Alejandro Bernabé, vice president of operations, Avani Hotels & Resorts, is under the spotlight this month…
What’s the best thing about your job? The possibility of working with great people with whom I have a lot of fun with while continuing to discover the world.
What made you choose this role? Being in charge of a new fun brand with lots of potential for growth where I can contribute to the future of the company.
What do you do when you’re not working? I like to spend time with my family, going to the gym and travelling.
What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever received in the workplace? There are a few pieces of advice that have stuck with me like passion without hard work means nothing, or never to forget how lucky I am, I am really a fortunate person and I should never forget that.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I would like to look back and see many young people whose careers we have influenced by giving them opportunities to grow in a great company where you are treated as an individual, where there is a purpose for what we do and where financial results are not everything.
Tell us something that none of your colleagues know about you… When I was young I had a lot of blond hair and I am sure nobody will believe this when they see me know.
If you could stay in any hotel in the world right now, where would you go? Today, it would have to be an Avani and I would love to visit Lisbon. It is a great city, in a fantastic country and the Avani there is in the best spot in town.
Can you tell us why you wanted to join this industry? To be honest with you, I did not want to be in the hospitality industry but the circumstances took me here… I soon realised that this was my path, there are many reasons why I am thankful for having joined this industry. Where else would you be able to work with so many people, from so many different backgrounds, in a great environment and always try to make people’s lives better? It is a great industry!
What would you say to anyone who is starting out in your sector? I would tell them to have fun in anything they do and to surround themselves with people that make their life better. We already have enough problems in the world without having to add problems in our work life. Have fun at what you do, work hard and you will have a good life.
What’s the worst thing about your job? The best thing and the worst thing in our job is that we work with people. Each person is different, behaves, feels and thinks in different ways so dealing with this is very interesting but at the same time can be extremely challenging.
What’s your favourite book? I do not have a favourite book, it all depends on what makes me interested at the time, on my mood, on what I am looking for…
If you invited guests over for dinner, what would you make? It would have to be Spanish food…of course!
What song instantly gets you on the dance floor? I cannot dance… so you rarely will see me close to a dance floor.
