Celine Weckerle
Assistant Guest Relations Manager, Ritz Hotel, Paris, France, Graduated 2010, HIM
Hospitality has been my dream job since I was a little girl with the passion being brought to me by my father. He had always wanted to work in this business but was never able to, so I decided to take on the challenge.When I graduated from HIM, I started off as a rooms division management trainee at the Ritz in Paris. After a year of intense training acquiring an extensive amount of rooms division knowledge, I was promoted to Assistant Guest Relations Manager.
One of the most important things I learned at HIM was how to handle complaints. Listening, apologizing and acting upon a complaint is something I do every day!
The highlight of my career so far was receiving flowers from an extremely difficult guest. After a month where she complained every day to each department manager, she told me I was extremely professional and that she would gladly recommend me to any other palace in the world!
The most important thing needed by someone if they want to work in the hospitality industry is passion. Long working days, rough guests and working over weekends and public holidays is not as easy as it may seem at first. Without passion for their work, any hospitality professional will lose their motivation and drive to please the guest at any cost. So, my professional motto is "Always be passionate"
