For many, a management position in the tourism sector is a dream job: working internationally, with People avoid, maybe even get to know celebrities are the incentive for many to aim for this goal.

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Dream job hotel manager

A leadership position in the tourism sector is considered by many to be a dream job: Working internationally, dealing with people, and maybe even getting to know celebrities is the incentive for many to aim for this goal.

A study by the consulting company Universum shows that students in the subjects of hotel management, hospitality and tourism management are 64 percent in an international Companys want to work. And 40 percent are explicitly aiming for management tasks. But how do you get your dream job as a hotel manager? Which Vocational Training and what skills are required? We present three completely different career paths.

Rebellin from the Black Forest

Ingrid Lemm comes from a small village in the Black Forest and had an 4 in French. Today she is a manager in Canada's French-speaking province of Quebec, one of the best hotels in North America and even had to cancel Paul McCartney. How to become so successful abroad?

She had always been a little rebellious, says Ingrid mischievously during our dinner dinner at the Panache Restaurant. And in her little Schwarzwalddorf it was just too tight for her.

Today is Ingrid Lemm Sales Manager at the Auberge Saint-Antoine, which was voted one of the best hotels in Canada by Condé Nast, among others, and which is frequently visited by numerous celebrities, including Paul McCartney. At least in theory.

"I had to cancel Paul McCartney!"

“He should give a concert in the city. We were soon booked up. And then Paul McCartney's manager called and asked for an available room. And I had to cancel it. I was heartbroken: I would have loved to have had him here, ”reports Ingrid.

A successful Career, which wasn’t planned at all: “I think you have to be a bit naïve to emigrate – otherwise you wouldn’t do it,” reports Ingrid. Because she originally came to Quebec because of a man she had met in Germany. But the relationship didn't last long. "I liked the country better than the man," says Ingrid. And she decided to stay - more out of defiance than conviction: "At home everyone said, 'It won't work, you'll be back soon anyway' - so I wanted to prove them wrong." she grins.

With an 4 in French one does not go far

“Quebec was an incredibly lively city back in 1984,” she says. But also expensive: “The prices were sometimes twice as high as in Germany.” So Ingrid urgently needed a job.

But it wasn't that easy, because Ingrid could hardly speak French: "I got a 4 in French at school, so I had to learn the language first, because you don't get very far with English in Quebec," she says and smiles: " After a year and a half that wasn't one either Problem more. If my French teacher today knew that I even work in French."

From the hotel to the tourist guide

Ingrid had trained in a hotel in Germany, but she didn't want to go back there. As if she was hiring as a tour guide: "At first the jobs were badly paid and only in summer, that was a big problem."

An Further Training brought the hoped-for success: “I got a bus driver's license and the city's tourist guide course” From then on, Ingrid did city tours in English, French and sometimes German, bus tours and also had work in winter.

In Canada the talent is assessed, not the academic degree

Over the bus job, I finally got a job at a hotel: I was selling city tours there, dropping people in and running the trainings. Later she worked as an event manager in a hotel and eventually became Director of Sales at Auberge Sain Antoine.

What Ingrid has noticed over and over again throughout her career: In Canada, people are rated by talent, not degree or education. “For example, I had no experience as an event manager, but I was very good at it merchandise - that helped me. " And she does clear: "Unlike in Germany, you can be really successful here with hard work."

You can be very successful with hard work: no exclusion

It is these differences in mentality that inspire Ingrid about her new home – despite the very cold, long winter: “The people are nice and friendly and they just love living. You also make contacts light, albeit difficult to deepen.” Neither she nor her adopted Chinese daughter ever experienced exclusion as an immigrant.

This may also be because there is still a lot of room in Quebec: There was a lack of skilled workers like Ingrid told me, for example, on the building or in the hotel. In fact, many of the hotel employees come from Europe. The chefs traditionally find the hotel in France.

It is difficult to find well-trained staff

"It's difficult to find well-trained hotel staff in Quebec, we're desperately looking for them," says Ingrid, who is planning to emigrate Courage. And: "Anyone who wants and is willing to work hard can make a career here." But there is one restriction: without knowledge of French, nothing works in Quebec.

In Germany you always eat well when you have eaten a lot. The French way of life is better there: here it depends on the quality, not the quantity. I like the French way of life better.

Claudia Anderle

Purposeful career start in Australia

Discipline, perseverance and positive thinking are also Claudia Anderle's secret of success. She studied at the University Paderborn completed her master’s degree in tourism/geography with business administration and languages ​​and began her career during a Work-&-Travel stay in Australia. "I was 27 at the time, so I didn't just want to take a break, I wanted to pursue my career in Australia," she says. Her determination also helped her get her first job as a receptionist: “I knew that I could only convince personally. So I marched into the hotel with my documents and wanted to speak to the manager.

When I was told he had no time, I said 'well, then I'll wait'. In this way I was able to demonstrate that I am aiming for a longer-term career. ” Then she worked in two other hotels, including as a duty manager at her current employer Adina - until her visa expired and she had to leave Australia. During a six-month trip to Australia, she contacted the Adina chain in Germany - and when she returned to Germany she was in the right place at the right time.

At the new Adina Hotel in Frankfurt, she was hired as a duty manager for three months. "I didn't want to commit myself any longer," says Anderle. She then became an assistant manager in Hamburg and then bridged the vacancy of the general manager in Frankfurt as a relief manager. For Anderle, this offered the chance to get a taste of the unfamiliar responsibility on a temporary basis - and that stood her in good stead when she was finally offered the management of the Adina Hotel at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. "During my time as a relief manager, I was able to assess what to expect." She describes her leadership style as Leading by Exampel – exemplify what she expects from others: "I can't demand overtime from my employees if I'm not willing to work it myself," she explains her philosophy.

Dual study: from lecture hall to hotel director

Sascha Schwarze, on the other hand, chose a very classic career start: He studied tourism for seven semesters at the Adam-Ries University of Applied Sciences in Erfurt - which is now called IUBH Duales Studium. He had previously worked as a chef. The idea of ​​becoming a director himself appealed to him about the dual study program: "The way there would have been much longer with only an apprenticeship. In addition, I was able to acquire well-founded knowledge with the dual study program Background collect about the management of a hotel,” explains Schwarze his decision. Immediately after his studies, he was hired as director of the Flair Hotel Waldfrieden in the Thuringian Forest. During his studies, Schwarze alternated between studies and practice on a weekly basis. Every six months he created a project together with the practice company. During the lecture-free period, he was then in the company for several weeks at a time.

It is this interlocking of theory and practice that makes the dual study program so appealing to Schwarz: “I was able to apply and deepen what I had previously learned directly in the company and thus get to know everyday hotel life and take on responsibility at an early stage. I also made the best contacts during the practical phases,” says Schwarz. He considers it essential that all three parties work well together: “The lecturer prepares the scientific Basics as practical as possible, and the employer allows the student to put what they have learned into practice.

The student must be motivated and connect both sides.” Without self-discipline and a reasonable Time management This is not possible, especially since busy weekends and long shifts are often planned in the tourism industry.

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3 ways, 1 goal to success

Three ways, one goal: whether hotel manager is really a dream job because of the frequent overtime or the irregular working hours, including weekends, is something everyone has to decide for themselves decide:

The Universum study also shows that for 55 percent of students in the subjects Hotel Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management value workLife-Balance at the same time, with an annual salary of 33 euros per year, they expect significantly less than graduates from other subject groups. It's called your own Set and to compare values ​​with reality.