Tell us a little more about yourself and your career to date.
I am from a tiny country called Estonia. I was born and raised there, though for the past 10 years, the world has been my oyster and I have been lucky enough to live across three different continents. I got involved with the hospitality industry from a very young age thanks to my mother. I got to work alongside her at many wonderful outdoor corporate events as well as at weddings, where I was involved with catering and then later on moved to a bistro. After two wonderful years working as a nanny in the USA, I returned to hospitality with a job in a restaurant and then later on worked behind a bar at university whilst studying. After graduation, I joined a graduate programme with Leonardo hotels and just recently after almost four years and many experiences and memories later, my time with Leonardo Hotels came to an end. I have now joined The Royal Air Force Club In London as their Front Office Manager and am truly looking forward to the journey ahead!
I joined the Institute of Hospitality in early 2021 and two years ago, joined the committee on the newly formed IoH Youth Council. It has been a wonderful two years, I have taken part in some amazing events, met some incredible people and get to drive a small change forward with the Youth Council committee. At the beginning of this year I came the Chair of the Youth Council. It has been an absolute pleasure and an honour to lead such a highly talented team. Our main aim is to engage with young people who are just starting their career and show them what the IoH can offer to support and help them to start their career. Its wonderful to see how many fantastic, talented people are entering the industry and I cannot wait to see their onward journey.
Congratulations on winning your Acorn Award 2023. How did you feel when you won?
It is a huge privilege and honour. To me that means everything. And it is safe to say that this is the highlight of my career. Such recognition has made every minute of my career to date worth it and there could not be a bigger compliment than that. It has been an absolute pleasure to work at Leonardo hotels and be involved with the Institute of Hospitality on alongside this. What makes it even more special is that now I am connected to all of these wonderful people who have received Acorn Awards in previous years and I am looking forward to learning from them as well.
For those who may not know, what is an Acorn?
To describe it in short, the Acorn Awards recognise 30 people under the age of 30. Each and every one of them is an asset to the hospitality industry due to their passion and aspiration. An absolutely legendary group of people!
What do you feel contributed towards you becoming a 2023 Acorn winner?
I have always been very vocal about my passion for the hospitality industry. During pandemic I was fortunate enough to join the Institute of Hospitality and soon after was chosen to be part of the Youth Council. It has given me such a wider perspective of the industry. Having my day to day job and then being very active with the IoH promoting hospitality industry, has been the combination that led me to an Acorn. There is so much that can be done within the industry and I am truly looking forward to exploring hospitality at its finest now that I have finally moved to London.
Why say #imin to the IoH
I would not be who I am today and I would have not reached to this point in my career if it was not for Institute of Hospitality. Starting with my most wonderful mentor – Sara Ballinger – who I met through the Institute’s Mentor Me programme and then moving on to all of the events and webinars, there are countless reasons why one should be part of IoH. I have met people who have become my close friends and I have had the chance to visit some of the most amazing hospitality venues, while meeting so many incredibly passionate and talented people. Whenever there is something that I get involved in or an event that I attend that relates to IoH, I always return home thinking that this is the best industry to be in.
What advice would you give to someone considering joining the Hospitality Industry?
All I would like to say is that this industry offers something for everyone. And I mean it. It is an industry where you can learn and develop with ease and climb very fast. My favourite part is that it allows me to get out of my comfort zone and become a stronger and better person.
What’s the weirdest/most wonderful/worst thing to happen to you during your career?
Weirdest: On one fairly quiet evening, I was around reception and answered a phone call. The lady on the end of the phone said that she is planning to book a room for her husband, but before she booked a room, she wanted to double check that we could do a small favour for her. She wanted to have a raw potato on the bed, so as soon as her husband enters he would see it. No note, nothing else, just a potato! I said no problem and fulfilled her request. Til this day I have no idea what it was for…
Wonderful: Just lately a guest surprised me and it was the most wonderful thing. It was my last day of work in Leonardo Royal Hotel in Birmingham and I received a present. It was multiple items all individually wrapped in a personalised wrapping paper that said ‘Good Luck Katariina” and then a personalised card, wishing me all the best. It came from a lovely couple who I had helped out during their stay before. It was truly just magnificent. It is amazing how small things can go a long way.
Worst: It is always difficult to deal with people who are under an influence of either drugs or lots of alcohol. One time myself and my colleague had to stay in the room with a woman who needed medical assistance after mixing heavy painkillers with wine until the ambulance arrived. Hospitality truly shows you the most beautiful, but also sometimes the worst parts of life. I guess that is the beauty of it… There is always balance!
This is the second of three interviews with Acorn Winners who are IoH Members. Read part one with Elisia Guglielmucci MIH here and part three with Kelly-Marie Staunton MIH here.
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