Jan Heringa - Leonardo Hotels | From Brand Launches to Construction Curveballs

"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. Ready for the truth about building
a hospitality empire, straight from the guy who lives it? Enjoy the
show!