Anna Ziegler

It is Monday once more, 18 January 2021. In today’s episode, I have the great pleasure to introduce to you one of my mentors, Ms. Anna Ziegler. When I started my career at the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Anna was already part of the Sales department, led by Joerg Zimmermann at the time, and she even interviewed me. Meanwhile, Anna moved to The Plaza in New York City, and I stayed in Hamburg for almost six years before our paths crossed again at the Savoy in London. 

In 2019, Her Hometown Hamburg was calling for her return, so she decided to leave London. Since then, she is responsible for the Sales and Marketing Department at the Vier Jahreszeiten that received the best hotel in Germany award (https://www.die-101-besten-hotels-deutschlands.de/rangliste-2020-2021/). 

I always admired the way she stands up for her team and her incomparable perfectionism. She is obsessed with details in a positive way. When my family and I moved to London in June of 2018, by September, I had to do my first international sales calls which were scheduled for 4 consecutive weeks. The tour included Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. During this time, Anna sent my wife a massive bouquet thanking her for all the support.

It is all about the details.

I hope you enjoy this episode and wish you all a great read.

Question 1: Where did you start your career?

Anna Ziegler (AZ): “I started my Sales career right here – at Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Hamburg. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to transfer internationally within the company, working at The Plaza in New York City and The Savoy in London, before I returned to Hamburg in 2019 as Director of Sales & Marketing. I consider myself very lucky to come back to my roots with such diverse and sound experience in my pocket.”
Question 2: What means hospitality to you?

AZ: “Passion! People! Cultures! It is an industry that brings people from various backgrounds with very different experiences to achieve one common goal of creating memorable experiences for guests, colleagues, and clients. The joy of creating something special together as a team is rewarding and fulfilling!”

Question 3: Can you please share an anecdote, based on your experience, that shows the variety and beauty of our industry?

AZ: “Wow – there are so many wonderful stories. The inspiring and crazy people we get to meet, the absurd requests we receive, the strong relationships we built around the globe, the places we get to travel to, the delicious cuisine we get to taste – just the life we live! It is an industry that constantly surprises me and opens my eyes to all the possibilities that are out there. I certainly feel very privileged to be part of this beautiful hospitality world.” 

Question 4: Have you had a mentor in your career? Who was it, and did she/he give you any advice you still follow?

AZ: “I have had wonderful leaders along the way who have all influenced me one way or another. Early on, I have had individuals who believed in my talent and my drive pushing me to deliver my very best every day. This trust gave me the confidence to grow above and beyond what I thought would be possible. I would not be where I am today without some of the great advice I was given. However, there is one very important piece of advice I would like to pass on: “Don’t wait for others to present you with opportunities. You are the driver of your career!”

Question 5: What would you like to say to a hospitality student/ a hospitality professional who recently started their career, right now?

AZ: “Fantastic choice! No doubt, we are currently facing challenging times but be patient, there will be better times on the horizon. It is worth it! Hospitality is such a unique and inspiring industry and I truly believe that the sky is the limit. It is incredibly diverse and above all, the globe is your playground. To me, it is not just my job – it is my passion!”

Question 6: Do you have a book recommendation - this could be everything from a novel to an autobiography, etc. 

AZ: “I enjoy reading books and definitely should make more time for it! One book that truly stuck with me and I regularly refer to on a professional level is “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” written by Stephen Covey. Currently, I am very excited to start reading Barack Obama’s book “A Promised Land”. Reading the true story of a successful leader or business model is incredibly inspiring to me.”

Anna, thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us. Given your interest in Basketball, I would like to finish today’s episode with a quote from Kobe Bryant:

“It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you – or don’t. So don’t take it lightly.”