NiklasæSchlappkohl
Senior Director eCommerce
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
Niklas is also the Chair of HSMAI Europe Digital Marketing Advisory Board
Q: What does a day at work consist of for you?
A:æManaging our ecommerce strategy and activities means working with my team on our online acquisition channels content and website developments to continuously maximise business for the sites with existing and new opportunities. We optimise our efforts as well as pilot and launch new ones frequently based on ongoing analyses of our online data. We have a regional support structure for hotels so I can also focus my time on working with these regional offices directly for our hotel-level activities. The role involves quite a bit of travel in order to visit industry events and keep up with the fast-paced online developments as well regularly meeting with colleagues based in multiple offices.
Q: What’s the best part of your job?
A:æI’m quite passionate about both the online world and the travel industry so I feel quite lucky. Having an amazing team and great colleagues both locally and in our other offices makes the job even more exciting and enjoyable.
Q: Do you have anyone you’ve looked up to?
A:æMany. None of us are perfect but there are characteristics to look up to in every one of us.
Q: Do you have any nice traditions at your office?
A:æOn someone’s birthday we decorate their work area with flags and balloons. I think it’s a Danish tradition.
Q: How long have you been a member of HSMAI?
A:æOver three years all of which I served on the advisory board.
Q: What do you think is the best thing about HSMAI?
A:æProviding an excellent platform for people from the industry to get together and share trends ideas and our own experiences and learn from each other.
Q: Are there any activities or projects you think HSMAI should start up?
A:æThere’s a lot going on already – but I think a global event that brings all of us together at least once a year would be very interesting and definitely informative. Especially in hospitality where it’s the nature of the business to have customers from around the globe and many of us manage properties in multiple countries if not multiple continents.
Q: Describe your perfect weekend.
A:æA flight to a new destination or to an old favourite with my better half. Exploring places recharges my batteries even if it’s just a short city break.
Q: If you were trapped on a desert island what would you take with you if you could choose just one thing?
A:æA survival guide! I’m an urbanite and wouldn’t last a week. (Hopefully two with the guide’_)
Q: What is the title of the book about your life?
A:æ”Around the World in 80 Years”
Q: What is your next travel destination?
A:æI have a few longer trips on my list planned such as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in fall.
Q: Do you have any special hobbies?
A:æTravel and languages. I studied languages and linguistics in college and even grammar books on languages of the location I’m visiting are interesting. I feel like it brings me a better understanding of the culture.
