A month as a hotel manager: A fresh perspective and plenty of energy

The first month as hotel manager at Comwell Rebild Bakker has been full of new experiences, meetings with staff and an insight into a large family-owned Danish hotel chain.

Ever since Ole Olsen walked through the door on 1 August 2026 as the new hotel manager at Comwell Rebild Bakker, the experiences have been coming thick and fast. New colleagues, new surroundings, new working procedures and, not least, a new reality as part of a large hotel chain.

“It’s been quite an experience. And that perhaps sums up the first month rather well – after all, we’re in the hospitality industry, and it’s been lovely to experience Comwell from the inside. I sleep well at night and go home full of energy,” says Ole Olsen.

A warm welcome

One of the things that has made the biggest impression on the new hotel manager is the welcome he has received from the staff. His early days have therefore also been about getting to know the organisation closely. Among other things, Ole Olsen has spent a lot of time holding one-to-one meetings with permanent staff.

“Eight meetings in a single day really take their toll. It’s actually quite a demanding task, as you have to stay very focused. I really try to get a feel for who I’m dealing with and how we can work together. But it’s been an incredibly positive experience,” says Ole Olsen.

The discussions have not followed a set agenda nor taken the form of an interview. They have primarily been about getting to know one another. And the staff have made a strong first impression.

“They are very well-qualified professionally, and I am also very impressed by the length of service that is generally seen at Comwell. It’s a huge strength that people stay here for many years, and it says a lot about the workplace as a whole. It’s a place where people want to be and want to stay.”

You notice different things as a new employee

Being new has one particular advantage, says Ole Olsen. You haven’t yet got used to the premises or the established rhythms and routines.

“You’re not ‘blind to the place’ when you’re new. You can suddenly spot something that others might no longer notice. It could be anything from a small detail to a work process. On the other hand, you’re not yet so well-known in the workplace that you notice specific issues that need addressing straight away.”

He emphasises that, although he sees things differently and spots new opportunities, it is also important to understand why frameworks and routines are the way they are.

“You have to be careful with your enthusiasm. Sometimes there’s a good reason why things are done in a certain way. But as a newcomer, you can afford to observe and ask questions.”

For Ole Olsen, leadership is about driving change without losing respect for what already exists.

“No matter how good you are, there’s always room for improvement. That’s part of my management philosophy. We must constantly strive to push ourselves a little further and be a little better than we were yesterday. This applies to the guest experience, staff well-being, the finances and the way we work.”

A strong brand and a strong culture

For Ole Olsen, the Comwell brand is closely linked to the culture he has already encountered.

“The most important thing for me is the brand they’ve built up. It’s warm, professional and has a cool design. What they say they are is exactly what you experience. There’s a strong culture at Comwell. People go the extra mile, and there’s a sense of integrity that means a lot to me.”

At the same time, Ole Olsen highlights the collaboration and the shared desire to constantly improve.

“There’s a tremendous amount of collaboration between departments and hotels. You have to help one another without getting bogged down yourself, and there’s nothing better than passing on what you know and helping others. At the same time, there’s a mindset that we can always do things a little better. I really like that approach.”

He also sees the flat organisational structure as a major strength, because the hotels themselves can contribute ideas and influence developments.

Putting Comwell Rebild Bakker on the map

Although his first month has mainly been about getting to know the hotel, the staff and Comwell, Ole Olsen has also started looking ahead and exploring opportunities to develop the hotel.

“I’m very passionate about development and progress. I’m looking forward to seeing where we can take Comwell Rebild Bakker together. In particular, I hope we can help put the hotel even more firmly on the map as the leading conference hotel in North Jutland. This must be built on professionalism, great stories and, not least, the talented people we have here.”

For Ole Olsen, his own role is therefore also about being more strategic than hands-on.

“I’m here to create value. And I already have a lot of talented managers and staff, so my job is very much to lead through them and create the best possible conditions for them to succeed.”

Although there is still a lot to learn, Ole Olsen has already settled in well at Comwell Rebild Bakker. And perhaps it is precisely the combination of the familiar and the new that makes this initial period so exciting:

“I’ve tried stepping into a new hotel before. You can certainly recognise the rhythms and routines. But every hotel is unique, and here I’m also given the chance to become part of something bigger.”

About Comwell Hotels

Comwell is a Danish family-owned, nationwide hotel chain with hotels throughout Denmark, as well as ODEON in Odense and Centralværkstedet in Aarhus. For over 55 years, Comwell has been operating meeting and conference hotels and has won numerous awards over the years for its meeting, service and dining concepts.

Comwell was the first to introduce Danes to the modern meeting package back in 1969. Today, this remains Comwell’s core business. Comwell also caters for training and course programmes, workshops, job interviews, board meetings, exhibitions and events, and has over 2,500 rooms and 320 meeting and conference rooms at its disposal.