Christina Kraus
It is Monday, October 25, and I am glad to welcome you to another episode of Monday motivation – Felix asks. In today´s episode, I am taking you back to Dubai. The city with the second most five-stars hotels in the world.
My guest today has worked for some of the most prestigious brands in the world of hospitality and is leading a department that has never been more important than post-covid times. Hospitality is going through a tough time, and almost every hotel worldwide is looking for new employees. Hence, it is so important to have a strong Human Resources team.
I am very grateful to welcome today the newly awarded HR Person of the year from the magazine “Hotelier Middle East” Christina Kraus, the Director of HR, Madinat Jumeirah at Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts. When I reached out to Christina, she was in London as a Task Force for the reopening of the Carlton Tower, under the leadership of Aaron Kaupp.
Christina and I talked about the start of her career and the fantastic ride since then. From Hamburg to Abu Dhabi, Vienna, and back to the Middle East. We talked about her definition of hospitality, her mentors, and her advice to the younger generations.
Christina shared her favorite books, recommendations for both Dubai and London, as well as her best place to stay.
I hope you enjoy the read, and I would like to share one of my favorite quotes with you, which perfectly fits our episode today:
“Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”
Question 1: Can you take us through your career? Where did you start and what do you love most about your current role?
Christina Kraus (CK): “My hospitality career started with the Grand Elysee in Hamburg, where I did my apprenticeship. Then I moved on with Kempinski within HR at Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, Kempinski Vienna, Doha, and Muscat. In between, I did a short escape to Anantara. Lastly, then I got headhunted for the Burj Al Arab in 2019 before moving on within the company to Madinat Jumeirah as Director of Human Resources.”
Question 2: What does hospitality mean to you?
CK: “For me, it is generous treatment and reception of guests and visitors through your actions, service to make them feel the unexpected.”
Question 3: Have you had a mentor/role model/hero in your career? Who was it and did she/he give you a piece of advice you still follow?
CK: “I have met mainly great leaders. Who has impacted me the most was Hans Olbertz – who “discovered” my talent for Kempinski at Emirates Palace and Kempinski Vienna. In addition to that Rupert Simoner, today CEO from Vienna House and previous SVP Kempinski Europe is for me always someone I would look up to. Until today I would call him for advice. His leadership has been always strong and memorable for me.”
Question 4: What would you like to say to a hospitality/ tourism student/professional who recently started his/her career, at this right moment?
CK: “I deal a lot with young talents and what I do notice is that students sometimes think the moment they have their degree they are managers, managing comes with however experience and knowing the job from the base and this is mostly the time when you start getting respect from peers for your knowledge, not because of a degree. Also going the *extra mile* tends to be not as important anymore as young talents sometimes place their own needs in front, however, a working relationship is like a relationship with our partner, it is a permanent give and take.”
Question 5: Do you have a book recommendation - this could be everything from a novel to an autobiography, etc.
CK: “A German one would be: Das Kind in dir muss Heimat finden (it is about travelling the world and finding home); and what has impressed me was Lean In from Sheryl Sandberg, the Yahoo CEO who tries to find balance within work and private life.”
Question 6: Which other industry expert would you like to see to answer these questions as well?
CK: “Rupert Simoner, just because there is always something, I take out of it as advice or idea.”
Question 7: Where do people go, that is not the advertised place to go in Dubai and or London?
CK: “My favourite place in Dubai is *Jetty Lounge*, a Lounge which is outside with a view to the boats in one of the One&Only Resorts at the beach, London – despite that fact that I do believe it is not an insider I do like Blue Bird in Chelsea and Amazonico (which we do also have in Dubai).”
Question 8: What is your favourite place to stay?
CK: “I have travelled a lot and always took something out of each trip for me personally as memory or experience. One of the nicest places I have been, and I could visit annually is Florence in Italy linked with the Tuscany.”
Christina, I am glad you took the time, and thank you for sharing your insights. I hope we meet soon somewhere around the globe, and please do not forget to #sharepositivestories.
