Budapest is one of the best cities I've ever lived in, said Selim Ölmez, director of Matild Palace, in an interview with Világgazdaság, who believes that many Hungarian settlements besides the capital are "like a dream", but we don't talk about them enough . According to the hotel manager, the unit operating in the iconic building could be the best not only in Budapest, but also in Europe.
What are you most proud of from the last two years at Matild Palace?
That we are the best hotel in Budapest! It's good that, thanks to the prizes, it's not only me who says this, but others also confirm it - whoever comes second in a competition is actually the first loser. That's why my philosophy is that whatever you do, you have to be the best. I see a bright future in Budapest, we are very satisfied with the results.
So, despite the problems caused by the coronavirus, it was worth opening the hotel in June 2021 in the UNESCO World Heritage building.
Matild Palace is a good business, a good investment. Due to the pandemic, the payback period will indeed be longer than predicted in 2016, this is obvious, but it is still profitable.
It has been the longest two years of my life since the opening, it was a unique challenge to renovate the building and then open it despite the appearance of Covid. The palace has never been a hotel in the last hundred and twenty years, it was always used by the community, not by visitors to the city - our greatest success is that we were still able to establish a relationship with the citizens of the capital.
"The local community can experience a world-class restaurant experience"
Selim Ölmez: Budapest is one of the best cities I've ever lived in.
Photo: Matilde Palace
Is the goal to increase the number of domestic guests?
Yes, this is very important to us, our Spago by Wolfgang Puck restaurant, for example, has many Hungarian regulars. The local community can experience a world-class dining experience - as Wolfgang Puck is one of the biggest names in the field - without having to travel to Paris, London or Los Angeles.
"They are all incredible settlements, they are like a dream, yet we don't talk about them enough"
What do you see the greatest potential in?
Budapest is one of the best cities I've ever lived in, I've been here for four years and I hope I can stay for a long time.
When my guests from the United States arrive in Budapest for the first time in their lives, they say they didn't even know it was such a beautiful place.
Of course, government agencies are promoting the city, but there is more to be done. I'm from Istanbul, and that city drains energy: if you spend five days there, you need another five days to regenerate. In Budapest, on the other hand, we can enjoy ourselves without straining. Moreover, Hungary is not only about downtown Budapest: Tokaj, Mád, Villány, Hévíz, Etyek, they are all incredible settlements, like a dream, yet we don't talk about them enough.
"We are the best hotel in Budapest, but that's not enough"
Does the war raging next door affect everyday life?
This is not the first time that I have to face a crisis. There were and are many challenges in Turkey, economic crisis, inflation, terrorism, security and political issues. I was just working in Dubai during the 2008 financial crisis, when everything changed in a few days. When we meet with investors, many ask if the city is safe.
Our most important task is to assure them that Budapest is fine.
I don't have a crystal ball for the rest of the year, but I can list many positive factors about Budapest, for example, the income per room is very close to Vienna, which is a good sign. The city is not 100% occupied, which also means a chance and motivation for the future.
What must a luxury hotel do to retain its guests in this complicated economic environment?
When I start a new project, the first thing is not the marketing or the sales plan, but the visitor experience. What do we want our guests to experience with us, what will be the most memorable moments? It is important that this experience must be unique to the city, aligned with the DNA of the place. In this building, for example, it is impossible to ignore the past, its history. For example, the Belvárosi Kávéház and the city's first elevator operated here. We are the best hotel in Budapest, but that's not enough - why can't we be the best in Europe? And if we achieve that, why not be the best in the world? My favorite hotel is the Plaza Athénée in Paris. I admire the history of the building, the food and drinks with Alain Ducasse, the terraces. This is an iconic location in the hotel industry, no question. I hope that one day Matild Palace will become such an icon.
The full interview HERE .
Cover image: Photo: Matild Palace
