I didn’t choose hospitality, it chose me. As I was born in Dubrovnik, pearl of Adriatic, where hospitality is in our DNA, since I was a small I was living hospitality with my parents. As kids, my friends and me, we would play on street, we were running a hotel, there we were selling rooms with a sea view, helping with parking… I started working really young, it is family business, and until today, I never stopped living hospitality. I think we are perfect match from the very beginning.

I have a degree in tourism and one in another industry. I have tried working outside hospitality but it is not my cup of tea; I wasn’t happy and I missed interaction with people, so I decided to go back. In hotels, I started in reservations and after years of learning and developing myself, I became reservations, revenue and distribution manager. And I love my job.

What I love most, is that I can work with people from all over the world. In Accor you are not just a number, you belong, you can grow, and you can make a difference. I love helping people and making regular days special.

Why should it be a regular Monday when it can be the most special Monday this month, or why just a night’s accommodation when you can turn it into a memorable evening in your hotel.

I would recommend this industry to every young extrovert; it is cool being surrounded by different nations, people, ages and cultures. It is not the highest paying career on the world but it can certainly be fulfilling. You can improve your second, third and fourth languages, you can travel the world, you can learn something new every day, you can have a great coffee in the office and cool colleagues. There are so many options, but the most important is that your job takes the best of you and gives you the best.

Being a Heartist® means leading and breathing with the heart. It’s not just about checking guests in or out, it’s about making people feel seen, heard, and cared for. It’s those little moments such as remembering a guest’s name, last visit, or turning a stressful day into a joyful surprise. In short, it’s being ninja, therapist, magician and friend. All before lunch.

I don’t strictly have any proudest moments, as though I did something heroic or magical – I just did my job, the best I could and should.

My advice to new starters is to start from the beginning, and that will help you better understand procedures later, and please listen to your coaches, take every opportunity to learn something new. If you think you don’t belong in a hotel, try something else; don’t force yourself into something that doesn’t feel right. Come with an open mind and heart, stay calm and always think two steps ahead. It can be challenging but at the same time really satisfying.