Pesta says motivating staff is crucial to an outlet's success. Pesta says motivating staff is crucial to an outlet's success.

W Doha’s Spice Market restaurant manager Jozef Pesta explains why he has moved from Spice Market in London to the same brand at the W Doha Hotel & Residences

What is it about Spice Market that made you stay with the concept?
It is the idea behind the Spice Market; the warm atmosphere from front and back-of-house team, ambiance, the food we present, service we provide and last but not least the people with whom I’m working.

Combine all of this with passion and you have the perfect workplace. This is the reason why I’m staying with Spice Market. It is what makes us special and different from other competitors. Spice Market is a place where you can get closer to the guests, provide exceptional food and create an irreplaceable rapport between the two.

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What are the biggest challenges of the role?
I’m sure all my colleagues’ managers would tell you the same; it’s a combination of financial performance of the venue, staff motivation, and maintaining a restaurant’s consistency.

Hospitality these days is a constantly changing and challenging environment in which you need to be quick in adapting yourself. It is vital to be on top of the game if not ahead of it and only then can you healthily compete with your competitors.

Do you see any difference in the business in the region compared to London?
Well, London has its own strong, very bustling, competitive and innovative restaurant scene. And with regards to Qatar hospitality and restaurant industry I can see it is growing extremely fast and well. There is certainly no simple answer to the question. The demand of good places in Doha is rising very rapidly.

I can see Qatar’s importance in the culinary world and this will, in turn, earn its place in the hospitality world. There are lots of new and big-name restaurants opened already and many more opening soon, so I’m sure that the competitiveness will be here.

On the other hand the increased competition will make you think ‘what else can I do for the guest who enters my restaurant or hotel?’ Doha will definitely play a very big role in the culinary world very soon if not already.

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