30 years of stories

A challenging start

Fabiana, current advisor at Rede Swan, was just 23 years old when she received a challenging mission from her father Carlito Schwan: to put a dream, Swan Novo Hamburgo, on its feet. This was made possible by a bold project designed by architect Peixoto and executed by the best professionals of the time.

“Architect Peixoto was a visionary and the project was so modern for the time that some local suppliers simply didn't know how to execute it. That's why we hire the best professionals and sometimes travel to São Paulo in search of solutions. I was only 23 years old, I don't think I would delegate a project of this magnitude to a 23-year-old today” he laughs and recalls Fabiana, who was responsible for the financial management of the hotels for a long period.

Executing the work was the first challenge for Fabiana, who was an administrator by training, but had no experience in hotels. To assist her, an operational manager was hired, with her managing the newly opened space.

“Estela Franzen had experience, as she had worked at another large hotel chain. She masterfully handled the operational side and I took care of the financial side. It was like that for many years. Customers were demanding, used to going to this type of environment.”

Fabiana recalls that the Swan Network was born big and over the years has evolved even further. Swan Novo Hamburgo, for example, was a complex project for the city, becoming the first Accor franchise in southern Brazil. Subsequently, with the entry of Gabriela Schwan – current CEO – into the operational part of the network, other innovations were implemented, always with Fabiana leading the construction of the projects.

“I believe that after Swan Novo Hamburgo, the most challenging project was Jangal das Araucárias, as it was the first time we hired a previous architect and all the details needed to be beautiful and usual”, he highlights.

With the Swan network completing 30 years, Fabiana remembers the stories, the details and especially the people who made the network what it is today.



“It doesn’t even seem like 30 years have passed, or 33 considering the beginning of the work. Looking back, the feeling is one of gratification: the Swan Network is innovative, creative and with soul. It’s the people who make this happen every day”, she emphasizes when highlighting her own personal and professional growth together with the network, which reflects strong pillars, the company’s values.