An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
The pandemic has made companies of all sizes rethink how they plan and execute their business strategies. This is my take on how hospitality companies will adjust in the coming years: Digitalization and the use of tech will continue to rise and become essential to any company’s operations.
As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Antonio Teijeiro, Chief Operating Officer at Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts.
Since February of 2021, Antonio Teijeiro has served as the Chief Operating Officer of Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, a leading all-inclusive brand with properties in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Spain. As a brand and hotel strategist, Teijeiro has executed everything from conceptualization to operational deployment, spearheading many of the brand’s initiatives with cultural-focused strategies, including brand development, nurturing relationships with guests, as well as growth strategies.
Teijeiro, a University of Vigo alumni and a law graduate, has also recently attended an executive course in cross-cultural management from INSEAD Business School.
His professional path has up to now developed in three continents, including 10 years in Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR, leading international and regional brands.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Although I studied Law, I have always loved interacting with people, yet people in that field tend not to get along and not precisely love each other. Over the years I ended up living for months at a time in hotels and realized I had a passion for the hospitality industry.
I now get to work in a fun environment with wonderful people. Hospitality clients and people in general are moving targets and I love it because it makes my job very interesting. The industry is no easy feat, but that’s one of the things that makes my job so rewarding.
I’ve lived in 8 countries, three continents and speak 5 languages, there is nothing more special than meeting and working with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
I pride myself for being the first Spanish general manager to open a Chinese-branded and operated hotel, Wanda Hotels & Resorts. The hotel owner is among the wealthiest businessmen in China, and I had to quickly adapt to their culture and preferences. I am proud of my work as a cross-cultural leader as I strived to understand each team member while delivering strong results for the brand. The resort was able to secure several awards, in part thanks to my team’s job, including Best Hotel of the Year.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I once checked in a guest and forgot to click the button that marked his room as occupied. Another guest ended up in that same room because it appeared as vacant on our system; you can imagine how the rest of the story went.
What I learned from that is to always make sure you have checked off all the boxes and to pay close attention to detail, otherwise you might end up with two strangers in the same room!
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?
Very simple, breathe. You can focus and work better when you are properly breathing or when you take a few minutes to listen to your body and feel the air go into your lungs.
Getting burnt out is very easy in our industry so taking a moment to rest and breathe properly is crucial. Also, spending time with family is important, you must take advantage of that time.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I believe very much in the position of mentors — one of my personal mentors was great at being strict yet fair with me. She convinced me and pushed me to go to Dubai and China which catapulted my career.
Others helped me understand different cultures and how to succeed while being surrounded by professionals with contrasting backgrounds.
Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?
We believe in continuous improvement: our brand and service offering must evolve and improve based on the current client needs and current landscape. With the Covid-19 pandemic, we have learned to use technology to our advantage, and this includes client-facing technological advancements as well as implementing technologies that facilitate our internal operations. Examples of tech updates that our guests may notice when visiting one of our properties are: online pre-check-in minimizing person-to-person contact, QR codes for restaurant menus and at other key locations across the properties, online reservations platforms for restaurants and for other on-site services and amenities. We hope to inspire our stakeholders and other members of the industry to properly utilize tech for their own development.
Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?
The pandemic changed the travel landscape as we used to know it. There’s a new version of a traveler who is well-versed on hygiene and safety measures and on the latest Covid-19 requirements. At Bahia Principe we are committed to staying at the forefront, meeting or exceeding traveler expectations, therefore we are constantly working to improve the guest experience and keeping our guests top-of-mind.
How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?
Hotel companies who ignore our new, post-pandemic “normal” and refuse to adapt will likely struggle in the near future. As our customers notice our efforts to provide a safe stay, we hope for positive reviews across the board, to garner repeat visitors and referrals. Our aim is to increase brand identity and brand loyalty while further cementing our footprint in the all-inclusive space.
As you know, COVID19 changed the world as we know it. Can you share 5 examples of how travel and hospitality companies will be adjusting over the next five years to the new ways that consumers will prefer to travel?
The pandemic has made companies of all sizes rethink how they plan and execute their business strategies. This is my take on how hospitality companies will adjust in the coming years:
- Digitalization and the use of tech will continue to rise and become essential to any company’s operations.
- Sustainability will be at the core of strategic thinking and will no longer be considered an add-on component.
- Travelers will continue to seek flexibility when booking and paying for hotel stays.
- Guests increasingly want to avoid experiences where they are just a number, or one more guest, and want hotels to recognize their individuality. Customization and a one-on-one approach will be highly requested.
- Exploring, learning from, supporting, and giving back to local communities.
You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?
I like to use the DLD acronym to describe my ideal vacation: disconnect, local and discover. My wife is my travel partner and I truly enjoy unplugging at our Bahia Principe Resorts. Beyond exploring big cities, one of my personal off-the-beaten-path favorite destinations is Samana, Dominican Republic, where our brand has four distinct properties.
Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
An effective leader must be faithful to his or her values and beliefs. I strongly believe in the golden rule: treat others how you’d want to be treated. Additionally, I love mentoring others and seeing other professionals grow thanks to my guidance and advice. Modesty aside, being a nice person and an approachable leader has allowed me to succeed in the workplace and beyond.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I believe in making an effort to understand and empathize other cultures, both in business as well as personal relationships.
Many conflicts come out not of disagreement but rather because of not understanding how other cultures think and manage.
Having lived in 8 countries across three continents, I have value when someone learns how to say hello to me in my language or the great smile when I sincerely welcome the opportunity to try my host country’s favorite dish (even if it is snails or worms!).
Being understanding and kind to others are key characteristics for any well-rounded leader.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Bahia Principe’s social media handles can be found here: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. Also, I try to be active in Linkedln, when time allows.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Antonio Teijeiro of Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts: The Future of Travel in The Post Covid World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.