Cooperative, solution-oriented, passionate

A portrait of Julia Harnischfeger

Julia Harnischfeger was appointed Managing Director of UPARTMENTS Real Estate GmbH in February 2020. Her responsibilities include the Europe-wide management of the Serviced Living division under the JOYN brand.



Ms. Harnischfeger, you have been a member of the management team at UPARTMENTS Real Estate GmbH for almost a year now. What professional milestones have you achieved in recent months?


"The time since February 2020 has definitely been a challenge for me, for the team and for the entire tourism and hotel industry. Due to coronavirus, we were confronted with issues that were new to all of us. I consider it a professional milestone that we did not have to put any employees on short-time work and that all of our JOYN Serviced Living locations remained open. Personally, I feel a great responsibility to lead the team and guests through the crisis in a physically and emotionally safe and hopefully healthy way. It takes strength, but it is also a success. The opening of JOYN Zurich and JOYN Dusseldorf in 2021 were very special moments, as were the openings of the Cologne and Vienna locations of our YOUNIQ and LINKED LIVING brands in the student accommodation sector. We are very proud of this. The team has done a great job and achieved many successes despite working from home and lockdown."



Your business area includes Europe-wide serviced living under the JOYN brand. The company operates micro-apartments for business travelers. How does the business traveler differ from the vacation traveler? What needs do they have that holidaymakers don't?


"Independence, autonomy and feeling at home are important criteria for anyone on the move. At JOYN, we call our target group the "on-the-go generation", so it doesn't matter whether the guest is on a business trip or a weekend getaway. Of course there are differences, but guests at JOYN Serviced Living want privacy and community, which are not contradictory. In the apartment, guests have their own space, can look after themselves and feel at home. In the community lounges, you meet like-minded people, strike up conversations and get to know each other. It doesn't matter whether you are traveling for work, managing a project for several weeks or exploring a city for a few days. Guests come to a JOYN for very different reasons. We call it temporary living."



What are the advantages of a micro-apartment compared to a hotel room or a regular apartment?


"Serviced apartments are a "halfway house" between a hotel and a home. Compared to a hotel, the advantage is clearly the possibility of self-catering. The kitchenette built into each apartment plays a large part in this. Compared to living, the guest has the advantage of the services and the community. At JOYN we offer a washing lounge and the host team is on hand to help and advise guests. For those who are new to a city, JOYN feels like a temporary home. In a hotel, you pay for many services that most guests don't use. At JOYN you have everything you need. Sustainability is important to our guests. This includes not wasting things and, for example, getting along wonderfully with cleaning in a seven-day cycle."




You have more than 15 years of experience in the international hotel industry. How would you describe your management style?


"Cooperative, solution-oriented, passionate."



There are still very few women in management positions in the hospitality industry. Why do you think that is?


"I know many inspiring women in management positions in the hospitality industry. They are not that few. Nevertheless, there is a period in professional development when it is difficult to reconcile family and shift work in a hotel. Many women then leave the hospitality sector. In our team, we offer part-time models, flexible working hours and, most recently, mobile working. We want to find creative solutions not just for women, but for everyone, regardless of their lifestyle. Our employees give us a lot of loyalty and commitment in return."



What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the hospitality industry in the future - apart from corona?


"Finding, developing and retaining employees. For me, it's the issue of our time - now and in the future."



What gives you strength for your day-to-day work?


"Seeing how my team develops motivates me. I also always find the individual development of individuals inspiring. That's fun. Of course, I also draw strength from good conversations with friends, family and colleagues. It always goes on, even when things are bumpy. Our guests network in the community through interesting contacts with other guests. They often tell us that this gives them strength and energy, especially when they are new and unfamiliar with a city."



One of your tasks is change management. In which direction is serviced living developing?


"Serviced apartments have experienced an upswing in recent years and have become increasingly popular. This can also be seen in the growing supply on the market. Corona has given the industry another boost, as there was no other option at the time. Restaurants were closed and those who were out and about had to cater for themselves. However, the development goes beyond serviced living. The entire microliving segment continues to grow. This includes serviced apartments, co-living, student living and, in future, even more senior/assisted living. We are already represented in two of these areas and can imagine developing further segments. We see ourselves as a microliving operator and expert. That is extremely exciting."



The interview was conducted by Claudia Hilmbauer