Thanks to the passion she invests in her work, but also in the constant development, Svetlana Kostic repeats her successes and with right tells young people that specialized skills, patience and persistence do not go out of style.
For Svetlana Kostic, the marketing manager of MK Resort, there are no impossible goals, it is only about time and how to reach them. This energetic woman approaches the business thoroughly and with dedication, continuously taking into account the innovations brought by the digital era and confessing that she enjoys all aspects of her profession.
Marketing is usually considered the ideal job for women, do you agree with that opinion? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this job, from a women’s perspective?
– Marketing is often perceived as a simpler business than it truly is. The armies of young people see themselves in some Hollywood script for marketers, where in very modern surroundings they find themselves in the middle of an exciting creative process for the latest advertisement for a world-wide famous brand. Possibly the biggest misconception of marketing is exactly identifying it with a promotion that is just one link in the chain, which is a little more complex, older and more demanding than other areas of business. Therefore, it is a dynamic but also quite stressful job and is ideal for a woman as much as she is willing to challenge herself and find herself in less “joyful” aspects such as researching, analyzing, strategic planning and managing all marketing processes from product creation to promotion and distribution and especially communications. I would also state that it is very important for this job that there is both a passion and a continuous hunger for creating something new, better and more creative. From the amount of that passion directly depends on whether it will be the perfect job for a woman who deals with it. From a different point of view, the impact of marketing is so extensive that it makes this business one of the few that provides so much insight and a better understanding of the vast spectrum of business and social life, as well as connection with a wide variety of human profiles, which certainly impresses our feminine nature and energy.
What are the biggest challenges when it comes to tourism marketing?
– It is challenging to work on the development and revitalization of destinations, especially the local ones, which have been experiencing numerous phases through the socio-economic transition and need a good marketing shake-up from years of inactivity. Examples from the world, but also very close to us, tell us that there are two types of destinations, spectacular by themselves and ones that were made spectacular by a good storytelling and marketing. Fascinating, isn’t it? It is no longer impossible to imagine the image of landscaped organized parks, historical sites and especially spas in Serbia. Tourism is the fastest growing branch of the economy and our biggest challenge is to use this fact in the proper way, strategically and smartly marketing and branding destinations, from Belgrade as the most important to other more or less developed ones.
What sets Kopaonik apart from other tourist destinations in the region, what is specific about MK Mountain Resort’s offer?
– Kopaonik is in many ways an exceptional destination. Generations are relating this mountain to their first ski steps, winter holiday with family and friends, school excursions, a memorable entertainment … On top of all there is some magic that makes us all come back to this mountain like in the quote by Josif Pancic. This essential emotion is the first thing that sets Kopaonik apart from other destinations, as well as the unquestionable beauty of nature, the altitude at which the tourist center is located, the quality offers and facilities that Kopaonik can be proud of.
MK Resort, and especially the Grand Hotel, have been the epicenter of social life and current events on the mountain for decades. In addition to its special location and the grand surface it occupies, the Grand was and remains a symbol of the best that Kopaonik has to offer – outstanding comfort, gastronomy, the atmosphere from entering the hotel to exiting the trails that are near, but also the maximum relaxation that provides the greatest a spa on the mountain, especially outdoor hot tubs at night, with the view of the illuminated trails and Pancic Peak. When it comes to the winter season, the special offer is always reserved for families and our youngest guests.
What do they consider to be the most important for women’s empowerment, self-confidence and positioning in a further patriarchal society like ours? What advice would you give to women at the beginning of their careers?
– Knowledge is always the best investment and an unquestionable basis for personal development, self-confidence and positioning. Investing in yourself daily through professional knowledge means giving and taking much more than what is served on the surface. And as much as the opposite may seem at some point, much is available and much depends on ourselves, and intellectual digging pays off in the long run. I am a great supporter of digitalization and I strive to understand and support young energy whenever possible, but no matter how fast the changes and processes around us happen, personal and professional development is not something that happens overnight, so knowledge and specialized skills, with a little patience and persistence, will not go out of fashion for long.