“When Andreas Martin from 196+ forum Vienna presented us with the Hotel Innovation Award in the category ‘HR Strategy and Development’ yesterday, we were very proud. To receive an award at an event like the 196+ forum Vienna makes it clear: the years of hard work on us and the company are understood.” (Jochen Swoboda, Vice President Operations).
The HR strategy at Seminaris aims to create an appreciative, future-oriented and sustainable working atmosphere. It is motivated and shaped by the needs of the employees and is based on New Work principles.
At Seminaris, HR strategy is synonymous with corporate transformation. The focus is on people. Employees’ private lives and needs are taken seriously, and personal development is a top priority. Because they determine the change process, says Alexander Haenecke, service manager at Seminaris Avendi Hotel Potsdam: “We do it all together. We have defined the values. Without any superiors at all.” Instead, the partner agency Wecreation supports the employees with workshops, design sprints and an open ear in defining and implementing the values. In the meantime, everyone is working more creatively and, above all, more self-determined. A change that is noticeable on many levels: “As General Manager, I am happy to leave the field to my colleagues and observe how they make more and more decisions themselves instead of expecting instructions from me,” says Stefan Floret, General Manager at the Seminaris Hotel Lüneburg.
This is exactly what Jochen Swoboda has in mind: “We want our employees to be satisfied and motivated when they come to work. After all, they are the face of the company. Events such as 196+ forum Vienna show that things are happening in the hospitality industry, and I’m very pleased about that.” In addition to Seminaris, other nominees included Hilton and MHP Hotels, whose efforts are making the hotel industry more humane and contemporary.
