Good service is at the heart of everything Christian Bendixen does in his work at Comwell in Aarhus. As a Booking and Front Office Manager, he is responsible for ensuring that guests get a good first impression of the hotel together with his 23 employees.
However, this was not where the 33-year-old Dane had expected to be when he, as a teenager, had to find his way in the educational jungle. Nevertheless, with a combination of a marketing degree and a bachelor's degree in International Hospitality Management, he has managed to fulfill some of his childhood dreams. Christian has lived and worked at Hilton in Manchester, England.
"It was my childhood dream to live in the city of my favorite football team, and the Hilton chain itself was crazy to work in. I met some exciting people through my work, but when I met Alex Ferguson, I felt star-struck. It was big, “smiles Christian Bendixen, a Manchester United football fanatic.
The Africa adventure
After completing his bachelor's degree at International Hospitality Management at Dania Academy in Randers, Christian Bendixen became Head of department at Hotel Radisson Blu in Aarhus at the age of 25. Four years later, he became General Manager at a five-star luxury hotel in Africa. It had been his long term dream.
“I never wanted an ordinary life. I wanted to have a different experience, and yes, all 13-year-old boys dream of making a lot of money. I did that in Senegal, and it was a fantastic experience, ”says Christian Bendixen.
The hotel included a luxury condo overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, private guards and hosted famous presidents.
New is good
The many different jobs over a few years of career have provided him with valuable insight into both the industry and himself.
“The hotel industry accepts that you shop around. I don't even recruit anyone with the expectation that they will stay with us for 5-10 years. I also say that during job interviews, and 30 years of jubilees are unusual in the industry. On the contrary, I think it is a very healthy practice and that the industry benefits greatly from it, ”explains Christian Bendixen.
Work smart
For Christian, many childhood dreams came true. At the age of 33, he believes he made a well balanced life for himself and for his family through hard work.
“If you want to enter the hotel industry, you have to work for it. However, it’s not the hours that decide whether you will have success. I learned that one must not let the work take control over one’s life. Work-life balance is important, ”he says, elaborating:
“I work smarter today because I managed to find a healthy balance. You can be a superhero at work, but it’s also important to remember buying milk on the way home. Don’t work hard, work smart, ”he smiles.
His own hotel
Christian still has a few unfulfilled childhood dreams. Sometime in the future, he would like to be the director of his own hotel. But not at all costs.
“It must not happen too quickly, and it must be the right thing. I don't want to do it - just for the sake of it. It must be right. I have always had a belief in my own abilities, and it gets me going, ”he concludes.