I have worked in hospitality my entire career, always related to tourism and hospitality. I was in the public sector, then at a travel agency organising trips to the Baltic; these were my first relationships with foreign guests and I could show them how we could organise a programme for them.

I joined my first Accor hotel, Novotel Vilnius Centre in Lithuania, 20 years ago. It was pre-opening so we had a new team and everyone was excited; that’s how my hotel career started. It has been a long journey; I have never worked for another international company and it is good to be part of the group. People are at the heart of everything we do and that is why I’m still here.

Everyone benefits from the company values; we live with them – in Accor and in our personal lives, and that’s what makes the place where we work great. For some people, it could seem strange because today people don’t stay in a company long. I’ve worked in two countries in four properties and that’s like working for four companies but without leaving. I have met many guests, colleagues and cultures, and that is what energises me.

For me, Heartist is being myself, being open minded, smiling, honest, empathetic – everything that hospitality is.

I’m proud of everything I do every day. After 20 years, I might have got into a routine but every day is different and I love solving people’s problems. I found projects close to my heart in Lithuania and Poland, especially as the Ibis Kaunas Centre was the first Ibis in Lithuania and my first time as a general manager. I’m proud of what we did as a team – and of everybody I’ve  worked with. I’m proud of my team here; I learn from mentors, colleagues, friends, every day.

And I have made friends for the long term; even if I don’t see them every day, after 20 years I still have a good relationship with the people I worked with in the past. They are there and if we meet, it is as though it was yesterday.

Today I am part of Novotel Warszawa Centrum team. Hotel has 742 rooms and is among the biggest Accor hotels in Europe. Everyday we ensure the best possible hospitality for over a thousand guests so my day is never boring.

Hospitality is a very good place to work, especially for young people. Be yourself, be open and honest, learn from your colleagues, and if you have a role you don’t like today, you can find another one in the same hotel, the opportunities are huge. You meet new people all the time and every day is different.