Like many, joining hospitality was not my goal or dream; I went to the US and started working on cruise ships, with Royal Caribbean. I thought it would only be for a couple of months and it lasted 15 years! I moved from being an assistant waiter and waiter to assistant manager and manager and to more senior positions. Eventually, I came back to Poland and worked in the hotel business. And 29 years later, I’m very happy because I have found my place.  

I worked for a number of hotel chains, always in food & beverage, including Vienna House by Wyndham, then two years at Hilton, four with Radisson, and I worked for private owners before joining Accor in 2023.  

Accor is one of the biggest hotel groups, it is on every continent. Mercure stands for ‘discover local’ and we reflect things regional and local.  

Hospitality is a way of life for me. It gives so much pleasure because you can make people happy and can see that taking effect. People think it is a difficult industry to work in but in fact, if you are nice to people and your goal is to make them happy, that is satisfying – to see people’s needs and fulfil that. I like to work with people.  

For me, being a Heartist® is to care about guests and colleagues; care is the key word and that makes a real Heartist®.  

By the time I returned from the States, I had become a specialist in new openings. Mercure is the fifth hotel I have opened from scratch and definitely the biggest, with much going on in the Food & Beverage department, and we have made our mark since we opened 1½ years ago. I have worked in many hotels; each one has been successful and that makes me proud and tells me I am doing my job well – and they are still operating successfully.  

Each generation changes; I am now working with Gen Z and to them, I say, be patient; whatever you dream will happen but don’t give up too quickly. Sometimes people expect things to happen within a couple of months but they need to wait.