Meeting new people provides an opportunity for enrichment

Introduce yourself in a few words..

Hello, my name is Anna Pockova-Kinai and I am the Hotel Manager at Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia.

Tell us about the philosophy and values of the company you are currently working for?

First of all, I would likea to mention that working for the hotel is very inspiring both professionally and personally. This is because the philosophy of the hotel is built on three main “pillars,” namely Love. Care. Share, with their scope directed not only towards the hotel guests but also towards the team. In fact, for me, the hotel industry as a whole is based on these three concepts, as everything in our work is related to love, care, and sharing.

How long have you been working at the current company? What are the main motivating factors that keep you there?

I have been with the company for a year now. What motivates my choice and consequently I accepted the offer to be part of the team of this fantastic hotel is the fact, that this is the newest, most current, and very different in conceptual terms hotel among the Bulgarian ones. In purely operational terms, I am motivated by the daily communication with guests, teamwork, and the challenges that arise in managing such a large hotel.

If you had to recommend the company to your acquaintances or friends, what would you share with them to attract their attention?

What I noticed right at the beginning of my work here is the care for the team. I would start with this and if I had to recommend the hotel to acquaintances or friends. Here, the focus is really directed towards taking care of the staff, addressing their needs in relation to the dynamics of the industry and life in general. Of course, a sufficiently motivated team leads to providing 5-star service to our guests, which results in a high rating for the hotel, loyal guests, and constant high occupancy. Which in the end is a testament to how well we have done.

What does your company do to organize a constructive and fruitful working environment for everyone? Should we be friends with our colleagues?

This is a very good question, as we all clichéd say that it is not necessary to be friends with our colleagues. I have found many good friends precisely in the hotels I have worked in over the years and I actually believe that one does not exclude the other. It is natural that we cannot be friends with everyone, but the company is strong and adequate enough to create a comfortable working style where people feel good and in their communication with colleagues.

Tell us a little more about your responsibilities in the company? What makes you enjoy going to work? How do you handle difficult and stressful moments?

As a Hotel Manager, I deal with six main and very key areas in the operation of a hotel structure, namely Front Office, Hotel Housekeeping, Laundry, Security, Spa and Wellness Center, Beauty Salon. As you understand, these are “hot” points in the hotel and at any moment a case may arise. But I think that it is precisely the adrenaline and managing such important departments that motivates me to literally love my job and really come with pleasure every day. Last but not least, I would like to mention that daily communication  with guests and colleagues is also a very, very important motivator for me.

What work model does your company adhere to – office or remote? What are the advantages in your specific case and position?

The hotel industry, as much as it is tied to modern technologies, still remains one of the places where first and foremost is the human factor. We are an industry created by people for people. That is, in this sense, especially my operational work does not imply a remote form.

What have you managed to seriously enhance in your work over time in this company?

Meeting new people always provides an opportunity for enrichment. I think that so far what I have managed to enhance and continue to enhance every day is my communication skills with different types of people. Clearly, such a huge  structure like Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia implies also a variety of characters, ages, worldviews, etc., which I enjoy taking care of, calming, motivating on a daily basis…..

How important is hierarchy and what does it mean to you?

I respect hierarchy and believe that it is necessary in the interest of work and the final result. This is especially true for large structures, as an integral part of the hierarchy is also the development of delegation skills.

What is your career advice for all people who are building a strategy for their professional development?

I believe that there are no random things. When something needs to happen, it will happen. We must be patient, so that we can allow time to prepare us for the right moment. This way, we will feel ready, confident, and motivated for the next step.