1. How did you find your way to Gromada? Why did you choose to work at OST Gromada?
It was the year 1998, I was working at the Dom Polonii Hotel in Pułtusk as the Deputy Director. I was a member of the Categorization Commission for the Masurian Voivodeship and the Chairman of the Hotel Services Commission of the Polish Hotel Association. At that time, the restaurant at the Dom Polonii Hotel in Pułtusk was quite successful, winning industry awards (the Karmazynowa Restaurant won five stars in a ranking of Warsaw area restaurants in Polityka magazine in 1993 and 1995). And perhaps that's why the then President of Gromada contacted me and offered me the position of Deputy Director of Gastronomy. It was a very attractive job offer, as it provided the opportunity for professional development in a prestigious hotel in the center of Warsaw. I, of course, accepted the offer.
2. What roles did you work in at OST Gromada?
I started my job as the Deputy Director of Gastronomy of the hotel , then I moved on to the role of Gastronomy Director. From 2008-2009 I worked as the Director of the Gromada Hotel in Warsaw. After that, I retired.
3. What were the biggest challenges when you were starting out?
I tried to implement high work standards step by step. I bet on people and their development. As John Willard Marriott used to say, "Take care of your employees and they'll take care of your customers." And, based on my experience, this rule works perfectly.I emphasized that one should be welcoming to the guests, but not docile. I paid great attention to details. If it was necessary to give an employee feedback, I did not avoid difficult conversations. I did, however, also make a point of not "raising" my voice, and always maintained full respect for the employee. Additionally, all such conversations took place behind closed doors, never in the company of third parties. I tried to instill in my subordinates the principle: "welcome the guest as if you were welcoming him in your own home." At the Gromada, the Higher School of Tourism and Hotel Management was established, I was the first employee, a lecturer of vocational subjects at this establishment. Students did internships at the hotel, which gave them the opportunity to put theory into practice.
4. What gave you the most satisfaction while working at Gromada?
I got a lot of satisfaction from the fact that the work and effort put in resulted in a higher occupancy rate at the hotel or in a busier restaurant. We worked on top-tier events, hosted many famous people. One example could be the organization of Aleksander Kwaśniewski's election night HQ. Footage from this event was broadcast all over Poland. At Gromada, there were three restaurants: the Hotel Restaurant, the Tavern, and the Club Restaurant. At that time, we organized many concerts, dances, or singles' nights. Gromada even had its own live band at that time!On the 65th anniversary of OST Gromada, the Board of the Cooperative officially filed a request with the Polish governemnt for Gromada's most valued employees to be officially decorated with orders. And so, by the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland, I was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
5. Any wishes for OST Gromada on the occasion of its 85th anniversary?
On the occasion of the Jubilee, I wish you nothing but success and further development.
