Robert Kmita
It is Monday again, 20 December. Welcome to the second episode of season 7 – “Monday motivation – Felix asks”. In today's episode, I am taking you to Spain, more precisely to Sotogrande, where Accor opened their first SO/Hotels & Resorts property.
Other destinations where you can find a SO/ include Havana, Auckland, Berlin, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Singapore, and Bangkok. In case you are not familiar with the brand, Accor describes it as follows:
“The epitome of rebellious luxury, SO/ combines the vibrant personality and avant-garde style of a designer hotel with the distinct positioning of a high-end, fashionable lifestyle brand. Audacious, playful, sophisticated, and bursting with local energy, SO/ is the place to be and be seen.”
The SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa is nestled on the Mediterranean coast between Marbella and Gibraltar with a total of 151 keys and nine different dining spaces. The hotel opened this summer and is the perfect get-away for a family holiday, golf vacation, or spa break. I am happy to welcome today the General Manager of this beautiful property, Robert Kmita.
Robert and I met during my time at the prestigious Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, shortly before my family and I moved to London. He was the Hotel Manager for more than three years before joining the SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa in October 2020.
Robert has a Food and Beverage background and has worked and lived in fascinating cities around the world. We talked about the launch of his career at Les Roches Marbella before moving to Mainz, Sharm El Sheikh, Hong Kong, Chicago, Düsseldorf, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, and Hamburg. If you want to know why Accor can be lucky that ice hockey is not that popular in Spain, you should read the interview. Otherwise, we talked about his definition of hospitality, as well as mentorship.
Now, if you would hear someone playing the piano in your lobby like this:
Would you ask him to stop? Robert was on his way to doing exactly that, but in the end, he did not, and I think we all agree with him. Let the piano man play.
We also talked about his advice to the younger generation, his favorite book, and his recommendations for Sotogrande.
After this interview, I directly added a Relais & Chateaux in Argentina to my bucket list and will do my best to find a frequent Traveller to see what makes him/her visit a specific hotel.
I hope you enjoy the read, and please do not forget to #sharepositivestories.
Question 1: Can you take us through your career? Where did you start, and what do you love most about your current role?
Robert Kmita (RK): “My career in the hospitality world wasn’t planned, as I intended to become a professional ice hockey player. But due to my family relocating to Spain, I was left without an ice rink making it hard to pursue my professional ice hockey career. By coincidence, my parents proposed I attend Les Roches Marbella, Swiss Hospitality School. That is where my hospitality journey began with a 3-year management degree, followed by a corporate trainee internship with Hyatt International at the Hyatt Regency Mainz in Germany and subsequently 11 hotels on all continents of the World.
I love the fact that you get to meet so many people each day. Some clients and colleagues are now lifelong friends, and I am sure that more will follow. Also, the industry allows you to be creative and challenged each day, which I love.”
Question 2: What does hospitality mean to you?
RK: “I think my response to this question changes with each new assignment. In general, it’s about serving all our customers (employees, guests, and all stakeholders). But it’s about providing memorable experiences and then everything will fall into its place.”
Question 3: Can you please share an anecdote you experienced, that shows the variety and beauty of our industry?
RK: “I was sitting in my office one day and I heard that our lobby piano was being used and I thought “not again”! But when I went upstairs to tell the person that they should please stop using the piano, I saw it was Billy Joel himself sitting there and jamming away : )
And there are many more stories!”
Question 4: Have you had a mentor/role model/hero in your career? Who was it and did she/he gives you a piece of advice you still follow?
RK: “I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with some of the industry’s best. With Hyatt, I was very fortunate to work with legends from all continents and most recently with Ingo C. Peters from Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten.”
Question 5: What would you like to say to a hospitality/ tourism student/professional who recently started his/her career, at this right moment?
RK: “Embrace and learn as much as you can. Don’t be shy to ask again and again and take charge of your career.”
“Embrace and learn as much as you can. Don’t be shy to ask again and again and take charge of your career.”
Question 6: Do you have a book recommendation - this could be everything from a novel to an autobiography, etc.
RK: “A book that always had stayed in my memory is McBeth.”
Question 7: Which other industry expert would you like to see to answer these questions as well?
RK: “A frequent Traveller to see what makes him/her visit a specific hotel.”
Question 8: What is your favorite place/bar/restaurant in Sotogrande?
RK: “I do like a place called El Guardanes in San Roque which is a family-run restaurant located not far from Sotogrande. The beauty with El Guardians is the simple food concept (farm to table) and passionate service. Already with my second visit my wife and I were greeted with our name!”
Question 9: What is your favorite hotel to stay in and why?
RK: “I do very much like La Bamba Areco, a Relais Chateaux hotel, located a few hours drive from Buenos Aires. From the moment you arrive, you feel like the world is a better place.”
Robert, thank you very much and I hope to see you soon, somewhere around the globe.
Felix
