The new General Manager of Corinthia Budapest, Jonathan Pace has over a decade of experience in successfully leading unique properties within the Corinthia brand in various cities.

A graduate of the Institute of Tourism Studies Malta and a Cornell General Manager Program Alumni, he took over the the Grand Hotel at an exciting time during the planning stage of a multi million Euro uplift project.

Fresh from being selected as the Leading Manager of the Year 2018 by other Hotel General Managers in the city of St Petersburg, managed properties under his leadership have also collected an array of awards.

To name a few; Corinthia St Petersburg scooped the awards of Leading Conference Hotel for 3 consecutive and Leading Business Hotel for 2 consecutive Years at the World Travel Awards.

Prior to that Corinthia Prague was also named as Leading Business Hotel for 3 consecutive Years. Jonathan is looking forward to be part of the team in Budapest and continue building on the success of this Iconic Hotel.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived in August, with my family – my wife and two daughters. The Corinthia brought me here, this is the 7th property I have been working in for them.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
I spent five and a half years in Prague, and most recently 4 years in St. Petersburg.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The lifestyle you can lead here, for example in one day you can get from the city to the wine yards in the countryside. So it is easy to find good work-life balance.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? 
The area around Basilica, a walk on Andrássy, a visit to the Jewish Quarter – I have a favourite bistro in that area called Macesz. Normafa is very nice in the Buda Hills for a walk.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Must be the goulash, I like it spicy.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
A bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Egészségedre.

8. What do you miss most from home? 
The lifestyle in Malta, to have family within driving distance. And fish by the sea!

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
A lawyer, I always wanted be a corporate lawyer.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
An accountant, or any type of similar job which involves sitting by the computer doing the same thing every day.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
South of France – I was in Bordeaux last December.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
In Vietnam, since I like Asian culture and have never been there on a holiday. Or Brazil…

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
Being open.

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
I liked soft rock, like Evanesance, and my hobby was running long distance.

15. Red wine or white?
White in summer, red in winter.

16. Book or movie?
Movie.

17. Morning person or night person?
Night.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
I wish the world was fairer, with wealth spread more equally.

19. Buda or Pest side?
Pest. Only because I do not know Buda as much.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Good is good, best is better.