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Meet Hendrik
- Tell us about your Corinthia London journey?
This hotel has always held a special place in my heart. I moved to London in 2010 and shortly after in 2011, Corinthia London opened its doors. Having always worked in luxury five star hotels, I deeply believe that this hotel is one of the greatest in the city.
It took me until June 2021 to find myself working here but the property has been catching my eye for much longer. The Director of Rooms role in one of London’s most prestigious hotels means the world to me and the impact I have on guest experiences is truly what makes this hotel and role so special to me.
- Tell us about a day in the life of Hendrik Huebner?
My days can be a tad unpredictable. While there are many meetings to attend, there is always the odd curveball. In the morning we attend a managers' meeting, followed by several departmental meetings with our teams. These are key to a successful day. Throughout the day I try to spend as much time as possible with our guests and my teams. Personal presence on the floor can be difficult to find time for but I believe that fully understanding what it happening operationally is key to my role as a Director.
Most days are peppered with meetings, from the weekly operations meeting in which we discuss and plan the week ahead, to meetings with potential partners such as Begg x Co. It certainly keeps us on our toes and there is never a dull day.
- What is the best part of your job?
There are two extra special parts to highlight. The first is that I am in a position to not only shape the future of our hotel but luxury hospitality as a whole. At Corinthia London we always aim to be trendsetters, to find new ways to wow our guests and make their visit that little bit more special. Being part of these discussions, projects and think tanks makes every day more meaningful.
The second part is of course my guests. When I am able to make a difference to their stay with us or to their life in general, and build a connection with them, it's incredibly special. Sometimes we are able to connect with our guests on a truly human level and have a real impact. I cherish those moments deeply.
- What does luxury mean for you?
Luxury to me means “time”. It's the one thing that cannot be replaced, re-earned or refunded - and none of us ever have enough of it. Our guests trust us with their time. Whether it's time spent with family at our hotel, conducting business or relaxing, we have an obligation to make it meaningful.
Through that lens, we are always looking at how we can elevate the guest experience further. Most recently, we launched a partnership with Begg x Co after contemplating how we could help guests feel more comfortable in our bedrooms. As a luxury cashmere producer, Begg x Co can help us infuse an additional layer of luxury into our rooms with their bespoke blankets. What is more luxurious than laying on a chaise lounge with a thick cashmere blanket while it's cold outside, with a movie on the screen or book in hand? Those rare and simple moments of relaxation are luxury.
- If you were not Director of Rooms, what would you be doing?
Working on my golf handicap… and as an alternative job, I would probably work with animals. In which capacity I have no idea, but I have always loved animals (especially dogs and birds). Maybe I would have my own dog boutique or a doggy day-care centre.