In 2002 he joined Marriott International as Food & Beverage Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott in Berlin-Teltow and went on to hold positions as Director of Food & Beverage to the Hamburg Marriott Hotel as well as at the Warsaw Marriott Hotel in Poland. Appointed as General Manager, Hendrik managed 2 years the Renaissance Aktau Hotel in Kazakhstan followed by 3 years in Armenia managing the Armenia Marriott Hotel.

Hendrik Beye is married, has 2 boys and living in Prague, Czech Republic.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
Beginning July ’17 and my company brought me here.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
My career tour started with an hotel opening in Czech Republic short after the wall came down beginning of the 90th
I spend several years in Poland, Kazakhstan and Armenia too

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The enthusiasm of the youth generation incl. language skills, the culture and architecture and of course the amazing food and wine!
And all people are extremely polite and friendly. A country with a great culture!

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Exploring the city by walking! Not only the key districts, side streets full of hidden spots, such bars, shops and great buildings resp. some facades are breathtaking. Jewish quarter, Liberty square, some great galleries such as Koller Gallery at Táncsics Mihály u. etc.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Not easy to name all dishes (e.g. goulash in all his variation, fisherman soup, Bogrács, Mangalica etc) the Hungarian cuisine is still genuine and unspoiled …means local products, base materials and several hundred years old traditional methods of preparing food ..and wine too! Many traditional dishes are still prepared in the old fashioned way, no convenience food, thanks god!

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Let me answer with what you will never find in my fridge: Ready to eat food ….

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért …. Out from web an article, the longest word in Hungarian language

8. What do you miss the most from home?
Nothing, my home is Prague … architectural wise exist some similarities, and being back to central Europe all my F&F will join me over the upcoming months, easy to travel (train and great highways)

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Back to my roots, all about eating and drinking, such as the history of food and drinks, table manners and culinary delights in Central Europe and their influence on human art, culture, philosophy and politic

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Pope ……….

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Armenia, France, Austria, Germany

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
We have some friends in US and spending mostly the 4th of July together in Fort Lauderdale

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Early Music (European music written between 1250 and 1750 embracing Medieval, Renaissance and the Baroque) and Led Zeppelin, Yes, Genesis with Peter Gabriel, Impressionists such as Ravel, Claude Debussy etc etc.
And I’m a book maniac and the European film industry is total underestimated!

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
…the world is full of avant-garde temptations ..LOL

15. Red wine or white?
Summer blush and winter red.

16. Book or movie?
Book together with see above.

17. Morning person or night person?
Early Bird.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
800 million people are starving day by day, food and free education for all children

19. Buda side or Pest side?
I’m living at the river bank, Pest side but Buda in front of my balcony, lovely.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Always look on the bright side of life (the unforgettable Monty Python’s)