Ile Călin: Two Decades of Leadership in Hospitality and the Vision of Premier Hospitality

Ile Călin, Senior Partner at Premier Hospitality, shares two decades of leadership in hospitality, values, responsibility, and the future of Romanian tourism.

Ile Călin, Senior Partner at Premier Hospitality, is one of the leaders of the hospitality industry for more than 20 years, holding over time many leadership positions in tourism companies, as well as in employer associations in the field. Currently, he is active through his own consultancy and hotel management company, Premier Hospitality, together with his partner, Lucian Marinescu. A strong supporter of responsible tourism, he has become a recognized voice in the industry on topics such as education in tourism, the professionalization of the hospitality industry, alignment with international standards in the sector, eco-tourism, and many other initiatives aimed at boosting tourism in Romania.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence, in a way that makes those who don’t know you yet curious?
Ile Călin: I believe I am a person worth knowing because from this interaction we can each learn something that will help us become better.

C&B: If we were to look at a narrative thread of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?
Ile Călin: The defining moments of my career in tourism would be the following:

• Starting out at a very serious company mattered enormously – in 1995, when I was hired at Continental Hotels
• Joining a multinational brought me know-how – the international chain Accor – 2001
• Getting involved in associative structures starting in 2009 and taking over as President of FIHR in 2015 were other key moments in my career
• Transitioning into entrepreneurship in 2022 by developing my own consultancy and hotel management company

C&B: What was the first major challenge when you started building your career in the hotel industry?
Ile Călin: My first management job – Operational Manager at Grand Hotel Continental on Calea Victoriei, from 1997 to 2001 – also brought the first major challenge, a business restructuring through staff cuts and market repositioning. Just imagine how difficult that transition period was, now recognized as the “lost decade” after the Revolution.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?
Ile Călin: Yes – to leave a positive mark wherever I go, to leave good behind me.

C&B: How did you look at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed until now?
Ile Călin: If I look at myself back then (to quote a famous song by the band Iris), compared to who I am now, I’d say we’re talking about different people. Even though my classmates, whom I recently met again at the 35-year high school reunion in Marghita (my hometown in Bihor County), told me that, essentially, I am the same person they knew back in high school.
However, I believe there are major changes, some good (more balanced, more thoughtful, more analytical), others less good (perhaps less courageous, maybe not as curious as before, and certainly less patient).

C&B: If we met your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Ile Călin: I like to believe that when people refer to me, many say something like this…
Călin is an open and communicative person, pleasant company, and a good man. A professional in his field, always ready to support good ideas and quality people.

C&B: What is the most important decision you have made that changed your trajectory?
Ile Călin: The decision to take on the role of President of FIHR was an essential one in my career, as was the decision to step away from the role of employee in a corporation and start my own business.

C&B: How did clients react to the new entrepreneurial projects, and what type of feedback motivated you the most?
Ile Călin: I was pleasantly surprised by the support I received from many of my former colleagues in the industry when I made the move into the private sector, and just as impressed by my clients’ openness and courage in turning to us in this new role as a private operator.
The feedback that touched me the most over these three years of running our own business was this: “we did business with the man Călin Ile, not with the positions he temporarily held.” That meant enormously to me as a person, but also for our young business.

C&B: What differentiates Premier Hospitality from other initiatives in the hospitality sector in Romania?
Ile Călin: We are now trying to create a company that brings hotel management to a level we have so far mostly seen in international chains. We are one of the few companies in Romania focused on hotel operations and consultancy, as the market is currently almost entirely dominated by foreign operators.
That’s why I believe the ambition to compete with them in this market is in itself a great challenge. The fact that in less than three years since we started on this path, other Romanian companies have appeared following the same trajectory shows us that we are on the right track.
We are a third-party operator, a company that takes over hotels under management or lease from individuals or firms who do not wish to manage them themselves (for different reasons – some don’t have the time as they are too involved in other businesses, others lack the necessary know-how, while some simply want a quieter life, etc.).

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and which moments bring you the most satisfaction?
Ile Călin: I’m an optimistic person and I enjoy life, my family, the fact that I am healthy, and the progress I achieve every day, whether personal or professional. This motivates me and brings me satisfaction.
I don’t have a specific daily routine, and for me, that means a lot. I am very adaptable and adjust my schedule according to wishes, priorities, and day-to-day needs.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them daily?
Ile Călin: As for values, I would say that I strive to earn and offer trust and respect to those around me.
As a guiding principle, it is about creating something positive wherever I am, being better today than I was yesterday, and better tomorrow than I am today. Although it may be hard to believe this happens in our country, I am one of the (few?) people who often prioritized the greater good over personal interest. I know this sometimes makes me lose in business, but at the same time, it allows me to gain a certain standing and much respect. For example, right now I am excited by the idea of working on tourism development strategies for various destinations in Romania; I feel I can do a lot of good by lifting an entire destination, not just individual companies or people.

C&B: How did the idea of Premier Hospitality come about, and what motivated you to take this path?
Ile Călin: Watching the hotel market globally, I noticed the need to professionalize this service so that we too can be more efficient and competitive. It’s clear that Romania needs such companies, and that’s how we started. My partner, Lucian Marinescu, was already involved in hotel consultancy, while I brought in extensive hotel operations experience, so we decided to join forces and create Premier Hospitality.

C&B: What are the development plans for Premier Hospitality in the coming years?
Ile Călin: By 2030, we want to have a network of 8–10 hotels managed at the highest level. We want to grow professionals alongside us and prove that in Romania too, hotel business can be done just as well as anywhere in the world. And the way we want to do it is moral, ethical, and sustainable.

Ile Călin’s experience and vision stand as a benchmark for Romania’s hospitality industry. Through Premier Hospitality, he proves that professionalism, ethics, and responsibility can shape a sustainable and competitive future for Romanian tourism.