For Marloes Knippenberg , CEO of Kerten Hospitality , Gen Z employees bring a unique mindset and are wired to address the key industry challenges
LEADERSHIP | EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit of the next generation
For Marloes Knippenberg , CEO of Kerten Hospitality , Gen Z employees bring a unique mindset and are wired to address the key industry challenges
WRITTEN BY : KATE BIRCH
For Marloes Knippenberg , CEO of Kerten Hospitality , a mixeduse , ESG and lifestyle operator with 50 projects in more than 12 countries , Gen Z employees bring a unique mindset and are wired to address the key industry challenges .
“ They think outside the box ,” says Marloes , who attributes the leveraging of Gen Z in enabling Kerten Hospitality to disrupt the hospitality industry “ with non-conventional ideas about the direction of hospitality ”.
It helps too that the Middle East region , where a number of the Kerten Hospitality portfolio sits , offers the largest pool of young talent – within seven years , 70 % of the region ’ s population will be under 25 .
There are no traditional hotels in Kerten Hospitality ’ s portfolio , which instead spotlights properties that are characterised by open spaces , co-working areas , social hubs , collaborative brands , and multi-use purposes .
Marloes says they are building the destinations of the future where communities , businesspeople , social groups , as well as travellers and residents can meet , stay , and play . And by repurposing spaces , landscaping and creating spaces for community engagement , they are challenging the status quo of the industry – replacing traditional meeting rooms and big hotel spaces with flexible connectionenthusing environments .
“ The Gen-Z mindset is quite unique ”
Much like Gen Zers themselves , who seek both flexibility and connection .
“ The Gen-Z mindset is quite unique ,” declares Marloes . “ They are wired to address the key industry challenges of the day with a futuristic outlook and an authentic toolkit , accepting nothing less than the ownership of a genuine narrative about the origin of everything .”
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