Business Leaders interview: Eugeni Serranos

Tell us a little about yourself and your business.

My name is Eugeni, I am passionate about the hospitality industry, and I am currently dedicated to Hotel Management. I have recently been appointed General Manager of Hotel Dolce Barcelona, a fact that fills me with satisfaction and I make it public in this interview. From a very early age I was clear about what I wanted to dedicate myself to, that gave me an added value and a competitive advantage. I am a restless professional who has always tried to add experiences and knowledge to my career I have never let myself be carried away by the economic part and I think it has given me good results.

What motivates you in your work and what do you find most fulfilling about being a business leader?

I like the fact that no two days are the same and the possibility of making many people from all walks of life happy. I also like to train and see my teams grow. Not to mention that it is a great company that gives you high-level analytical and management skills. I love it and it allows me to innovate, create concept, build strong relationships, make money and reputation for my company.

How did you develop your leadership skills and how would you define your leadership style?

I developed my leadership skills from observation, study and my mother says, from a very young age. I must say that in my case my style has been changing over the years and also, each circumstance may require a different leadership style. Today I preach by example, I feel like a tutor of my team, and I like to see them grow professionally, I live in gratitude and very focused on results.

Innovating is crucial in our very diverse industry. How do you stay ahead of trends and incorporate them into your global strategy?

• Know your business and its players very well.
• Constant research of the market, emerging trends, know a lot about our consumer, and why not, do not lose sight of the competition.
• Active listening, of course as I said the team is everything, it is important to get feedback and brainstorming.
• Networking, it is important to be in contact with colleagues in the sector or related to it. I try to relate and share knowledge virtually or telematic with all my colleagues.
• I love to go to fairs, congresses and all kinds of talks that bring me value.
• I am always in continuous training. I love knowledge and I am passionate about my work.

What do you consider to be the key component(s) of effective business operational development?

• Placing the customer at the centre of all operations to ensure that their needs and expectations are met.
• Clear, defined, well communicated and shared strategy.
• Optimize processes to maximize productivity and minimize costs. Always seek efficiency.
• Implement the right technology to help us manage operations, automation and data analysis.

How do you approach identifying areas for improvement within a company's operations?

• Nowadays, management software provides us with a lot of information that, once analysed, can be used for improvement.
• Reviewing and monitoring KPIs helps us to find areas for improvement.
• Active listening to our customers also offers us many opportunities for improvement.

Where do you think the most promising investments should be focusing on and/or made on?

• Investments should focus on areas that maximize the return on investment and ensure its sustainability.
• Today we need to work on energy efficiency and infrastructure.
• Let's not forget that the best investment is in your equipment.
• The customer, we are in the experience economy and personalization is a lever.

What is or are your biggest career achievement(s)?

My greatest achievements are my teams, the people I have met and worked with, my suppliers and my clients, some of whom I can call friends.

I am especially proud of the EXPO DUBAI 2020 project where after infinite handicaps pandemic included, we achieved the award, recognition from TIME OUT DUBAI as one of the best catering spaces at the Expo. And obviously we doubled the sales and G.O.P.

Do you have examples where your leadership made a difference? If so, what were they? 

Right now, I am in a change of project and many of the staff want me to take them with me, people I could not even imagine. That fills me with satisfaction and congratulates me.

What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

Listen to everyone, do not belittle anyone because of their position, in the end everyone has a lot to contribute. To be humble, this I have achieved with the years and work, but I no longer use the “I” but the “we”.

How did you identify and seize opportunities for advancement in your career?

I believe that in business and in life you always have to have a Business Plan that can be modified throughout your career, in my case my vocation is from a young age and I have never lost focus.

Have you achieved everything you wanted in your career so far? 

I am a person with a great ambition in constant growth, although I am of an age I always want to keep growing. Always when I achieve a dream, I automatically have another one. I am a dreamer.

How important is personal development to your success, and how do you approach it?

Personal development is key, success for me has two legs: my private life and my professional life. The two have to be aligned, otherwise it doesn't make sense. I believe that finding this balance is what has allowed me to continue fulfilling myself professionally and sometimes the sacrifices become more bearable.

How do you prioritise tasks when everything feels like a priority?

It is very important to know how to prioritize, to relativise and manage time very well. You have to have a clear and strategic approach, although it may seem a lie, common sense is usually a good traveling companion and empathize with your client, really work for him when you have this vision, the results come, and everything seems to make more sense.

What was the hardest decision you have taken as a leader? 

There are many difficult decisions that I have had to make throughout my career, but I still find it difficult to do without collaborators or to end working relationships, it is a part that is not pleasant for me.

What steps do you take to measure your own performance?

It is clear that I am measured by both economic and satisfaction results. I get up and go to bed with economic and customer satisfaction data. That is the performance indicator, as well as the work environment and talent loyalty.

What does success mean for you as a business leader?

I consider myself a successful person because I work in what I am most passionate about and also, my family understands and supports me. Throughout my career I have very good relationships that last over the years with many people who have shared projects and that also fills me with satisfaction.

I believe I am honest and fair in everything I do, so when I am not working I can disconnect and be very calm. 

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