“I love chatting with guests”

Tunisian Nihel Frioui came to Germany three years ago through the THAMM Plus programme. She is completing her vocational training as a hotel manager at Parkhotel Stuttgart. Nihel talked to us about what her working day is like as an trainee: 

“Monday morning, 5 a.m. Stuttgart is still asleep while I set up the breakfast buffet at Parkhotel. At the moment I’m working in the service area – setting tables and taking care of our guests’ first requests. Sometimes I stop for a moment and wonder how many different cultures might come together in the breakfast room on that particular morning. The hotel where I work is a business hotel near the airport and trade fair centre, so there are lots of international guests. 

I came to Germany three years ago through a training programme from Tunisia – driven by curiosity, a sense of adventure, and the desire to learn something new. The language, the people, the working life – everything was unfamiliar at first. Now I move confidently between coffee machines, full trays and strolling guests. 

No two months are the same – my work schedule constantly involves new shifts and tasks. In the course of my training I rotate through various departments – service, administration, marketing and reception. I love chatting with guests. I speak four languages – German, English, French and Arabic – so it’s easy for me to connect with people from all kinds of different backgrounds.  

Theory and practice in training 

Part of my training takes place at vocational college. There we learn about service procedures, housekeeping, marketing, hygiene and much more besides. We practise very hands-on things like how to set tables, for instance, but there’s some theory, too. I go to college with young colleagues – we talk, learn and laugh together, and I’ve already made lots of friends. 

I really enjoy my days off: I often take the regional train to visit a different city, explore a lake or go for walks. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, too – I love cooking spicy dishes like the ones we eat in Tunisia. 

What have I learned over the past few years? Patience – that’s essential when everything is new. And openness. If you stay curious, give yourself time and play to your strengths, you’ll soon start to feel at home.”