Graduate wins Deutscher Hotelnachwuchs-Preis 2018

Congratulations to International Hospitality Management BA(Hons) graduate Astrid Krauss who has won the Deutscher Hotelnachwuchs-Preis 2018. The annual prize, which is now in its 7th year, recognises exceptional performance in the hospitality industry.

Astrid graduated from the University of Brighton in 2008 and her first role in the industry was as Global Sales Trainee with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Global Office which included time in their five properties in Frankfurt. Astrid worked through the industry and is currently Director of Convention Sales at the Frankfurt Marriot Hotel.

In her current role she supervises a team of 20 employees and sets strategy and pricing to sell the 25 meeting rooms, 587 sleeping rooms and three outlets. She works close together with the general management team as well as banqueting department.

Astrid tells us about her time at the university and the hospitality industry: “I chose to study hospitality management as I like to work with people. It’s a very international industry, you get to know different cultures, behaviours and ways of communicating and doing business with each other.

“On the course I enjoyed studying with international students from different places in the world, the practical sessions were great, the exchanges during classes and the professors. I loved the course atmosphere and supporting each other while staying in the library until late at night.

“Eastbourne was great – close to London and directly located at the beach.

“There was a supportive team at the university and the teachers hands-on and very professional. There were diverse classes of theory and practice and in terms of topics. Coming from abroad any support needed I was given from everybody in terms of the course and credits received with the respective university .”

When asked about working in the industry Astrid said: “Hospitality is not about long working hours, bad pay and difficult working environments.

“If you love working with people, it will give you so much more, looking in happy guest faces and employees that reach their goals and support them in developing in their career. You can be creative and it is so much fun to work together as a team and to achieve remarkable milestones.”

And her tips for anyone thinking about a hospitality career: “You need to enjoy working with people and love the service industry. It’s a diverse and varied industry and you can reach the stars with passion and spirit.”