Mohammed, Issam & Ali, Operations

Meet Mohammed, Cluster Hotel Manager of the MEININGER Hotels in Heidelberg and in Frankfurt. Originally from Morocco, he moved to Germany after studying Business Management and joined MEININGER Hotels in 2020. Mohammed loves creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests and for his team. In our chat, he shares how he welcomed two apprentices, Issam from Morocco and Ali from Azerbaijan and how MEININGER Hotels welcomes people from different cultures and make them feel part of the team. 

Hi Mohammed! Can you tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Germany? 

I came to Germany over 20 years ago after finishing high school and studying Business Management. My goal was to continue my studies here, improve my life, and experience a culture that values freedom and open-mindedness. Moving to Germany was a dream I shared with some of my colleagues, and we were all excited to start this new chapter. 

What was it like moving to Germany? Did you face any challenges, especially in the beginning? 

Arriving in Germany was a huge change. Everything felt completely different from what I knew. Luckily, I had studied German at the Goethe-Institut in Morocco which really helped me integrate into German society. From day one, I was motivated to learn and grow. I took on different jobs and each one gave me the chance to improve my skills and better understand the culture. 

Were there any cultural differences you noticed early on? 

Oh yes, definitely! One thing that really surprised me was how much people love to celebrate here: street festivals, public events and parties where everyone gets together. I loved seeing that sense of community. And on the funny side, I was shocked that shops close so early, at 8 PM! And everything is closed on Sundays! That was very different from what I was used to. 

How did you find your way to MEININGER Hotels and what do you love most about working in hospitality? 

Before joining MEININGER Hotels, I spent several years working as a Banquet Manager in a 4-star hotel. I reached a point in my career where I was ready for a change and looking for an opportunity to keep growing professionally. MEININGER Hotels was the perfect fit: it’s dynamic, international, and matched my ambitions. What I love most about hospitality is the energy, the diversity of people, and the chance to create great guest experiences every single day! 

Hi, Ali and Issam! Could you introduce yourselves and share the biggest challenge you faced when starting out in Germany? 

Ali: I moved from Azerbaijan to Germany for my apprenticeship. The biggest challenge in the beginning was definitely the language barrier. It was hard to understand everything, especially at work or when handling paperwork. 

Issam: My name is Issam, I’m originally from Morocco, and I moved to Germany in 2023. The hardest part was also the language. My English was good, and I already had some hotel experience in Morocco, but using German in a professional setting was difficult at first. But with time and practice, it’s getting easier every day. 

What were you doing before joining MEININGER Hotels and what did you take from those experiences? 

Ali: I first started an apprenticeship as a cook at another hotel. After some time, I realized I was more interested in working directly with guests, so I decided to switch to a hotel specialist apprenticeship (Hotelfachmann) and joined MEININGER Hotels. 

Issam: Before coming to Germany, I worked in a hotel in Morocco which gave me my first experience in hospitality and dealing with guests. 

How is working at MEININGER Hotels different from your previous roles? What made you feel supported here? 

Ali: At MEININGER Hotels, I really feel part of a team! People are friendly and patient, they explain things when I don’t understand and support me throughout my training. That’s something I didn’t have before. 

Issam: Working here has been a very positive change. The team atmosphere is great and our manager supports us a lot. I also really appreciate the opportunity to combine work and vocational school, it’s the best way to learn. 

What do you enjoy most about your role and what are your goals for the future? 

Ali: I enjoy working at the reception the most, talking to guests and helping them. In the future, I want to gain more experience in hospitality and hopefully become a supervisor one day!  

Issam: I love interacting with guests and learning something new every day. My goal is to complete my apprenticeship and start working as a receptionist here in Heidelberg and hopefully grow within the MEININGER team. 

Thank you, Issam & Ali, for sharing your stories! Back to you, Mohammed – what stood out to you about Issam and Ali when you interviewed them? What made you confident they’d be a good fit? 

When I interviewed Issam and Ali, I immediately noticed their positive energy and willingness to learn. They showed strong motivation, a team spirit, and great potential which made me sure they’d be a great fit for MEININGER Hotels. 

When hiring apprentices from abroad, are there any specific aspects like paperwork or language that employers should be aware of? How do you and your team approach these?  

Yes, there are a few important things. First is the paperwork: checking visa status, residence permits, and work authorization to make sure everything complies with German regulations. Here, our HR team is doing a great job. Language is also key. Fluency isn’t required at first, but basic German helps with communication and team integration. At MEININGER Hotels, we guide our apprentices through the entire process by supporting them with documents, encouraging language courses and keeping communication open so they never feel lost during the transition. 

What kind of support do you and your team provide to make apprentices like Issam and Ali feel welcome? 

A warm welcome and strong onboarding are essential. For apprentices like Issam and Ali, we take time to introduce them to the team, explain tasks clearly, and guide them step by step during their first weeks. We also assign experienced team members as mentors to answer questions and provide support. From the start, we try to understand their strengths and challenges so we can offer the right support and help them succeed. 

How would you describe your team in Heidelberg? 

Our team in Heidelberg is truly special! We come from diverse backgrounds, but we share the same values: respect, teamwork, and passion for hospitality. Everyone looks out for each other and there’s a strong feeling of trust and support in everything we do. 

What does MEININGER Hotels do to integrate employees from diverse backgrounds and where do you see more room for improvement in the future? 

MEININGER Hotels does a great job celebrating diversity. Our teams include people from many different countries, and the company supports integration with tools like a language app, training opportunities through our learning platform (LMS 360), and a friendly, multicultural workplace. Of course, there’s always room to improve. I think we could offer more cultural exchange activities and make some of the bureaucratic processes simpler for new team members. 

By the way, congrats on your promotion to Cluster Hotel Manager! Now you’re responsible for both MEININGER hotels in Heidelberg and at Frankfurt Airport. What are your goals in this new role and what do you hope to contribute to MEININGER Hotels in the future? 

Thank you! This promotion is a big milestone for me, and I’m very proud to take on this responsibility. My goals are to strengthen teamwork between both hotels, keep our operations running smoothly, and continue developing talent from within. I also want to improve guest satisfaction, optimize processes, and make sure we use our resources wisely. Most importantly, I want to create a leadership culture built on empathy, clear communication, and continuous learning. 

Supporting the next generation of hospitality professionals is very important to me just as I was supported when I started. I want MEININGER Hotels to always be a place where people from all backgrounds feel truly welcome! 

Thanks for sharing your insights, Issam, Mohammed and Ali! 

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