Let's catch up with Jennifer Engering [F 2023]

From Portugal to Maastricht

Jennifer is half Dutch and half Portuguese, but grew up in Portugal, where hospitality was already part of everyday life. Her parents ran restaurants and a bed & breakfast, giving her an early connection to the industry. However, during a visit in the Netherlands she decided that her future would have to be continued abroad; 

“I completely fell in love. From that moment, I decided, okay, this is what I want to do in my life,” 

She graduated in 2023 and looks back positively on her time at Hotel Management School Maastricht. According to Jennifer, the education prepared her well for the realities of working in hospitality, while her thesis provided another valuable learning experience. Working in a team of several strong personalities taught her an important lesson in leadership: sometimes, being a good team member means knowing when to step back.

Discovering her passion for groups and events

Jennifer’s career in Dubai took her from an internship at The St. Regis Dubai to now being at Sheraton Grand as an assistant sales manager. While proactive sales seemed like the logical route towards becoming a Director of Sales, the experience made her realise that her real passion lies in planning groups and events. Her next step will therefore bring her back to what she enjoys most, taking on a managerial role focused on planning and converting events. Her responsibilities will include assigning leads, planning larger events, handling contracts and payments, and overseeing events from start to finish. For Jennifer, the variety is what makes the work exciting:

“Every day it’s something new. It’s never boring. It’s never the same. You start with one email or one phone call where nothing is yet planned and then you end up creating something so beautiful at the end of the day.” 

Although she still hopes to become a General Manager one day, she is willing to take a different route to get there. One that allows her to do work she genuinely enjoys.

Growing in the fast-paced world of Dubai

Initially, Jennifer planned to stay for just six months, like many people who move to the city. However, she ended up staying considerably longer. Jennifer believes the speed and competitiveness of Dubai played a major role in her development as sales manager.

“Dubai is extremely fast,” she explains. The high-paced environment means people work quickly and continuously challenge themselves, while competition between both hotels and individuals creates opportunities for people to progress rapidly. 

Dubai’s fast-paced environment also came with its challenges. Early in her career, Jennifer suddenly found herself without a manager and had to learn to work more independently. As a self-described perfectionist, letting go of the need to control every detail was difficult. Over time, she learned to prioritise, manage her time and, most importantly, step back when needed. 

“My last director told me; If you're really drowning, I will pick you up, but otherwise figure it out. This was not something I liked at the time, but have learned so much from.”

Her advice to current Hotel Management School Maastricht students

Jennifer’s story reflects how international and diverse a Hotelschool career can become. From Portugal to Maastricht and eventually Dubai, she built a fast-growing career while discovering what truly motivates her. This mindset also shapes her advice to current Hotelschool students: "Make the most of every opportunity, especially internships, and use them to learn as much as possible rather than simply completing the required months."

While building a career is important, Jennifer also highlights the value of staying connected with fellow students and alumni, as these relationships can provide lasting support throughout your career.