Outrigger Reef Beach Resort General Manager Markus Krebs says he is extremely pleased to have been offered the opportunity to work for Outrigger Hospitality Group opening its flagship resort, the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach in the next couple of weeks and see the big smiles on the hotel staff when they return to work.
Travel Monitor caught up with Markus for this week’s Talking Travel. Here is what he had to say.
What does your job involve?
I view my role as being the ambassador of the new Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. While supporting my colleagues and providing authentic experiences for our guests, I also hope to further the mission of Outrigger Hospitality Group to be the premier beach resort brand in the world.
How have you tackled the difficulties caused by COVID-19?
In April 2020, we launched #OutriggerCARES as a global platform to provide targeted support and resources for our internal team, as well as within the communities we operate. The program is rooted in The Outrigger Way, an ethos that captures the tradition of hospitality, mutual respect and care for guest, host and place. These guiding principles have shaped Outrigger’s success for more than 70 years became especially relevant during the pandemic.
Due to a halt of tourism to Hawaii in March 2020, we decided to temporarily suspend operations at Outrigger Reef – which was a hard decision, but provided us with the opportunity to renovate the property without disrupting guests. We’re now almost finished with the $80 million transformation.
When we do open the resort in the beginning of May 2021, we are committed to providing all of our guests a worry-free stay in paradise by implementation and execution of Outrigger’s Clean Commitment – an enhanced safety platform developed with Ecolab, incorporating state-of-the –art technology, cleaning products and procedures.
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
Being a hotelier provides plenty of opportunities to show creativity and entrepreneurship in addition to being with people, our hosts as well as our guests, at all times – which I truly enjoy the most.
What are the biggest challenges for you in your profession (outside of COVID-19)?
The biggest challenges are the issues that you are not prepared for and situations that are unique. Most important is how we as hoteliers react to those situations, keeping always the desired outcome in mind.
What do you think are the biggest challenges the industry faces?
We all will be challenged with the traveller’s desire to “go back to normal” and we will be tasked to find ways of how to “go back to the NEW normal” while simultaneously satisfying our guests’ expections.
What do you think will be the biggest game-changer in the travel industry in the next 12 months’?
I strongly believe that there is a huge desire and built-up demand to travel. Despite the distribution of vaccines and, therefore easier access to travel, I do believe that the hotel industry has adapted to a safer environment (wearing masks, social distancing, new sanitation procedures) will stay incorporated in our day-to-day operations.
What destination/travel trend do you think is the next big thing?
I believe that for quite some time, travellers will select destinations that are easier to reach, travels within their own region/countries as well as shorter-distance travels.
What are your thoughts on responsible travel and how do you try to implement this in your workplace?
As mentioned, we have great guidelines through our Outrigger’s Clean Commitment protocol and we will continue to follow these. I myself had to travel most recently to Hawai’i back and forth from California and I felt extremely safe how the testing stations, the airlines and the resorts handled my travel experience.
Who inspires you most and why?
I am and have always been inspired by my parents, who have raised me with very high ethical standards which have guided me over the years. I also have been extremely fortunate to have been mentored by amazing hoteliers throughout my career that made me to who I am right now.
What is your must-pack travel item(s)?
My iPhone and iPad.
Who would you invite on your next holiday if you could choose anyone and where would you go?
I would not be able to travel without my wife, so she has been travelling with me over the past 25 years and I am looking forward to another amazing 25 years of travelling. We do enjoy going on trips with our friends and on our bucket list to visit in the future is Machu Picchu, Pyramids of Egypt and a cruise somewhere around Asia.
Contact Email – markus.krebs@outrigger.com
