I chose to study hospitality because I love learning about different cultures. For my first job, I could choose between the airport and a hotel – I chose the hotel, as it fitted the career I wanted. My five-month internship at reception at ibis Amsterdam Centre was exactly what I hoped for. It’s a big hotel, welcoming all kinds of guests – business, leisure, young and old.

Accor then offered me a one-year contract in reception, after which I was promoted to Supervisor for Front Office and F&B. Taking on extra tasks – rotas, onboarding, interviewing – led to my role as Senior Supervisor. Today I work behind the scenes in operations, but I still love working with people. Our team comes from Spain, England, Portugal and beyond, so no two days are the same.

What I’ve always valued about Accor is the chance to grow, backed by strong values and training every year. Last year, I joined Step Up, a programme for women in management. I travelled to London on my own and met some wonderful women. We learnt how to lead, recognised our inner strength and left feeling more confident. It changed how I see things and how I work.

Hospitality isn’t for everyone. You need a real desire to help and connect with people, and you need to solve problems quickly. It has to come from the heart; otherwise, it becomes too heavy.

Being a Heartist® means being myself – having the freedom to help guests in my own way and to build real connections with the people around me.

I’ve had many highlights with guests, but I’m proudest of becoming Senior Supervisor and making onboarding special. When new team members finish their first month of training, we hold a graduation day – I love giving colleagues that moment to celebrate them.

My advice? Be a sponge and absorb everything. Don’t try to do it all at once – watch your colleagues and learn. If you feel good where you work, you’ll pass that on. Stay flexible: you’re working with people, not robots, and things change quickly. Accept people’s differences, and the job becomes easier – and you’ll never be bored.