Let’s talk talent – Get to know Roos Gerbers
Today, we would like to introduce you to Roos Gerbers, a 22-year-old student at Hotel Management School Maastricht. Currently in her third year of the Bachelor’s degree, Roos is about to embark on a semester at Brookes University in Oxford. Let’s discover more about her journey and aspirations in the field of hospitality.
Q: Why did you choose to study Hospitality Management?
When I was attending open days for business-focused studies, I had a feeling that I was missing something. At that time I could not tell what exactly it was. I went to different schools and different cities, but all of them missed something until I went to the Hotel Management School in Maastricht. The missing aspect was “hospitality” for me. Hospitality means making people feel at home at any place, the personal aspect is what made me go to the hotel school instead of any other business school.
Q: Why are you passionate about hospitality? What makes this industry unique?
The hotel sector is unique in many ways, but what fascinates me the most is how compassionate almost everyone who works in it is. The number of locations where hospitality is practised is what interests me most. For me, hospitality really means “Making people feel at home” and finding ways to make people feel like they can be themselves in any social space. My enthusiasm is much more extensive than just the hotel sector. Hotels can serve as an excellent example, but any social setting needs hospitality, and that is what I am passionate about.
Q: What are the biggest challenges as a student in hospitality?
As a hospitality student, the majority of the work is completed in groups, frequently with individuals you would never choose to work with. The majority of hotel school students, in my opinion, are convinced that their method is the ideal one to follow when working on projects. One of the greatest challenges for a student in hospitality is learning how to work with others and understanding that everyone is different, has a different background, and has different norms and values. But at the same time, because you will have to work with various individuals everywhere, this is what makes you strong as a student in hospitality.
Q: The hospitality industry – as many others – faces the challenge of attracting and retaining talent. Do you have any thoughts on this that you would like to share with us?
Before my operational internship, I was certain I would never again work in a hotel. However, my operational internship completely changed my perspective of the profession, and I remain open to staying in it now. Unfortunately, this is usually the other way around, most people find out that they never want to work in hospitality ever again after their internship. Within my internship hotel for my operational internship, Zoku Vienna, there was a very open, caring culture without a lot of hierarchy. If I had a good idea, I would get the feeling as though my thoughts were genuinely being considered, and if it was something I could implement or alter, I could probably start a new project. Hotels should be flexible and receptive to suggestions from all of their staff.
Q: Why did you decide to join the HSMAI Europe Student Council?
Meeting students from various hospitality schools and industry professionals is made possible through the HSMAI Europe Student Council. All powerful individuals who are aware of what they want and how to get it, while also being receptive to new perspectives and different approaches. It’s an excellent way to gain knowledge about the sector while also assisting in its development into the hospitality of the future. All through bringing together academics and businesspeople.
Q: How is HSMAI Europe Student Council helping your studies/students?
I am able to extend my perspective and see the industry from various angles thanks to the HSMAI Europe Student Council. Meeting individuals who attend various hospitality schools and business professionals from various nationalities really helps to open one’s eyes to how similar things can be while still being very different. I recently joined the student council and am eager to learn more.
Q: What is your dream job when you graduate?
This question always makes me wish to be seven again. It used to be an easy question with the answer: “Vet”; but the only thing that is easy about the question now is that I know what direction I want to go. Since I am passionate about “How to make people feel at home?” especially in social spaces outside of hotels, my dream job has to have something to do with this. Helping companies with their (re)branding and creating spaces that make people feel at home, confident, safe and to make them feel like they can totally be themselves within the company would be my dream job for now. I want to bring hospitality to any company and any place in need of hospitality.
