In this energising leadership conversation, The Mandrake General Manager, Eljesa Saciri, joins,Tom and Declan to explore how a 34-key boutique property can feel larger than life. From law student to bar back to GM, she shares how tenacity, curiosity and people-first leadership power an avant-garde hotel where art, nightlife and deep restoration live side by side.

This episode is produced in partnership with Agilysys, helping hotels bring guest, spend and operations together on one platform so teams can understand the whole guest journey and drive smarter revenue decisions.

The Mandrake is not just a stay. It is an experience. Think two bars, two restaurants, a new members’ club and Dharmā, the world’s first immersive spa with an Origin Pool designed for full sensory reset. By day guests restore. By night they lean into the darker, playful side with DJs and performances. Through it all, service remains human and precise.

Key topics include:

✅ The boutique GM journey and owning your difference

✅ The art-led vision behind The Mandrake and its private collection

✅ Sexual wellness and safe, expert-led programming

✅ Dharmā immersive spa and the Origin Pool experience

✅ Building team energy and psychological safety on every shift

✅ Commercial acumen without losing the human touch

✅ Community work, mental health advocacy and empowering women in hospitality

Whether you lead an independent hotel or a branded property, this episode offers practical ideas on culture, programming and leadership that create memories from moments.

🎧 Listen now to hear the full conversation with The Mandrake’s GM, Eljesa Saciri.

Read more episodes and industry insight at Hotel Magazine.

Key Moments

00:00 – What hospitality means to Eljesa, creating memories from moments

00:41 – From studying law to the first female GM of The Mandrake

01:39 – Three things you did not know about Eljesa

02:43 – Inside The Mandrake: bars, restaurants, members’ club and greenhouse

03:18 – World’s first immersive spa and the new members’ club

03:47 – “I always said I would run it”

04:49 – The art-led vision and founder Rami’s personal collection

05:24 – Learning the building and its stories

05:35 – Sexual wellness at The Mandrake Salon with expert-led sessions

07:16 – First month as GM and the transportive feel of the hotel

07:46 – The all-encompassing experience: dark and light, last Friday package

08:35 – Late-night DJs and performance, then sleep and restore

08:53 – Breakfast on Jurema Terrace and restoration in Dharmā

09:53 – The Origin Pool: multi-sensory reset and ancient rituals with modern tech

11:19 – Early life as a refugee and seeking powerful female role models

14:04 – The pivot from law to hospitality and the first big break

15:28 – Ten years of rapid progression: asking questions, knowing where you fit

17:53 – Keeping it fun as a leader and setting the energy for the team

19:23 – Doing every job, leading from the floor

19:44 – Partner break: Agilysys on unified platforms and revenue clarity

23:01 – Being labelled “difficult,” age and leadership, proving commercial acumen

25:44 – Why luck meets hard work and being seen at the right time

26:08 – Community impact: women’s shelters, mental health and schools outreach

29:22 – Transparent leadership: open P&Ls, late-night support, umbrella mindset

30:48 – Learning from poor management to lead differently

32:24 – Two changes to fight for: women in leadership and real allyship

33:24 – Barriers to change and why women must champion women

34:29 – Mentors who changed the trajectory

35:58 – Midnight fox fiasco and the realities of GM life

37:29 – What has changed in a decade and why difference now leads

38:01 – Why you have to experience The Mandrake to understand it

38:40 – Career highlights: Acorn 30 Under 30 and a team award that mattered

40:08 – Quick fire: essentials, favourite cities, Hall of Fame pick, travel musts

42:17 – Question for the next guest

42:40 – Definition of hospitality: changing lives, not saving them

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🤝 This episode of Suite Talk is in partnership with Agilysys.

🔗 Learn more about The Mandrake and Hotel Magazine.