A visit to René Henze
The avenue leads straight to the Schlitz Castle estate, with views to the right and left of the road across meadows and fields to the horizon. The classicist palace delights lovers of nature and culture in equal measure. Since January, Burg Schlitz has had a new dual leadership: interim hotel director Bernhard Moser and the new commercial director René Henze run the hotel together. We spoke to René Henze about his personal connection to the castle hotel, his management style and where he best organises his thoughts.
Dear Mr Henze, Schlosshotel Burg Schlitz has a new dual leadership team: Mr Bernhard Moser and you are succeeding a long-standing management duo: Hotel Director Melanie Hecke and Commercial Director Gabriele Orlowski.
That is correct. As interim hotel director, Mr Moser will continue to develop Burg Schlitz conceptually, while I have been the hotel's new commercial director since January. Mr Moser and I always coordinate our management of the hotel and run Schlosshotel Burg Schlitz together in the interests of the owners.
We are sitting here in the Green Parlour. Why did you choose this place for our interview?
The Green Parlour is perfect for private, personal and confidential discussions. Our guests also use it as a retreat for a glass of champagne, for conversations as a couple or to enjoy our English-style afternoon tea. There are of course many other great parlours and rooms in the Palais that would be suitable for this. But I am proud to say that the Grüner Salon can definitely be described as our living room and is therefore my first choice.
Dear Mr Henze, Schlosshotel Burg Schlitz has a new dual leadership team: Mr Bernhard Moser and you are succeeding a long-standing management duo: Hotel Director Melanie Hecke and Commercial Director Gabriele Orlowski.
That is correct. As interim hotel director, Mr Moser will continue to develop Burg Schlitz conceptually, while I have been the hotel's new commercial director since January. Mr Moser and I always coordinate our management of the hotel and run Schlosshotel Burg Schlitz together in the interests of the owners.
We are sitting here in the Green Parlour. Why did you choose this place for our interview?
The Green Parlour is perfect for private, personal and confidential discussions. Our guests also use it as a retreat for a glass of champagne, for conversations as a couple or to enjoy our English-style afternoon tea. There are of course many other great parlours and rooms in the Palais that would be suitable for this. But I am proud to say that the Grüner Salon can definitely be described as our living room and is therefore my first choice.
What brought you to the hotel industry? What fascinates you about the industry? Was there that one moment when you realised ‘This is my career path, this is where I want to be’?
I am a complete career changer, which gave me a completely different perspective on the hotel industry. After leaving school, I trained as a bank clerk and then decided to become an officer in the German army. After this time, I studied business administration and economics and then worked for ten years in foundation work.
I know Burg Schlitz as a guest and have the unique opportunity to really learn the hotel industry from the host side and to think ‘out of the box’. I myself enjoy being a host in my own manor house and here at Burg Schlitz I can - and am allowed to - try out and implement my approaches and approaches to how I envisage a family-run hotel. Of course, there are the standards that are expected of a hotel manager, but I can also allow myself the luxury of proposing and pursuing my own ideas and breaking new ground in order to successfully lead the historic house into the modern age.
What brought you to the hotel industry? What fascinates you about the industry? Was there that one moment when you realised ‘This is my career path, this is where I want to be’?
I am a complete career changer, which gave me a completely different perspective on the hotel industry. After leaving school, I trained as a bank clerk and then decided to become an officer in the German army. After this time, I studied business administration and economics and then worked for ten years in foundation work.
I know Burg Schlitz as a guest and have the unique opportunity to really learn the hotel industry from the host side and to think ‘out of the box’. I myself enjoy being a host in my own manor house and here at Burg Schlitz I can - and am allowed to - try out and implement my approaches and approaches to how I envisage a family-run hotel. Of course, there are the standards that are expected of a hotel manager, but I can also allow myself the luxury of proposing and pursuing my own ideas and breaking new ground in order to successfully lead the historic house into the modern age.
How long have you been at Schlosshotel Burg Schlitz and why did you choose this hotel?
In April 2025, I will have been at the hotel for a whole year. My private reorientation to Mecklenburg raised the question of a new job. I generally like small, family-run companies with flat hierarchies. I immediately remembered my time as a guest at Schlitz Castle in Mecklenburg and submitted my application on my own initiative. And lo and behold, I was promptly invited to meet in person. It was my only application.
