A year ago, Comwell launched a new professional training programme: the Comwell Talent Academy. This in-house training programme is aimed at generalists across the hotel chain and is run in collaboration with an external trainer from IBC. The first cohort of participants has now received their certificates confirming that they have successfully completed the programme.
Following an intensive programme focusing on areas such as leadership, communication at eye level, conflict management and recognition as a leadership tool, the first cohort at Comwell’s Talent Academy has just completed their training.
There was a sense of excitement, pride and celebration in the air as the talents delivered their final presentations and received their diplomas at an event at Comwell Middelfart. And the students have gained a great deal from the programme;
“The programme has developed me both professionally and personally. I have become more aware of the kind of leader I want to be, and at the same time I have gained a greater understanding of just how much there is still to learn,” says Louise Ditlev, who is deputy reception manager at Comwell Kolding, adding:
“One of the most important things for me has been the transition from colleague to manager. It has taught me a great deal about relationships, responsibility and finding my own leadership identity. During the programme, I was promoted to deputy head of reception, so many of the topics have been highly relevant and easy to relate to in practice. I want to be a leader who is approachable, clear and helps to highlight others’ strengths.”
The Comwell Talent Academy is not merely an investment in employees’ CVs, but a cornerstone of the chain’s overall strategy to develop and attract the hotel industry’s most talented individuals.
In the hotel industry, where there is constant development, new demands and expectations from guests, and where there is fierce competition for labour, human resources are one of the most important assets. This is the philosophy behind Comwell’s ambitious commitment to in-house training.
For Comwell’s HR and Sustainability Director, Mai-Britt Jensen, the day marks a milestone. She emphasises that continuing professional development is absolutely crucial to maintaining a high standard of service and a strong corporate culture at a time when competition for the best employees is fierce.
"We have many talented colleagues in our hotels and in our head office, and it is our responsibility to give them the right tools to grow. The Talent Academy is about identifying those who have the ambition and commitment, and giving them a professional and personal foundation so that they can take the next step with us," explains Mai-Britt Jensen.
She makes no secret of the fact that internal training is a strategic priority that extends far beyond individual course modules and additions to participants’ CVs.
"When we develop our employees, we enhance the entire guest experience. It’s about taking pride in the profession and knowing that there is a career path within the group. Our colleagues are our most important ambassadors, and their development is our success. They are the heart of Comwell," says Mai-Britt Jensen.
The Talent Academy is designed for employees who demonstrate the motivation and potential to become future leaders, and staff from all departments at Comwell are eligible to be nominated and take part. As a result, the Talent Academy comprises a diverse mix of professional backgrounds.
The programme lasts one year. Participants must complete seven modules, which together constitute the Basic Leadership Training. In addition, they must undertake cross-training at a Comwell location other than the one where they work on a daily basis. They must also undertake job rotation in three other departments within their own hotel. They must visit the corporate functions at Comwell, and they are also part of a mentoring scheme where everyone is assigned an internal mentor.
For the newly minted talents, the programme has been an eye-opener, giving them renewed energy and inspiration for their daily work and tasks.
“I’m already putting a lot of what I’ve learnt into practice in my day-to-day work. Among other things, the course has made me better at delegating and more aware of how I can distribute responsibilities within the team. I’ve also gained a greater understanding of different personalities and ways of working, which has helped me when collaborating with others. Among other things, we worked with theories on change and transitions, which made a lot of sense to me in relation to my own journey and all the developments we’re seeing in the industry and the world around us. It has taught me how important it is to create a sense of security, to be clear in your communication and to allow people to develop at their own pace,” says Louise Ditlev.
The celebration of the first cohort does not mark the end of Comwell’s Talent Academy, but rather the beginning, because at Comwell, the path to growth lies, among other things, in staff development.
“In addition to our Talent Academy, we offer other internal training programmes, including courses on how to work with green transition and sustainable operations. Professional and personal development is not a one-off event, but an integral part of our strategy at Comwell, because it motivates people, creates well-being and enhances our service. So continuous training and development are not just ‘nice to have'. It is the foundation that enables us to remain an attractive workplace with the industry’s most talented employees,” says Mai-Britt Jensen.
The Comwell Talent Academy has already launched its next cohort. They started in January 2026, and the plan is to launch a new talent cohort every January from now on.
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.
The Comwell Group has just held its annual Team Player of the Year Day, where selected staff and trainees from all Comwell hotels and the head office gathered in Horsens. The aim of the day is to strengthen social cohesion, celebrate the strong team spirit and recognise those employees who go the extra mile for their colleagues, guests and the internal working culture.
Kathrine Brinkløv is Venue Manager at Comwell Centralværkstedet, where the high ceilings, train tracks in the floor and rustic charm have already made the venue a favourite for conferences, meetings and events. Kathrine brings with her an international career and a high level of ambition - both for the venue, guests and future events.
21 February 2025 marks a very special milestone for Frederik Jelstrup, Hotel Manager at Comwell Bygholm Park and F&B Director at Comwell Hotels. He has been part of the Danish-owned hotel chain for a quarter of a century, and his journey in the group has been characterised by a desire to create change and a steadfast belief that when the hotel, employees and guests smile, everything comes together.