Name: Franka G.
Position: Rooms Voyager
Hotel: London Edition
Dream destination: New Zealand
Drink or treat of choice: I’m a coffee girl and barista at heart, and lactose intolerant at that, so an oat milk cappuccino is first on my list. And if it’s too late for a coffee, nothing is better than a self-made gin and tonic.

While not everyone comes to Marriott’s HQ Fellowship/Internship Program knowing exactly how their lives will intersect with hospitality, some see the program as the logical next step to pursue a lifelong dream of working in the industry. Franka, who first joined Marriott as a part of the HQ Fellowship/Internship Program last summer, is one of those people.  

“I want to be a general manager and open my own hotel. That has been a dream of mine since I was 15, and I’m still working towards that dream, getting closer every day, one step at a time,” says Franka. “The connections that I built [during my internship], have been a steppingstone for my career and opened many doors for me, for which I am very grateful.” 

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And they surely paid off. During that summer fellowship at Marriott HQ, Franka learned about the Voyage Program. As she was finishing her master’s in hospitality management at Cornell University, she decided to apply as soon as the application period opened. And she got accepted! 

In March, Franka started working as a Rooms Voyager at the London EDITION Hotel and as is typical with Franka, is making the absolute most of it.  

Learn more about how she is running toward her GM dreams at high speed, below. 

How did you find your way to Marriott?

As a student at Cornell, Tony Capuano’s Alma Matter, I have been part of the Marriott universe for quite some time. We had the immense pleasure of speaking to Tony as part of a masterclass in our spring semester. Through the same class, we were given the opportunity to listen to and learn from a large number of Marriott associates and executives who talked to us about the various business ventures that Marriott has as well as their career paths and how they found their way to the company.

Listening to these people tell their stories, being so welcoming and open to sharing their stories, and seeing how passionate they were about people and hospitality, I knew that I wanted to work for Marriott one day. I am a people person myself — am empath, somebody who works best in a team and first and foremost is passionate about hospitality and bringing people together. So, naturally, Marriott seemed like a great fit.

In your eyes, what makes Marriott stand out from other companies?

Everybody here, no matter what position or department they are in, is passionate about hospitality. All associates work together towards the same goal of bringing people together through unparalleled hospitality experiences. People are truly put first at this company, and that is tangible in the way that associates interact with each other, no matter their level or position.

Why do you think you chose the Voyager path instead of applying to a “regular” job?

I appreciate the opportunity to get to know a hotel or a brand through many different departments. As somebody who has a background in operations centered in Food and Beverage, I wanted to gain more experience in the Rooms department. This program seemed like the perfect opportunity for learning as much as possible while also providing me with a solid yet broad education in hotel operations in numerous departments. Plus, having learned a lot about the success stories of Voyage alumni, I believed that this was a great starting point for an operations career at Marriott.

What will you be doing during your 12-month program at the London Edition?

As a Rooms Voyager, I will spend three months in four different departments – housekeeping, room service, front office, and guest experience. I started my program in housekeeping, which has been great so far! It’s truly the backbone of every property and should receive a lot more credit for how [this department] helps run a hotel smoothly. Like everybody who starts at the London EDITION, I had a two-day orientation with all new associates during which we were introduced to Marriott, the EDITION brand, and all senior leadership as well as the departments of the property. I then went on to complete about one week of cross training, which for me meant training as a room attendant, laundry attendant, porter, and public area attendant before moving into my actual position as a housekeeping supervisor.

What does a day in your new life as a Rooms Voyager look like?

I start at around 8:30 am with a department meeting where we cover all relevant information for the day – VIPs, numbers, operational details, events, etc. As a supervisor, I am typically responsible for two hotel floors, which at this hotel comes to 64 rooms. I am the last person to see the room before the guests arrive, so I check for cleanliness, amenities, guest preferences, and any other details that need to be looked over. My day usually ends at around 5:30 pm, after I have completed the handover for the next day.

Where do you hope this program takes you and your career?

I know I want to pursue a career in hotel operations and hopefully become a General Manager one day! But as of right now, I am looking to complete the program with much more knowledge and skills in the Rooms departments and a better understanding of the EDITION brand, its standards, and the positioning of this brand within the Marriott universe. It has been such a pleasure being part of Marriott in various positions up until now, and I’m certain that this journey will continue and take me to great places in the future as well!

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