Reception, Admi

Back on board: Reception Manager Mounir Marzouk leads the team at the front desk with his talent for languages and boundless charm. He fully trained as a hotel clerk at our very own Fini-Resort and now returns after gaining much experience in Freiburg and Basel. The father of two loves working at the reception: "I just enjoy talking to people and fulfilling their wishes". Hard to believe he almost ended up working in an office. After finishing school in his home country Morocco, he studied Translation Studies in Heidelberg. A natural fit for the bilingual Mounir Marzouk. Now the 37-year old delights our guests with his cheerfulness and his new-found love for German Schlager music. His favourite holiday destination? Well, it definitely has to be hot: Greece, Egypt or back home to Morocco. But in the end he always returns to our beautiful Badenweiler.

Talent prevails, but in Tetiana Şeker's case there is also diligence, brains and admirable ease in all situations. Even before she finished her apprenticeship, she was given an important role at the Fini-Resort: managing the entire administration. Determination must have been in her cradle, because after studying in her home country, Ukraine, she came to Auggen as an au pair to learn German while looking after children and started helping out at the hotel on the side. But that still wasn't enough of a challenge for her. She is now a trained hotel manager, married and an indispensable pillar of the Fini-Resort. And she still finds time for reading, hiking and travelling - she raves about Lisbon so much that you want to go there right away.

If you ask Michael Singer, why he's so good at French and if he is French, he'll answer "no, just from Alsace.” Since he's been three years-old, he's lived in Auggen', near Müllheim'. He wanted to do an apprenticeship in a hotel, but because of his A-levels he was able to do a dual university program majoring in tourism. Friendly, open, and sympathetic - the 25-year-old greets all guests with these traits and opens his heart to them. No wonder the Fini-Resort immediately hired him after his studies. "Working with these nice guests is just a lot of fun” - Michael Singer is full of ease and zeal. The only time he's out of breath is in his free time: long day trips with his bike.

Amazing - that not only describes Maria Pylpenko, but also her language and dance skills. The 30-year-old employee born in the Ukraine has many talents: While studying for her degree in tourism, she danced ballet, jazz, and hip-hop in a show group, met stars and won competitions. Just as gracefully, she mastered her studies in Heilbronn. She seems to have seamlessly learned five languages (Ukrainian, Russian, English, Polish, and German). But in reality, there was a lot of blood, sweat and talent involved, as well as hard work, even if everything the delicate receptionist does looks easy. And what's important to her, after coming so far? Her family in the Ukraine and travelling.

Night porters are the underestimated blessing in a hotel, as they mean peace of mind for guests: very late arrivals, nighttime emergencies and needs of all kinds when everyone is asleep - our "nighty" Ali is there and has been for seven years. The native Pakistani has been living in Germany for another two years longer. His wife is still in his old homeland and Ali visits her as often as he can. The trained engineer enjoys playing badminton in his free time. And of course he gets an hour or two of sleep during the day, and deservedly so.