General Manager, Novotel & ibis Łódź Centrum (Poland)

Aleksandra Predka

Aleksandra Predka's story

It’s tricky to choose your future in your twenties. I am lucky because my studies were linked with my work but I chose hospitality because I knew I had a talent for languages – English and German, and that is needed in hotels. After that, I loved the energy, the vibe, being surrounded by great people, the togetherness, and flexibility.

My career has been a Cinderella story: from Apprentice to General Manager, it speaks for itself. I like to learn new things so I always wanted more – more knowledge, more responsibility, and I had great mentors over time. In hospitality, there are lots of Cinderella stories from reception, kitchen, restaurant to General Manager positions; you can learn with time in a receptive environment and it is possible to grow. This is my first job, the first company I worked for, and it gave me what I needed – change, possibilities, great development; and I was part of IHMP, the International Hospitality Management Program, which is like an internal degree. It was a great experience, it gave me a group level perspective and me an understanding of the value of international connections. I am still in touch with some team members from the program. With time my responsibilities changed and now I run two hotels in central Poland with 368 rooms to sell every day; it is dynamic and it’s an adventure.

I have been part of the industry for 20 years, developing my career in Hekon, Orbis, Essendi & Accor. I started as a waiter and shift leader at ibis Łódź Centrum, later progressing through management roles in hotels across Poland, including Katowice, Wrocław, Toruń, Częstochowa, Łódź and Warsaw. Since 2019, I have been General Manager of Novotel & ibis Łódź Centrum. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to lead diverse teams, manage multiple brands, and contribute to the development of high service standards across the Accor network.

Accor people are lively and supportive; there is great networking and I have the ability to challenge myself. My job has flexibility, adventure and creativity – it is still a very attractive career for me; I love positive hospitality – that phrase sums up the feeling! All these reasons are why I love hospitality.

I have lots of energy but you don’t have to be like that – we need all personalities, and we build teams on this diversity, a common energy; we all have a part to play in different hotel departments. And we don’t employ for high skill levels because we can train those, show people what positive hospitality is about – being affirmative, open towards guests, team members and having fun.

Being a Heartist® means leading with empathy, authenticity, and care. While I strive to support my teams and create a positive environment, the reality of leadership includes moments that aren’t always easy. As managers, we sometimes face difficult conversations—especially when it comes to navigating change. These moments can be challenging, but when approached with trust and honesty, they help build a respectful and open culture. That’s also part of being a Heartist®.

The proudest moments of my career have been working with my Teams and opening hotels. It is a great adventure building a team from a scratch, organising everything; it requires action, being dynamic and adaptable – you have to change plans quickly to keep up with what is going on. With excellent teams you empower the energy of working together that creates togetherness, connections, and good memories.

To people new in the industry, please be proactive, open, curious, ready to learn something new every day – and have fun!

  • Aleksandra Predka
  • General Manager
  • Novotel & ibis Łódź Centrum (Poland)

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