Carla Goke
Sales Manager, International Travel Trade Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
“I chose to study in the hospitality field as it is an industry that gives the opportunity to live in different countries and to be in contact with people from all over the world. I love foreign languages, travel and learning about diverse cultures.My career in the hospitality industry started from my very first internship, working in Food & Beverage at a small family-run hotel in Switzerland. From there I worked in Belgium, USA, UK and I now work in Singapore. I am fortunate to have worked for some of the industry’s best known hotel groups including, Hilton, Accor, Rocco Forte Hotels and Mandarin Oriental. I would say that the highlight of my career has been the experience of living and working in different countries.
In my current role, I represent Mandarin Oriental, Singapore as a leisure destination for people in the regions of Europe, Americas, Middle East, Russia & CIS countries and the Pacific.
It is not always easy to choose a career, so before laying down your plans, ensure that you speak to as many people as you can who are in the hospitality field. An hotelier’s life is like no other. There are no fixed office hours like 9 to 5 and you may not always have the weekend off. Your office will not be in the glamorous Presidential Suite either. Your office is the hotel and the moment you walk in it, remember: it is all about the customer and not you. You must be passionate about what you do. Besides that, you will need to have an interest in cultures, communication, current affairs and most importantly have the attitude of an ambassador. It’s a career based on passion, dedication and integrity.
