SMACK Hospitality · 2026-02-18 · 47 min
"Projects always go wrong." That’s not us being cheeky, that’s a direct quote from a VP of Development. This week, Florian’s got Jan Heringa, VP Development and Project Management at Leonardo Hotels, in the SMACK spotlight. From kitchen chaos at 15 to masterminding the launch of iconic brands like NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels across Europe, Jan’s career is pure, unfiltered hotelier grit. But trust us, it’s not all smooth openings and clinking champagne glasses. They’re tearing down the curtain on: - The investment strategy that powered Leonardo Hotels’ massive Central Europe expansion, fifteen new properties in just one year - The absolute chaos of hotel construction, and the learning process behind budget overruns, timeline nightmares, and finding five layers of tiles during a renovation - Why sustainability became a must in the hospitality industry - it’s gone from “nice-to-have” to the only way to sign new deals and secure financing in today’s market Now, here’s Jan’s unvarnished advice for young hoteliers: forget shortcuts. Walk the talk, get your hands dirty in every department, and build that solid foundation.
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