Peter Könekamp says goodbye after 31 years as head of the Arabella Alpenhotel Spitzingsee.
In the interview he talks about his working life and holiday plans.
Spitzingsee
- In the language of tourism, one would probably speak of an ultra-long-term stay.
For 31 years, Peter Könekamp (66) managed the Arabella Hotel on Spitzingsee with its 120 rooms and almost 100 employees, most of the time together with his wife Renate (67).
While she retired two years ago, Könekamp chose the 50th anniversary of his hotel as a worthy end to his career, which the Bad Reichenhall native began with an apprenticeship at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hanover.
In a farewell interview with our newspaper, Könekamp tells us what he intends to do as a long-term holidaymaker, whether he also likes to stay in hotels in his private life and why he will remain connected to the Arabella am Spitzingsee even when he retires.
Mr. Könekamp, how do you feel after checking in for retirement?
Peter Könekamp:
Very good, especially around the holidays.
Excluding the 2020 lockdown, my wife and I are home together for Christmas for the first time in 40 years.
Receiving guests is a top priority
So the duties on such days were always a top priority for you?
Peter Könekamp:
Of course, we never pulled out of it.
Especially in these times there are many long-standing regular guests in the house.
They quite rightly expected us to receive them personally.
This is simply part of the holiday hotel business.
Also for the employees?
Peter Koenekamp:
Of course.
But it has to be said that something has changed here due to the lack of staff in recent years.
Today, as an employer, you also have to be flexible, for example with part-time offers or more individual shift plans.
This is the only way to get employees and to retain them for a long time.
I have the confidence to say that we did quite well.
Many of our colleagues have been with the company for ten years or more, some even as long as my wife and I.
How did you personally manage to reconcile work and family life?
Peter Könekamp:
My wife and I were lucky that we were able to spend a lot of time together at work.
We got to know each other during my time at the Bayerischer Hof in Munich, immediately after completing my training as a hotel clerk.
At that time I was rotated through all departments, she worked as a bank clerk in the private office of the owner.
After my time as deputy manager at the Holiday Inn in Augsburg, we applied together in October 1986 to host the Arabella Hotel in Schliersee.
After five years he was called to the Spitzingsee - which we were also happy to accept.
Variety was required at the Spitzingsee
31 years in the same house: Doesn't exactly sound like a dynamic career.
Peter Könekamp:
You are right!
Especially with large hotel chains, it is almost normal to change location every five to six years.
However, we had the privilege that our company management really appreciated the continuity of the hosts.
Has it never appealed to you to work somewhere completely different?
Peter Könekamp:
Oh, you know, family and love for the region have allowed me to put down deep roots here.
There hasn't been a lack of variety over the years at Spitzingsee.
Especially since I was always allowed to take on special tasks such as a six-month stay in Switzerland for the opening of four new hotels in Davos.
I was also involved in the hotel plans for Gut Kaltenbrunn.
Exciting.
Your daily commute from Schliersee must have been exciting, right? How often have you had to put on snow chains or spend the night upstairs because otherwise you wouldn't have been able to get down?
Peter Könekamp:
We have seen one or two road closures due to the danger of avalanches.
I always had a toothbrush and a change of clothes in my office (laughs).
Thanks to all-wheel drive, snow and ice couldn't slow me down most of the time.
That's why I was often in demand as a shuttle service for guests.
Staff housing is appreciated
But they always appreciated the rather isolated location of the hotel, didn't they?
Peter Könekamp: Definitely
.
Anyone who has booked with us wanted pure nature, of course paired with the sports facilities and amenities such as gastronomy and wellness of our house.
But believe it or not, we've always had guests who were amazed that we couldn't go window shopping after dinner.
Speaking of going out: What do the employees who live in the staff building do after work?
Peter Könekamp:
Of course there have been one or two rude awakenings.
And it's understandable that when you're younger you want to experience something in the evening.
However, most of the colleagues were always happy to be able to live with us and not have to look around in the extremely tense housing market, especially these days.
How has your personnel situation changed since Corona?
Peter Könekamp:
The summers of 2020 and 2021 were tough.
On the one hand, we were overwhelmed by guests, but on the other hand, we had to constantly develop the hygiene concepts and work with temporary workers, as many of our former colleagues looked for other jobs due to the lockdowns.
In the meantime, a lot has returned to normal, we even have four additional trainees in the house.
In our industry, people are a crucial factor for success.
We live from employees who do their job with passion.
So it's only good that we, as an employer, do more for them.
Especially since the challenges aren't getting any smaller, are they?
Peter Koenekamp:
That is correct.
We too have noticed that booking behavior has changed.
Many people go on vacation more often these days, but only stay for a shorter time.
Fortunately, we still have many regular guests who book the same room almost a year in advance.
Incidentally, conferences have also established themselves as a further mainstay.
I think we've always found a way to adapt to new trends.
Grandparents want to use the newly gained time
You yourself must now adjust to a new phase of life. What do you do to keep yourself from getting bored?
Peter Könekamp:
Actually everything that has been neglected in the past decades: sailing, photography, cooking and now and then a bit of sport so that I don't get rusty.
You didn't mention travel. Tired of hotels for now?
Peter Koenekamp:
Not at all.
My wife and I like staying in hotels.
Even when we were active, we often went to eat to find out what the others were doing and whether we could learn something.
Of course I'm much more relaxed now that I'm retired.
So you are not a discerning guest?
Peter Könekamp:
Not at all.
Also because I know from my own experience what can go wrong despite the best efforts.
I'm really enjoying the fact that I'm no longer exposed to this pressure.
But the name Könekamp will stay with the Arabella am Spitzingsee, right?
Peter Koenekamp:
That's right.
Our son Max now works in online marketing.
When he was younger, he already took care of the children's club.
Today he has two children himself.
...and therefore, like you used to, have to see how he can reconcile hotel and family.
Peter Konekamp:
Yes.
However, there are now grandparents who, for the first time in their lives, have a lot of time for their grandchildren.
And we want to use them whenever possible.
The conversation was conducted by Sebastian Grauvogl.
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