel patterns will not be the same as 14 months ago.

The way people travel and what is important in order to stimulate travel has changed. Hotels that embrace these types of changes and adapt to the new environment and the technology that

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“ERFURT” TO BECOME A FLYING RESEARCH LABORATORY

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Starting signal for a worldwide unique project: Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 “Erfurt” will become climate research aircraft - CONVERSION OF “D-AIXJ” AT LUFTHANSA TECHNIK HAS BEGUN - THE LUFTHANSA GROUP’S MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT LONGHAUL AIRCRAFT BECOMES A DATA COLLECTOR ABOVE THE CLOUDS - COOPERATION BETWEEN AVIATION COMPANIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES CLOSER THAN EVER BEFORE

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redicting the weather even more accurately, analyzing climate changes even more precisely, researching even better how the world is developing. This is the goal of a globally unique cooperation between Lufthansa and several research institutes.

Converting an aircraft into a climate research plane poses major challenges.

Lufthansa has chosen the most modern and economical long-haul jet in its fleet - an Airbus A350-900 named “Erfurt” (registration D-AIXJ). In three stages, the “Erfurt” will now become a flying research laboratory.

In Lufthansa Technik’s hangar in Malta, the first and most extensive conversion work was carried out. Preparations were made for a complex air intake system below the belly. This was followed by a series of test insertions, at the end of which came the certification of a climate research laboratory weighing around 1.6 tons, the so-called CARIBIC measurement laboratory. The acronym CARIBIC stands for “Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the atmosphere Based on

an Instrument Container”. The project is part of a comprehensive European research consortium.

The “Erfurt” is expected to take off from Munich at the end of 2021 for its first flight in the service of climate research, measuring around 100 different trace gases, aerosol and cloud parameters in the tropopause region (at an altitude of nine to twelve kilometers). Lufthansa is thus making a valuable contribution to climate research, which can use these unique data to assess the performance of current atmospheric and climate models and thus their predictive power for the Earth’s future climate. The special feature: Climate-relevant parameters can be recorded at this altitude with much greater accuracy and temporal resolution on board the aircraft than with satellite-based or ground-based systems.

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larger scientific consortium.

worldwide. We believe commercial aircraft have an important role to play to allow a better understanding of the effects of CO2 and non-CO2 emissions on climate change and as long-term partners of CARIBIC, we congratulate the Lufthansa Group for their continuous engagement.”

“The CARIBIC aircraft is indeed unique in the world. It is equipped with highend instrumentation comparable to that on a large research aircraft and it allows their deployment cost-efficiently, regularly and over decades. We can thus understand which processes are changing, to what extent and how they will influence Earth’s climate in the future”, says Dr Andreas Zahn of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and coordinator of IAGOS-CARIBIC. “No other observation system worldwide, neither on ground nor on satellite, can provide such high-resolution multi-parameter data from the free atmosphere.”

“The conversion of our A350-900 ‘D-AIXJ’ into a climate research aircraft is something very special for us. We were immediately enthusiastic about the plan to continue CARIBIC on our most fuel-efficient aircraft type. In this way, we can continue to support climate and atmospheric research in its important task on long-haul routes. We are helping to ensure that particularly important climate- relevant parameters are collected just on that altitude where the atmospheric greenhouse effects is largely generated”, says Annette Mann, Head of Corporate Responsibility at the

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Lufthansa Group. “I am pleased that we can implement this ambitious project together with our partners in record time and thus contribute to improving today’s climate models.”

The A350 conversion, which has now been launched, was preceded by an extremely elaborate planning and development phase of about four years involving more than ten companies (in particular Lufthansa, Lufthansa Technik, Airbus, Safran, enviscope, and Dynatec) as well as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) as representative of a

Media Relations Lufthansa Group Phone +49 69 696 -41944 steffen.milchsack@dlh.de http://newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @lufthansaNews

The Lufthansa Group has been a reliable partner of climate research since 1994 and has since equipped several aircraft with special instruments. This is now the first time worldwide on an Airbus A350900 aircraft.

“This first conversion of a Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 is a significant step in ensuring continuation of the industry’s support to climate research,” says Simone Rauer, Head of Aviation Environmental Roadmap at Airbus. “By extending the range of Airbus eligible aircraft, IAGOS CARIBIC will reach new routes and enrich the amount of data available for the scientific community

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The Sheer Experience of Gusta la Puglia in Albania

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ince 2017, Gusta la Puglia has been providing the traditional taste from Puglia in Albania. The products are imported from Puglia. The success of Gusta la Puglia is a fine combination of the simple tasting recipes that were not seen before in Albania with the top quality of the products.

Its values are primarily quality and Italian identity, factors that influence everything that the company does.

