Name: Katrin S.
Position: Assistant Director of Sales
Hotel: The Reykjavik EDITION, Iceland
To build a successful career in a demanding and dynamic sector like hospitality, you need a real passion for service and a natural connection with others. At Marriott, we love to find people who have that certain sparkle, and Katrin, Assistant Director of Sales at The Reykjavik EDITION, certainly has it.
Katrin has had three promotions in her three years at the company, so we were intrigued to hear how she got started in hospitality. We caught up with her to hear all about her career journey, life in Iceland, and more.
Starting Out in Hospitality
Iceland native Katrin began her hospitality journey at 18, working in the housekeeping department of a hotel in Reykjavik. As an exchange student in the U.S., she met people from diverse backgrounds, an experience that deepened her love for connecting with others. By the time she returned home, she was eager to pursue a career in hospitality.
“I’m open and sociable and I wanted to meet people, so I knew hospitality was a good fit for me.”
Katrin S.
Katrin quickly moved into service roles that allowed for more guest interaction, taking on positions as a breakfast server, lunch and dinner service staff, bartender, shift manager, and various front office roles. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from the University of Iceland, with a minor in Spanish, and spent time working as a travel agent. However, the pull of hotel life proved too strong to resist.
“I realized I had such a passion for the hotel industry,” she says.
In 2019, she seized the opportunity to move to Sweden and continue working in hotels—until the pandemic put everything on pause. Rather than seeing it as a setback, Katrin used this time to earn a master’s in International Hospitality Management from the Swiss Hotel Management School, immersing herself in life in the Swiss Alps and forging meaningful new connections.
Back in Iceland, construction was underway for the highly anticipated Reykjavik EDITION, set to become the city’s first five-star hotel. Katrin recalls a conversation 15 years earlier with someone who had envisioned opening the hotel—now, it was finally happening. It was the perfect opportunity to get her foot in the door at Iceland’s first directly managed Marriott hotel—and she didn’t hesitate to make it happen.
“I just stepped into this world of Marriott and the EDITION brand, and I fell in love with it.”
Katrin S.
Katrin’s View from The Reykjavik EDITION
Katrin’s first role at The Reykjavik EDITION was Sales and Marketing Coordinator with the pre-opening team. Preparing for the hotel’s launch in November 2021 was a whirlwind of tasks—sending quotes and proposals, responding to hundreds of emails daily, and brainstorming event ideas, itineraries, and special offers.
One of the most valuable aspects of the experience was the support from around 70 trainers from other EDITION properties worldwide. Their guidance not only provided crucial insight into procedures and standards but also helped create a strong sense of belonging for the new Icelandic team.
The Reykjavik EDITION, a 5-star, 253-room hotel on the harborside, boasts six bars, including a speakeasy and ocean-view rooftop drinking spot (where you can spy the northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer!), as well as the onsite TIDES restaurant, which has been Michelin recommended two years running (2023 and 2024).
“I have so much love for this property. We’re redefining luxury in Iceland.”
Katrin S.
What’s more, it’s right by the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, one of Reykjavik’s most striking landmarks. Its glass façade is visible from many a window at the hotel, and it’s a convenient stroll away for hotel guests who are visiting for special events.
Katrin’s Career Progression
Katrin’s hard work in her initial role at the EDITION didn’t go unnoticed, and she was quickly identified as a great fit to move into catering sales for the local market, where she was able to gain events experience as well. She was then promoted again to Proactive Sales Manager.
“The management team here really sees opportunities for growth. Lots of people move between departments and can quickly move up in seniority, too.”
Opportunities for further training are always available, including cross training: a way to get a feel for working in a different department to see where you’d like your career to go. For example, a bartender colleague has used their cross training to transition into the Finance team. As Katrin says, “If you show initiative, that’s always seen.” Team members can also reward each other weekly by giving out handwritten ENCORE cards, an EDITION employee scheme that gives recognition when employees go the extra mile.
A Typical Day as Assistant Director of Sales
No day as AD of Sales is the same: there are site inspections to carry out, local networking and client events to attend, plus presentations and calls with local and international contacts. Most days Katrin is onsite at the hotel, but she gets to travel frequently for international trade shows.
“I did nine trade shows in 2024, meeting with agents and clients, and representing our hotel internationally.”
As part of the proactive sales team, Katrin manages a Sales Manager and a Sales Executive, and reports to the Director of Sales. They work closely with members of the reactive sales team, as well as the Marketing and PR Director, Reservations Manager and the rest of the reservations team.
The nature of a sales job means there’s less contact with guests than in a service role, with more of a focus on relationship building with external partners, such as travel agents. But The Reykjavik EDITION team implemented a ‘Lobby Ambassador’ program, giving everyone a chance to spend 30 minutes of their work day front of house interacting with guests. As Katrin says, it’s her opportunity to keep an eye on trends in the luxury sector and continue to prioritize the guest experience.
“At the EDITION, there’s a big focus on taking care of employees, and that means we take care of our guests too. We work really well together (it helps that our GM is the best!) and we feel heard and appreciated by colleagues.”
Katrin S.
The biggest challenge working at the first and (so far) only 5-star hotel in Reykjavik is to make sure that the team always meets client and guest expectations.
“At a luxury hotel, guests expect an exceptional personalised experience, sometimes achieved by a simple gesture,” says Katrin. Whether that’s remembering to serve their morning latte with almond milk, or asking the pastry team to whip up a personalised Northern Lights cake ahead of their excursion, these little touches make a big difference to guests.
We asked about Katrin’s favourite thing about the job, but she couldn’t narrow it down to just one: “Meeting people, getting to represent a beautiful hotel, teaching people about the lovely little island of Iceland, and getting to work with such inspiring hospitality professionals daily. I just love telling the story of the property, as every corner of the hotel was designed with Iceland in mind.”
