Dalené Claassens, Babylonstoren

When did you know you wanted to be a hotelier and in particular, a General Manager?  

Not at first, no. I initially wanted to become an interior designer. Thankfully, I can still apply this passion to some extent in the hotel industry.

 

Where have you served as GM?

Mont Rochelle and Babylonstoren

 

Have you had any mentor / mentors along the way & how important were they, to your development?  

There have been so many influential characters and role models along the way. I’ve been fortunate to learn from wonderful people. The best thing about the hospitality industry is that many of us have remained friends even if some have moved on to different endeavours.

 

Have you ever had to open a hotel / lodge and would you say that requires a unique skill set? If not, would you be interested in doing so or not?  

Yes, definitely. I was part of the team that worked on Hotel Rwanda’s revamp and when the Virgin Limited Edition (VLE) group took over Mont Rochelle. I loved it because I was able to implement my love for interior design. I would say being a leader in the opening of a hotel makes it easier to take manage when it’s in full operation.

 

From the first day you served as a GM, until today, you must have learnt so much. If you could share any one piece of sage guidance, to new GM’s, what would it be?  

The industry can be quite taxing, but it’s always important to make time for yourself. Another thing is to be open to constructive feedback; there is always room for improvement!

 

I imagine that being the GM of a property, in a small town, would come with different dynamics to being the GM of a property, in a big city. The same would go for managing a beach property on an island or a bush lodge in a remote corner of the world. Can you share how one adapts to managing in different locations (environments)? 

Location definitely plays a major role in the different dynamics of a property. In a big city, the priorities of corporate guests, for example, are very different to those on holiday in a remote bush or beach location. While the overall energy is often more relaxing in such remote areas, logistics can be a challenge, again. Every property has its unique setup. As a General Manager, you have to be intuitive to guests’ needs and make it work despite the challenges.

 

Being the general manager of a hotel, during the Coronavirus Pandemic must have been very challenging. What was the key to survival and did you ‘gain (or learn)’ anything, from the adverse situation?  

A big aspect for us – apart from managing guests’ expectations and frustrations – was making sure our staff was always well-informed. Staff needed to communicate ever-changing information to guests, so it was paramount that they were always on top of the latest developments and understood exactly what was the plan. Through it all, we had to ensure that everyone always had a positive exercise, despite unplanned setbacks.

 

Your favourite thing about serving, at your current post? 

The best part about being General Manager at Babylonstoren is the constant guest feedback about our amazing and friendly staff. It’s a pleasure to work with such people and to hear our guests’ responses to experiences.

 

How important is it, for general managers, such as yourself, to visit other properties?

It’s very important! It’s always good to see how other properties go about their work and learn from them.

 

How is your establishment contributing to the greater good & making the world a better place (you can mention uplifting projects and or simply that you are creating jobs etc)?

Babylonstoren places great value on the upliftment of the community and therefore our entrance fees go to our Babylonstoren Trust. The Trust raises funds for community project such as the Learning Centre just a cross the road from the farm, a core part of the farms’ overall vision since its moderation in 2010.

The purpose is simple; to provide youngsters of the Babylonstoren family with every opportunity to follow their dreams and give parents in the farm workforce peace of mind that their children are being well educated and cared for, close by.

From a young age, we ensure that kids get everything they need to succeed – from daily meals and transport, to exercise via extra murals and fun outings to museums, the movies and the beach. In the last decade, the Learning Centre students have made our hearts swell with pride. Various youngsters have been in leadership positions in the local schools while others are currently completing their tertiary education. Our first graduate also recently gained her Diploma in Human Resource Management at Boland College in Stellenbosch, and we foresee that many more will follow in her footsteps.

 

Interesting Insights about the General Manager:

 

What is your ideal or favourite vacation destination?

Amsterdam abroad, or Keurbooms on the Garden Route, next to the sea.

 

What is your favourite wine?

The darling Babylonstoren MCC, called Spankel!

 

What is your favourite dish?

The Crudites plate in Babel. I love that it’s an ever-changing celebration of whatever’s in season on the day. It has something fresh from the garden, something cured and seasoned from the meat room, a selection from our fresh cheesery to enjoy and there’s always a little something special from our chef. The perfect Babylonsotren surprise.

 

What favourite hidden gem, near your establishment, should we visit?

Definitely our new wine museum called The Story of Wine. It’s open to all hotel guests and day visitors, and a wonderful and interactive way to learn about wine.

 

Best question you were never asked or a fun fact about yourself?

“If you could choose again would you study to be a Hotelier or would you study something else?”

I would still want to be a hotelier.