“I think that Albanians understand whether a product is of good quality or not so I tried my best to

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import high quality products and to create some combinations with those ingredients trying to remain as faithful as I could to Puglia’s tradition,” Antonello Pastoressa, Founder of Gusta La Puglia told TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE. He is of the opinion that that people started to appreciate Gusta la Puglia products “because we offer them a great service and they understand that we only serve top quality food.”

Trailblazing Magazine interviewed Mr. Pastoressa to understand more about his business and what products Albanians like most.

“I think that Albanians understand whether a product is of good quality or not”

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Why choose Albania to start up your business?

My connection with Albania is a long story. My father came to Albania for work in 1995 and once I had grown

preferences. Moreover, I studied the policies that businesses in the Horeca sector, use for buying products, so I could establish a network used to sell the same products I was going to sell in the shops and even to restaurants and hotels. I noticed that the Italian culture was even more powerful compared to the time I came to work some years before and so I decided to take the final step and started investing time and financial resources to find the right location to open my first shop. At the same time, I started looking for the location for the warehouse and design the best possible strategy to build an efficient commercial network.

“I started importing typical products from my native region, Puglia.” up, I started joining him during my school holidays so I could spend more time with him. In 2003, he opened a mozzarella factory, which still operates, and when I turned 16, I came to Albania to work during the summer so I could start understanding people and the market itself. When I took my bachelor’s degree, I was sure about my future after attending courses focused on “Food Marketing” in my last year of university. I came back to Albania in 2017 and spent some time familiarising myself with the trends and understanding peoples’

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What are some of the products you trade in Albania and what do Albanians love most about them?

I started importing typical products from my native region, Puglia. The idea was to bring top brands, possibly certified as IGP or DOP products. Meanwhile, I started thinking about assembling some sandwiches made with our products, honestly based on some of the ingredients my parents used to send me when I was studying in Milan.

Combining ingredients has been a key

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factor to make people taste and know my products. I think that Albanians understand whether a product is of good quality or not so I tried my best to import high quality products and to create some combinations with those ingredients trying to remain as faithful as I could to Puglia’s tradition. I’m sure that people started to appreciate our products because we offer them a great service and they understand that we only serve top quality food. Based on the experience I’ve had with sandwiches, I think our success is a fine combination of simple tasting recipes that were not seen before in Albania and also the opportunity we give people to recall some holiday experience.

Why should customers visit your shops and not your competitors’?

What are your key products that make you stand out?

and a seasoned cheese left to mature for 1 year in a cave near to the factory.

Of course, I introduced the product from the mozzarella factory as well since they are very close to the ones produced in Italy. Later, I started introducing some new products every month such as various types of sausages with different aromas and spices or some tasty Caciocavallo seasoned in a cave and coming from the same producer from whom I was buying “Canestrato”.

I think what makes me stand out among my competitors is a combination of different factors. Firstly, I try to create a familiar environment for the clients, training the staff to be confident when proposing what they’re selling and, at the same time, being polite and smiley.

Music is a key factor as well. I try to play traditional music from Puglia so customers can better understand where they are and recall the experience, they

My first idea when I decided to open “Gusta la Puglia” was to give people the opportunity to live a whole new experience in tasting food and so it was clear to me since the beginning that I had to bring new, tasty, littleknown products. Therefore, I imported products like “Capocollo di Martina Franca” or the “Canestrato Lucano”, respectively a seasoned cured meat produced from pig neck

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have in my shops too. I also try to create the idea for the customers that entering my shops is to live an experience they’ve never had before, using limited edition sandwiches or tasting limited time products. And last but not least are the prices I apply to my products and sandwiches. In fact, my aim is to attract as many people as possible knowing that I am the newest operator in the market. I have to admit, it’s not always easy to maintain this kind of policy but it’s one of the factors that has helped me to develop the business.

What would your ideal “best ever” food lover’s day in Gusta la Puglia look like?

Truth is that during COVID times I haven’t had much opportunity to think about and plan events but for sure I’ve had more time to focus on some projects for the future. I’m developing a laboratory which will supply my shops with prepared dishes like parmigiana,

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focaccia, panzerotti and what we Apulian call “pizza di patate”. If I have to plan a food lover day in Gusta la Puglia I would like to use these to enhance people’s knowledge of these kind of products and traditions and combining them with the products we use every day. I would prepare a buffetstyle selection board laden with our top quality cheeses and cured meats combined with the fresh cheeses I don’t use in an ordinary day like ricotta and primo sale.

Moreover, I’d like to combine some of the recipes that I mentioned before, for example: what if you put parmigiana in the panzerotto or in one sandwich?

Sounds tasty, right?

Can you mention some of your signature dishes?

