At Mellow Mood Hotels, the continuous development of our team has always been a top priority. This spring marked the conclusion of the fourth edition of the Mellow Mood Academy, an eight-week internal leadership program filled with new experiences and insights for our mid-level managers. We spoke with Andrea Weininger, Group HR Director, about the concept and impact of the Academy.
Where did the idea for the Academy come from?
“This was already our fourth Academy, though the last one took place before the COVID pandemic. Since then, a new generation has grown up within our company – many dedicated, talented middle managers who excel in their roles. Still, we believe it’s essential that they also gain a deeper understanding of the bigger picture. That’s why we decided to relaunch the Academy with an updated structure and a more focused curriculum.”
What was the main objective of this year’s program?
“Our goal was to provide participants with a comprehensive, up-to-date view of how the company operates. So much has changed in recent years – not just in the world and in tourism, but also within our own group. Our hotel portfolio has evolved: we’ve completed one of our largest renovation projects to date with the Expo Tower Hotel, opened new restaurants, launched Cinema Mystica, welcomed new leaders, and introduced new systems. We felt it was the right time to gather and share all this accumulated knowledge in a structured, unified way, ensuring that our team grows along with our properties.”
What made this Academy different from previous ones or from other training programs?
“We intentionally moved away from generic training topics like communication skills or classic team-building. Instead, we focused on our internal processes, our everyday operations – the things that define how we work and what makes us successful. It was important for participants to see how departments like finance, marketing, HR, sales, operations, and F&B are interconnected and how their work impacts each other across the business.”
How was the program structured?
“Each department head gave a presentation covering their area of expertise. I was especially proud to see how committed the directors were – they prepared practical, experience-based sessions. The participants learned about each team’s day-to-day responsibilities and also visited the Párisi Udvar Hotel, where they could experience five-star luxury in practice and gain insights into its everyday challenges.
The F&B division was introduced through a special tasting session and showcase at our Baalbek Lebanese Restaurant, offering a delicious hands-on experience.”
Was there any external inspiration involved?
“Yes, because we are always open to fresh ideas. Andrea Schrancz, CEO of HD Group and Microcosmos, gave a fascinating presentation on the behind-the-scenes world of event planning. We also welcomed Gábor Fáska, Regional Director of MSZÉSZ (Hungarian Hotel & Restaurant Association), who offered a strategic overview of tourism trends and opportunities in Budapest.”
How would you describe the participants’ engagement?
“It was fantastic to see how motivated they were! I personally attended almost every session, and I noticed that participants didn’t just listen – they took notes, even though all presentations were available digitally. The Q&A sessions were always vibrant and full of great questions – some of the best professional discussions stemmed from those exchanges.”
There was even a final exam. Why?
“We wanted to measure how much of the knowledge was retained and applied. Participants first completed a theoretical test, then collaborated on a group project where they were asked to redesign one of our hotels as a smart and green property. They presented their solutions at the final session – and it was a pleasure to see their creative use of modern tools, including AI and visual design software.
The presentations weren’t just informative – they showed that the participants truly grasped the essence of what we do and how we think as a company.”
How did the program conclude overall?
“All of our participants performed exceptionally well, with many scoring around 90% on the final test. It was clear from the project work that our core value came through: our greatest asset is our human capital. The knowledge, mindset, and dedication of our colleagues have always been the key to our success – and that will never change.”
We celebrated the program’s conclusion and success with a closing reception at Port de Budapest, where our founders, Awad Zuhair and Sameer Hamdan, personally thanked everyone for their participation and congratulated the top-performing graduates.
