Kristina and Rene, Operations and Sales

Love is in the air! 💕 We had the pleasure of chatting with Kristina and René, who met and fell in love while working at MEININGER Hotels. In this interview, they share their story and what it’s like to work together as a couple in the same company.  

Can you start by introducing yourselves and sharing a little about what you do at MEININGER Hotels? 

We’re Kristina and René, and both our MEININGER journeys began in Berlin. Kristina started as a hotel apprentice back in 2009, while René joined the headquarters’ reservations team in 2011. Since then, we’ve supported various hotels and departments. Right now, Kristina is part of the Operations team, and René works in Sales. 

Okay, so spill the beans! How did you two meet? 

We actually knew each other for a while through the company. Back then, MEININGER was smaller, so everyone kind of knew everyone. Funny enough, even though we were colleagues, it was in fact a dating platform that made us realize we were interested in each other. So, you could say online dating helped connect us! 

How did your colleagues react when they found out you were a couple? 

Everyone was really happy for us! No one exactly saw it coming, but it turned out to be a sweet surprise all around. 

How would you describe the sense of community here?  

The community is incredibly supportive. We’ve never experienced negativity; our colleagues and friends at work have always been kind and understanding. For us, the team at MEININGER Hotels truly feels like our people, which is why so many M-Explorers were there to celebrate at our wedding. After so many years with the company, it truly feels like we’re part of a strong, caring community! 

Do you have a personal motto that inspires you in your work?  

We really appreciate what we’ve got and the opportunities we’ve been given. Most importantly, we never take anything for granted. 

Does being part of the same company help you understand each other’s work better? 

Absolutely! Having both worked here for so long gives us an advantage: we know the company inside out. It makes it easier to support each other and support MEININGER Hotels. 

Do your jobs ever overlap? And do you ever spend breaks together, or do you prefer to keep your work routines separate?

Our jobs rarely overlap. We’re in different departments with different managers, so our tasks stay separate. And to be honest, we don’t really take traditional breaks, so we don’t usually end up taking breaks together either. 

What do you think makes MEININGER Hotels a great place to work? 

Even as the company has grown over the years, one thing has stayed the same: the kindness and support within the teams. MEININGER Hotels has always shown flexibility and understanding, especially when it comes to balancing work and family life. 

If you switched roles for a day, how do you think you’d handle it? 

We’d actually be up for it! Thanks to our hospitality backgrounds and strong communication skills, we’re pretty confident we could manage each other’s roles for a day. It might even give us a new appreciation for each other’s daily tasks. 

Looking back, if your journey at MEININGER Hotels was turned into a movie, what would the title be?  

From check-in to amore! 

Thanks for sharing your insights, Kristina and René! 

✨ Read more M-Explorers’ stories on the MEININGER Hotels blog or check out our job openings.