Zoran Ruttner
At Coral & Coco in Curaçao, they believe learning and working go hand in hand. Co-owner and alumnus of Hotel Management School Leeuwarden, Zoran, saw the collaboration with students as the perfect opportunity to give them hands-on experience in hospitality while also strengthening the company.
Fresh ideas for a growing company
“The fresh perspective students bring is a real asset,” says Zoran. “We are a young, fast-growing business, and their ideas help us discover new opportunities and think differently about strategy and innovation.”
Coral & Coco manages homes, apartments, and villas in Curaçao for private owners and international investors. They ensure owners achieve maximum revenue with minimal effort. From managing listings and pricing strategies to 24/7 guest service and welcome packages. Beyond the day-to-day operations, Zoran is especially enthusiastic about working with students from Hotel Management School Leeuwarden.
Design challenges at Coral & Coco
Students at Coral & Coco work on hands-on, real-life business challenges provided by the company. These are practical, up-to-date issues that Coral & Coco faces in its daily operations, and students tackle them collaboratively in teams.
One recent challenge focused on sustainable growth through horizontal and vertical integration in the hospitality sector. Students analysed the market, explored international trends, and identified opportunities for new services and target audiences.
“Running a business often keeps you tied up in day-to-day operations, leaving little time for strategic questions,” Zoran explains. “Students bring a fresh perspective, which often leads to surprising ideas and new insights.”
A win-win for students and the company
What Zoran values most is the direct contact with the students. “They are motivated, curious, and willing to ask questions. Working together is extremely rewarding. We’re now on our sixth challenge, and each time we see how students help our company grow.”
For Coral & Coco, the collaboration is clearly a win-win. Students gain experience, broaden their understanding of hospitality and life in Curaçao, while the company benefits from fresh ideas, new perspectives, and a strong connection with the professionals of the future.
“Through these projects, students get to know our company and the industry, develop research and teamwork skills, and often discover that they want to do their final internship with us,” says Zoran.
Tip for businesses
Are you also looking for fresh ideas, new perspectives and talented students? Feel free to get in touch with us.