Interview with Nicole Schaffers

THIS IS WHO WE ARE: Nicole Schaffers, General Manager of Seaside Palm Beach Hotel

“I see myself as a hostess welcoming guests to my home; Palm Beach is like a big family".

Nicole Schaffers (Germany) has a long and proven track record in the hotel industry as she has dedicated almost her entire life to this profession. She has been working for the Seaside Collection group for eleven years, the first two years as the manager of Grand Hotel Residencia and then nine years at the helm of Palm Beach, with a two-year break to become a mother. Previously, she had worked in other hotels for two decades, also as a deputy hotel manager.  

As hotel manager of Palm Beach “I really see myself as a hostess welcoming guests to my home; we are like a big family". In fact, she explains, many of the employees have been working at the hotel for over 30 or 40 years, which is why this place feels like a second home to them.  

And that is precisely the philosophy of the Seaside Collection and the Palm Beach group led by Nicole Schaffers, “to greet and welcome guests as family, making sure that everyone has an unforgettable experience so that they want to come back”.  

A second family: The guests 

And they take their job seriously. So much so that, as Schaffers points out, 80% of the guests who come to Palm Beach are loyal customers who have been coming to the hotel for 30 and 40 years. And it’s not just them, but also their children and grandchildren: “It fills us with joy when we get to welcome third generation clients and we see the children of parents who grew up here and who learnt how to swim in our pool, for example", says the general manager.  

Our clientele—hotel guests—varies greatly depending on the season. During the school holidays, many families decide to spend a few days at Palm Beach. The rest of the year the type of guest is a bit different, as there are more golfers, pensioners or couples looking to relax and unwind. In terms of seasons, travel patterns are in line with trends in the Spanish mainland: Spanish nationals usually travel more in the summer months; while German, English and other European travellers tend to come between the months of November and March, when it is usually very cold in their countries. “They want to go out and see the sun, and this is the perfect place for that, with a reasonable flight time of 4 hours and 30 minutes," Nicole explains.  

Life at the Seaside Palm Beach hotel

The hotel has 328 rooms, 24 of which are suites, offering breathtaking views on both sides. On one side, views of the sea and on the other, views of the swimming pool and the palm grove. “The advantage of the rooms with a pool view is that they get a lot of sun in the winter months; while those with a sea view are perfect to enjoy beautiful sunsets, which are different every day, and also offer fantastic views of the dunes in the morning, when nobody is there yet. It’s truly spectacular," Nicole explains.  

In terms of design, the hotel features a retro-70s decor in the common areas. “We also take care of even the smallest details designed by Alberto Pinto”, says Nicole, referring to the French designer and architect who was involved in the project, with striking colours, which is why the hotel is now part of the prestigious Design Hotels collection.  

Gastronomy at Seaside Palm Beach

With a varied offer to cater for all special diets—whether vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or lactose-free—Palm Beach stands out for its delicious cuisine. Regarding our food offer, guests can enjoy the different culinary options of 3 restaurants: the main one, which is the one included in all meal plans, and two other à la carte restaurants, which are the Esencia, a Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant, and La Bodega, a traditional Spanish restaurant with local products, serving high-quality tapas and excellent wines.  

Speaking of wines, Nicole explains that the wine selection offered at Palm Beach is indeed very varied: “Right now we are also working on expanding our list to include some more international wines". However, if there is something that stands out at our restaurants, and particularly La Bodega, it is the high-quality Spanish wines on offer. “We have Rioja and Ribera del Duero, of course, but we also have wines from the Canary Islands, which are becoming more and more popular and are really good", says Nicole. 

Core strengths:  All Inclusive Premium and Kids Club

In order to cater for all tastes, Palm Beach has created a premium all-inclusive package to allow guests to enjoy the full experience at the hotel. “For the younger clientele who prefer to know the total cost in advance, these packages offer premium drinks (champagne all day, all kinds of gins) and the option of dining at the two restaurants of the hotel,” explains the hotel manager.  

Another of the hotel’s strong points is its children’s area, a place of vital importance so that both parents and guests looking to unwind can share the same space. “The children’s area has a private pool for children to play and make all the noise they want” she explains, and adds: “It also has a disco and a mini club (called Pepe's Club) with a very individual and personalised offer depending on the season and the number of children". This space also offers an activity programme for children ages 4 to 12, and a nursery and babysitter service. 

Nicole Schaffers, an intimate look 

In addition to talking about the hotel, Nicole Schaffers has also told us a couple of interesting facts about herself and her tastes. 

• How many languages do you speak? Four: German, English, Spanish and French.  

• Describe Gran Canaria in 3 words: Sun, nice weather and good food. 

• Favourite part of the hotel: The garden, where you can listen to the birds singing; a place that transmits a lot of peace and harmony, the perfect place to recharge your batteries.  

• Favourite dish of the hotel: Mainly fish. I love the salt fish prepared at Esencia, one of our à la carte restaurants. 

• Your favourite dish on the islands: Some papas arrugadas with mojo sauce.