My recipes are very simple as I said before. They are based on the sandwiches I made when I was at university. Our most popular sandwiches at the moment are the ones called “Burrone”, “Medico”, “Signorina” and “Tromba”. I know the names may seem strange but they are based on the names of games played during the time when my grandparents were children, to add a pinch more tradition. The “Burrone” has been my best-seller since the beginning, which is a combination of

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the “Capocollo di Martina Franca”, dried tomatoes and burrata. Medico is made with Capocollo di Martina Franca, an IGP cheese from a place called Venosa, and fig jam. Signorina is made with Parma DOP ham, smoked scamorza and truffle.

Tromba is made with a spicy sausage cut into slices with a knife so it preserves a stronger taste, stracciatella and porcini mushroom cream.

Please can you share the contacts of your shops and for deliveries?

My first idea when I decided to open “Gusta la Puglia” was to give people the opportunity to live a whole new experience in tasting food

I’m developing a laboratory which will supply my shops with prepared dishes like parmigiana, focaccia, panzerotti and what we Apulian call “pizza di patate”.

Rruga Abdi Kazami pranë Rtsh tel: 0686077516 Rruga Abdyl Frashëri pranë Sheshi Wilson tel: 0682003533 Rruga Myslim Shyri tek ish Adidas tel: 0677278065 These are the numbers we use for our private delivery which normally is the fastest one.

We are also available on the Baboon platform where it’s possible to buy sandwiches or all the products that we sell in the shops.

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African Memoir

BY SABINA KLEMENC SMITH

Live from Accra, Ghana

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loomy day, and it is snowing again in Moldova. Enjoying the warmth and cosines indoors, thinking what the future might bring. Suddenly my phone rings.

‘Hi, darling, I got a new job offer, this time in Africa. Should we go for it?’ After a couple of hours of thinking and researching I said YES, let’s go for it! This is the life of the ex-pats.

On the 3rd of November 2018 the plane touches the ground of the continent I have never experienced before. Very excited! We safely landed at modern Kotoka airport, Accra, Ghana.

At arrivals I can see a big crowd of people waiting to spot a familiar face. Hot and humid air hits my nostrils, and I can instantly feel my clothes getting sticky. With some negotiations my husband and I find a modest taxi to take us to the Accra City Hotel. The main motorway is very modern and better than I expected, and, as I realised

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worked out as if this would be their standard everyday drill. Three hours later everything was again in order, except the carpets and the shoes, of course.

I was relieved that my better half was spared this experience. But I need to mention that all happened again, but this time my husband was home alone.

I envy him about this experience…NOT!

within the next month, quite far away from most of the other Ghanaian road standards.

we soon move to the house, located in a lovely green compound. And then the fun starts!

Hotel looked fine, the staff is very polite, helpful, with smiling faces. The atmosphere is relaxed, everything with a slower pace. ‘Madam, madam,’ I hear a deep voice calling, ‘can I take your luggage to your room, please?’

Eventually I realise that ‘the madam’ is referring to me! ‘Yes, please’, I see myself smiling back to the handsome porter. These smiles are infectious, I realise. And a good start! Madam and yes, please! ‘Yes, please!’

One morning, my husband away on a business trip, and an unusual sound wakes me up. ‘What is it?’ trying to recall the familiarity of the sound. Suddenly the picture of the of water flowing down from somewhere reaches my still sleepy mind. Getting out of my bed, I step into the water, one inch high. Alarm in my head wakes me up completely. With bare feet I carefully reached the ground floor. OMG, here is even worse! At least the office room was spared upstairs!

‘So far so good!’ I say to myself with a big relief. With no complications at all

Without thinking I call the guards for help. From there on, everything

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Butter Naan

Easter, a Fusion of Local and International Cuisines

BY CHEF AJAY MARKAN

Gulab Jamun

Gulab ki Kheer

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aster is the most festive event of the Christians celebrated all over the world. In India, Easter is celebrated and begins with Lent and culminates with Easter Sunday. As India is a versatile country and home to almost all the religions of the world, the observance of Easter in India may vary from place to place depending on the domination of Christian population. It is celebrated with cheer and joy across places like Goa, Mumbai, Kerala, Nagaland, Meghalaya and others. With Goa being a former Portuguese Colony, Christianity is the second most prominent religion in Goa, thereby making the festival a prominent one.

With time, the celebrations have become a fusion of both local and international traditions and the same is reflected on the food. In India, the celebration is usually carried out during Brunch hours having a fusion of Indian & International Cuisines. People prepare lunch buffets for families and friends.

A general Easter Day Lunch spread accounts for - Easter Buns, Chocolate Eggs, Coffee, Roasted Duck / Lamb / Chicken, Assortment of Cold Cuts, Easter Bread and Cheese followed by desserts. The styles of preparation and recipes of the dishes change by region depending on the influence of local culture. Children tend to enjoy the chocolate eggs very much.

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Kulcha

Kulfi

Phirniee

FOOD IN INDIA

FOOD IN INDIA

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