Adriaan Bartels, General Manager, Cashel Palace Hotel
Adriaan was born in Kenya to Dutch parents and first came to Ireland in 1978 to attend Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare. Having decided that a career in Hotel Management would enable him to fulfil his desire to travel the world.
He graduated in 1988 from DIT, Cathal Brugha Street and Trinity College with a Degree in Hotel Management. He ended up working in the Park Hotel Kenmare and The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin in the early part of his career.
After two years working for Giuseppe Pecorelli in Surrey at Pennyhill Park Hotel in Surrey, he returned to help open Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare as Deputy Manager. Four years later, he took on the challenge of running the exclusive Royal Scotsman Train in Scotland for two years before being called back to help open an extension of 21 rooms in Sheen Falls Lodge as General Manager.
The next ten years were spent establishing the property as one of Ireland's premier country resorts. Prior to his appointment as General Manager of the Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, Co Waterford, in 2008, he spent the previous two years developing The Marlbrook Resort in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
During his time in Cliff, he was also in charge of running the Cliff Townhouse in Dublin, a sister property to the hotel in Ardmore. In addition, he was involved in the operation of the newest addition to the Cliff family, Cliff at Lyons in Celbridge, Co Kildare, as Group General Manager.
He is now General Manager of the soon to be opened Cashel Palace Hotel in Cashel, Co Tipperary. Adriaan was awarded a Certificate in Executive Management Development from Cornell University in 2005 and graduated with a Masters's Degree in Hospitality Management from Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, in 2008 to add to his Bachelor's Degree.
He was honoured to be named the Irish Hospitality Institute' Hotel Manager of the Year' in 2003.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Twitter - I am the originator of the #threewordtweet.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
General Manager, Cashel Palace Hotel, Cashel, Co Tipperary, Ireland.
I was involved in the hotel's design, planning, and construction for the past four years and have now re-opened the hotel with a great new team. A very unique and exciting experience.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I have really enjoyed working in wonderful properties located in beautiful parts of the country, but I really enjoy the organisation and setting up a new hotel. The challenges are multiple and wide-ranging but overcoming these challenges gives great job satisfaction.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
You make the bed that you lie in.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
Keeping my team happy, motivated and staying with me to ensure consistency of our offering.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
My two children that my wife and I raised.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Face to face.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Being diplomatic, empathetic and patient.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
How much time away from my family I had to spend when they were growing up.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
John Magnier. An amazingly successful businessman but very down to earth, practical and insightful.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Cycling, walking, travelling and dining with family and friends.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
Both really. There was not much that we could do about it but endure it. However, it allowed us to take a pause in our lives and realise what really is important in life – family.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
Yes, several colleagues in the industry.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Be prepared to work hard for success. The industry is one of the most exciting and wide-ranging businesses to be in, and there is never a dull moment but remember it's a marathon, not a sprint.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
No stamina.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
Control the controllable, and don't worry about anything you cannot control.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Apple. I love the design and functionality of their products.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
If you are happy in your job, at whatever level, I think that is a success. It is most important to ensure you have a good work-life balance.
The sign of a good manager is one who can leave the team running the business without him/her being there all the time.