Travelling is my hobby and working in hospitality is a great honour; I love making guests happy because it makes me happy, too, and that is why I started in this business.

When I was 18, I was studying travel & tourism in college and they found us a job as part of the course, so I worked in housekeeping at Grosvenor House in London. I was there for six months and then at Ascott Mayfair London as guest relations coordinator. I loved living in London, Britain is a great country! I have lived in many countries including, recently, the USA, but for me London and Britain are top of the list.

I lived there for four years and I met my husband there. He was a student, too, and we came back to Georgia to finish our studies. I started work at the Holiday Inn and then joined Accor. I miss London and I would like to go back there to work – I tell my sons they should go there. There is an international cleaning show in London next year, so maybe I will attend that.

I joined hospitality because I love delighting people and Accor is an innovative company, it is growing and guest orientated. I have been working here for nine years, so I can give positive feedback; I have been well looked after and had good career progression. We were the first Accor hotels in Georgia – first Mercure and then Ibis and now Swissôtel, and now there are many.

I am proudest when we are warm hosts to our guests and when they thank us for good service and for our help; also, when my team tells me I am a good leader and good manager, and they thank me for being there.

Being great at what we do, masters of the fine welcome, and being creative and attentive to guests and colleagues – all these things are what it means to be a Heartist®.

If you decide to come into this great business, my first advice is to smile and look after your appearance, and do your best to make guests happy and take care of them. Also, love what you do; if you do that, it doesn’t seem like a job!