It has been an amazing opportunity to meet Pauline Bergé.  A very well-recognised professional in the hospitality industry. Discover with us a little bit more of Pauline.

Pauline Bergé is the Regional Director of Luxury Sales and is based at the London Luxury Global Sales Office where she is responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of her multi-segment team. She has worked sales and marketing in the hospitality industry her entire adult life and was most recently the recipient of the EMEA Director of Sales and Marketing Leadership Award for the exceptional performance at The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna. Pauline leverages the strength and knowledge of Marriott International Luxury Brands in current markets to maximize efficiency. Her comprehensive and passionate understanding of brand positioning within the luxury hospitality combined with her ability to work with multi-cultural teams across the world have helped her navigate change while integrating into the new Marriott International organization. Pauline is a zealous leader who thrives on delivering outstanding results and embraces success. Pauline is a proud Dutchman who has lived in Holland for only the first two years of her life, but when The Netherlands plays football during the EURO or the World Cup, she is as proud to be Dutch as if she had lived in Holland her entire life – she will have to wait another 5 years with the hope of a return and rebirth of her favorite team. So keep in touch with the Dutch. Moving forward, Pauline looks forward to working with the Luxury Teams across Europe and deliver a strategic and harmonized approach to Luxury Global Sales.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Passionate, refined, explorer

What is your professional background?

I am an experienced hotel executive who built her reputation on more than 25 years in hospitality sales and marketing and 18 years in senior roles in the hospitality industry. I covered all facets of the Sales and Marketing, Revenue Management and e-commerce capacities, restructuring sales and marketing teams, preparing pre-opening financial business and marketing plans, and executing strategic sales and marketing plans. I have built my career by being passionate about service and people and have developed a love for beautiful things. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate for having been entrusted with significant projects and challenges with such premium brands as Mandarin Oriental, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, TCS Expeditions and more recently with Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Luxury Brands. I built my track record in various senior management positions while working in different geographies and cultures. During this time I was able to develop leadership and motivational skills and lead cross-organizational and generational teams. In turn, this work enabled me to develop a capability to quickly grasp complex organizational structures. I speak 4 languages fluently and have basic knowledge of 2 more. I am a process driven leader, well organized and keen to establish shared accountabilities across business and functional lines and used. I have gained strength on the ground experience in managing cross-cultural teams and hence developed coaching and mentoring skills.

What do you find most challenging about our industry?

A mutual opportunity for product and destination knowledge-building. Indeed, customers are inundated with product training requests from suppliers, suppliers are unable to get in front of the agents, the agent doesn’t have enough knowledge to qualify the business well enough to source the right destination, brand or supplier. Marriott International is the world’s largest provider of accommodation. With its more than 6200 hotels in 120 countries, we have the ability to provide access to virtually anyone anywhere, for any type of experience at any price point. Educating our customer remains our absolute priority on ensuring that the destinations are sourced based on the end clients express needs. Time is often against us if a business or destination is not qualified by the agent. A bit of a catch-22.

Did you have any mentors or people who deeply influenced your career?

My twin brother – Alexander has been an absolute mentor in my career and more specifically strategic leadership.

Mr Tony Zamora – a former Area General Manager – he pushed me beyond my limits and made me a better Sales Professional.

Proudest moment in your career to date?

Joining Ritz-Carlton Hotels Company and taking home the leadership award 18 months into the job

Favourite brand(s)?

Hermès, BMW and Bowers and Wilkins

Professional that you admire and why?

There is no surprise here Mr Bill Marriott Jr. He is a pioneer, visionary, industry leader, and everything in between. But most importantly he cares; he cares for his people, for the customer and all stakeholders which transcends down throughout the organization.

Favorite destinations?

There where nature is at its purest.

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Thank you for your time, Pauline. We wish you all the best!