Stefan Radstrom, GM Grand Hyatt MuscatTaking over from a manager as successful as Garry Friend is a big ask and we were very curious to meet the latest Hyatt ambassador to the quietly very important posting of Muscat. This is a hotel which sits at the heart of the political and commercial life of Oman, itself a country on the crossroads between the Arab world and the West. Surrounded by embassies and government departments, the hotel is a regular meeting place for all those who do business here. The position of General Manager of the city's premier international five star hotel is therefore one which requires a calm head. We never cease to be astounded by the quality of personnel that Hyatt develop for such challenging circumstances. The latest incumbent, Stefan Radstrom is as charming and urbane as anyone you will ever meet.
|
Stefan hails from Sweden, though he hasn't lived there since his early twenties when he happened into a career in hospitality that was to take him on a virtual world tour. His introduction to hospitality was a summer job as a kitchen garbage boy in between years as an undergraduate in engineering. He jokes that he still has two years to do in order to complete his degree, having suspended his studies because he was enjoying himself so much. Not that he was a garbage boy for long and this is the key to the man. Though it was the lowliest of jobs he decided to hit the ground running and be the best damn garbage boy they ever had. After two weeks demonstrating an effervescent personality that hasn't dimmed at all over the years, he was invited into the restaurant for an interview and promoted to bussing plates. Despite working almost round the clock, after a few months, he was having such a good time and seeing an opportunity to travel, he applied for a job in The Plaza Hotel (now Radisson Blue) in Oslo. It was meant to last six months but he stayed six years before moving to the Le Meridien in Moscow then Hotel Bristol in Warsaw and after a spell in Budapest, back to Moscow. During this, he was also part of the opening of Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg. French Company MaMaison then spotted his talents and experience and after a whistle-stop tour of central Europe he finally showed up on Hyatt's radar and joined the company in 2007. Perhaps having tired of long, cold northern European nights, he asked for a position in the Middle East. So, he found himself posted to Qatar to open Grand Hyatt Doha as number two, under Garry Friend's leadership. As an avid Manchester United fan, his only regret about his time there was the occasion he missed greeting the team when they came for warm-weather training and he was just too busy to get away. Then, to his chagrin he was again away when they left. They did leave him a signed shirt as compensation though, which he treasures (nobody's perfect).
Since Doha, he's managed Grand Hyatt Goa, which remains very special to him and Hyatt Regency Istanbul. Out of thirteen commands, ten have been openings. So how does he see the challenge of running as mature a property as Grand Hyatt Muscat? It's all about raising the bar on standards of personal care. "If I see a bag that needs carrying, I pick it up. Now I have over three hundred people in my hotel who can carry bags." He intends to lead by example and that can only be a very good thing for what is already one of my top five hotels in the world. When I love a hotel this much, I worry when a new GM comes in and I was a big fan of Garry Friend. Now, I'm happy again. We can all relax about GH Muscat.
Since Doha, he's managed Grand Hyatt Goa, which remains very special to him and Hyatt Regency Istanbul. Out of thirteen commands, ten have been openings. So how does he see the challenge of running as mature a property as Grand Hyatt Muscat? It's all about raising the bar on standards of personal care. "If I see a bag that needs carrying, I pick it up. Now I have over three hundred people in my hotel who can carry bags." He intends to lead by example and that can only be a very good thing for what is already one of my top five hotels in the world. When I love a hotel this much, I worry when a new GM comes in and I was a big fan of Garry Friend. Now, I'm happy again. We can all relax about GH Muscat.