Mama Shelter is recording growth in guest numbers year on year, thanks to its unique interiors, top selection of delicious food and various drinks, but also thanks to staff who love their job
Thanks to family-like relations that date back to the founders, the Trigano family, Mama Shelter has a fantastic team that makes magic every day and represents the renowned group to which this hotel belongs in the best possible way.
How much has the Serbian tourism sector changed since Mama Shelter first appeared on this market and what implications does that have on your positioning?
The tourism sector has changed for the better a lot, and there is still room for improvement. In a way, we also deserve an award for that, because we fought for the city to have a better and higher quality tourist offer. Looking only at the number of direct flights from Belgrade today compared to 2018, it is clear how much we have advanced as a destination.
And that’s not forgetting that we also had a pandemic during this period, which – at least for Mama Shelter – meant coming up with a more creative, concrete and diverse offer with enhanced possibility to adapt to changes.
It’s long been suggested that Belgrade could become a centre of congress tourism. How noticeable is such a trend in the structure of your guests?
We are certainly still considered a business destination, so congress tourism suits the Mama Shelter concept very well. With due respect to all other capital cities in the region, Belgrade is still the leader and the centre of all events. In this regard, I believe that Belgrade is already a centre of congress tourism.
Many companies hold workshops at our hotel, and comment that people are more productive and don’t feel like they’ve spent a workday somewhere
The pandemic caused an increase in the number of people working remotely or wanting a workplace environment that’s closer to a home than a regular office. What can Mama Shelter offer such a clientele?
We were a favourite spot for lovers of co-working spaces even before the outbreak of the pandemic, precisely because of that laidback atmosphere and the feeling of working from home. On the other hand, there is also our large selection of delicious and varied food and drinks. I think that’s also the case with our conference rooms, which is why many companies hold workshops at our hotel, and why they frequently make the comment that people are more productive and don’t feel like they’ve spent a workday somewhere.
We should also note that Mama Shelter is a brand in the Accor Group portfolio. It is an honour and a privilege to be part of the Accor Group, but also an obligation to be a proper representative of such a renowned hotel group, while of course always remaining faithful to the Mama Shelter style.
Many are complaining about workforce shortages, while you always boast of the dedicated team behind the magic of Mama Shelter. What’s your secret?
The secret, and it isn’t a platitude, is the family-like relationship that dates back to the founders, the Trigano family. That permeates through my management team, and me personally, to every employee. We try to ensure that every employee at Mama Shelter feels as though the hotel is, first and foremost, like their own home.