What does Schlosshotel Burg Schlitz have that other hotels at this high level don't? What makes this hotel unique?
We actually ask ourselves this question almost every day as part of the realignment of the marketing and expansion of the programme ‘What makes Burg Schlitz so special?’ It's the little things that make Burg Schlitz stand out. We are sticking to the tried and tested, such as the classic evening cover service. Many hotels are cancelling this for a variety of reasons. We simply try to continue to maintain such small things. Our hotel rooms and suites are all different and adapted to the history of the hotel. They are furnished with a stylish mix of modern, historical and timeless pieces of furniture.
We personally accompany our guests to their rooms and are happy to tell them something about the history of the hotel.
What is there to discover in and around Schlitz Castle?
Schlitz Castle is located between Mecklenburg Switzerland and the Lake District. That alone makes the location exceptional. From the hotel, guests can go on hikes through one of the most famous privately owned landscape parks in Germany and discover more than 50 monuments by the builder of Schlitz Castle. The castle itself is probably one of the most important neoclassical castle complexes in Germany and is enthroned on a hill in Mecklenburg, visible from afar in brilliant white. The interior architecture has been largely preserved or restored and invites all guests and visitors on a journey through the centuries. Historic paintings, long colonnades and the finest stucco work will amaze even long-time employees.
Our gourmet restaurant ‘Wappensaal’ has been preserved in neo-Gothic style and the coats of arms on the walls only hint at the great families who stayed here at the castle alongside the Count of Schlitz. Here we serve the award-winning gourmet menus of our chef Maik Albrecht. Franziska Pauli - our sommelier - provides the perfect wine accompaniment and a perfectly rounded evening.
How do you start your working day? Do you have a ritual, e.g. drinking a coffee, walking around the house, collecting yourself and looking at the landscape...?
In fact, coffee is always a good start. Every morning, I make a point of walking through all the departments and wishing every employee a ‘good morning’ in person. That usually happens before I even switch on my computer.
But I don't have a real personal ritual like that. For me, it's important to see every assigned employee once and have a little chat with them before I go to my desk.
What experiences were formative for you at Burg Schlitz - both enjoyable and challenging?
Well, Burg Schlitz had a big impact on me as a guest, because it was not without reason that I decided to work here. We always say in the house: once Schlitz Castle - always Schlitz Castle. Once you've fallen in love with the castle, you'll never let it go. My path here at Schlitz Castle took a personally challenging turn when our then Administrative Director, Mrs Orlowski, revealed to me that she would be retiring at the end of 2024 and asked me after two weeks' work at the castle whether I could imagine taking over her job. I admit that I was initially ‘gobsmacked’ and couldn't estimate the scope of her work at the time. But I took on the task and have now been running the house since January. And it's nice to see that my ideas and suggestions have been accepted and that the house has taken a good step forward.
Running a hotel is a round-the-clock job. What do you particularly enjoy, where can you fulfil yourself?
I always find phrases like ‘round the clock’ difficult. It sounds too much like micromanagement to me. If you have a strong team and good department heads, you can allow yourself the luxury of not being available sometimes - unless the boss calls me (laughs).
I've never had a ‘job mentality’ in the past. In a managerial position like mine, you shouldn't think like that either. There are always such and such days and everything evens out in the end. Nevertheless, you shouldn't expect any management level to be available 24/7. I enjoy my work and am happy when things work out in the end.
What do I particularly enjoy? I am a pragmatist and always like to try to simplify things, not to think too complicated or to try to consider every little detail in advance. I like to break up old, outdated processes, streamline them and automate a lot of things where possible. This saves time and frees up hands that are more urgently needed elsewhere, especially in times of labour shortages.
I also like to get stuck in myself when it comes to furnishing the rooms, decorating and greening the public areas. In this way, I get to know the house better and better and give it a personal touch.
Do you have a favourite place or retreat at Schlitz Castle?
I have made my office very cosy and therefore feel very comfortable here. And I also like to retreat here. As a rule, my office door is always open and anyone is welcome to come to me with their questions. If the door is closed, the employees understand this sign.
If I want to withdraw completely, I like to sit down secretly in one of our unoccupied hotel rooms and organise my thoughts completely undisturbed.
YOUR HOST AT SCHLOSSHOTEL BURG SCHLITZ
You can contact René Henze at www.burg-schlitz.de or by e-mail at info@burg-schlitz.de .
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