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K2c: We Strongly Believe That is the Right Time to Invest in Albania
KARSTEN KENNEWEG (Hotelier of the Year 2020), Director of Operations & New Openings talks about k2c from A to Z in an exclusive interview with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE. “We have been recognized as an independent European hotel operator & development company where we combine excellent hotel expertise with unique digitalization opportunities. Our team has received many awards over the last years for successful operation, financial results and openings,” Kenneweg said about k2c founded in 2003.
He states that what joins k2c Services is the Respect regardless of any business situation.
When it comes towards hotel brands, according to him, k2c has the opportunity to choose from Marriott or Accor portfolio of brands – combining more than 70 great brands. “Being an approved franchisee of Marriott and Accor, and our one-stopsolution for owners/investors, k2c helps to define the right brand for each project and combine with our expertise to develop, build and operate to achieve the best financial return for the stakeholders,” he said. Asked about Albania, Kenneweg said that “k2c is very honored to partner with a long-term approach to be part of the upcoming new destination in Europe and add value to the people, country, owners & investors.”
Full interview below:
How does it feel to work for k2c services and being also in the forefront of development of k2c? What are its major foundations?
When k2c services was founded in 2003 as a small-one-man company providing group reservations for VIP clients it was far away of what the company has become over the years. The major starting point was when in 2008 we have been asked to provide professional consulting services for the owner of the first five-star-hotel in Turkey (Celik Palace Bursa) and with the successful implementation of all our task the success story started. The spirit of the start-up by coincidence remains still within the company where over the last years a great professionalism together with other successful completed projects has driven the development. This spirit continues to thrive the company always to seek for solution-orientated approaches and considers cross-cultural differences in the regions we are doing business.
While working in various countries e.g. China, Saudi Arabia or United Kingdom, and with many different nationalities one thing has never changed, and this is Respect. We might have different backgrounds and knowledge but – and this is also why I joined k2c services – is that the respect is regardless of any business situation. Before we approach with a solution, we want to understand our partner and his vision. Then we create tailor-made business solutions and execute while aligning all the way.
What are the main services k2c offers?
We have been recognized as an independent European hotel operator & development company where we combine excellent hotel expertise with unique digitalization opportunities. Our team has received many awards over the last years for successful operation, financial results and openings. In recent years we have successfully
managed and completed various hotel developments, openings, hotel- and project management for owners, investors and brands. Being an approved franchisee of Marriott and Accor, and our one-stop-solution for owners/investors we help to define the right brand for each project and combine with our expertise to develop, build and operate to achieve the best financial return for the stakeholders.
Can you mention some of the main partners you cooperate with so far? What kind of partnership or collaboration are you looking for in the near future? With our experience and knowledge in the power of the brands we are very proud to partner with the best in their fields. When it comes towards hotel brands, we have the opportunity to choose from Marriott or Accor portfolio of brands – combining more than 70
great brands. The same applies also in our digitalization pilar where we focus with the award- winning solutions like Mews Systems for the hotel PMS or Invenda in digital vending solutions – both are fully focused on cloudbased solutions and have revolutionized the way how we do business in their respective fields.
Furthermore, we offer owners the benefits of scale combined with focused operating teams for every hospitality category and being a true innovator in the hospitality industry we can make our work a real success story. Our goal is to become the preferred European third-party management company.
What place does Albania occupy in your plans?
Albania is still a hidden gem in the mindset of many travels. Having developed itself over the last years and with his untouched natural beauty, his amazing beaches, and his unique cultural richness we strongly believe that is the right time to invest in Albania. The country is a perfect addition due to the close vicinity within the European Travel Map for adventure, sightseeing and beautiful natural highlights.
As we were the first international hotel advisory and management company in Bosnia & Hercegovina, we understand and realized how important it is to have the right partner on the side for the professional and successful development and operation of the business. We aim to be on side of our owners and investors. Therefore, we are very honored to partner with a long-term approach to be part of the upcoming new destination in Europe and add value to the people, country, owners & investors.
In your view, what changes in the hotel world are most evident in the recent period? How are you being adapted as a company to the most recent post-pandemic changes?
“The Only Constant in Life Is Change.”- (Heraclitus) Tailor-made Digitalization and Sustainability are and will be the major driving force of the next innovations and working environments.
During the pandemic time many businesses have suffered not only that guests didn’t show up but also didn’t take the time to question their business model. Since 2018 we have strongly focused on digitalization and agile work processes within our company strategy and have fully faced the benefits when the pandemic situation hit the world.
We could see and understand that the requirements of the hotel business have changed intensively over the last months and new opportunities have grown up. The positive trend of travelers in asking for serviced apartments e.g. Residence Inn by Marriott or Accor’s Adagio is a very interesting situation as this gives the guests the freedom and flexibility while traveling and the investors/owners a stable occupancy with an return on their investment above the market.
Additionally, we also believe that after all the time of video conferencing the need / demand for personal meetings will come back as we shouldn’t underestimate the power of face-to-face meetings when it comes to closing a deal and also to “sense” the chemistry of partners.
In recent years changes happened over a decade of time but now time becomes fluid and all the new developments in the technology are driving new possibilities where we can create new opportunities through and through.
