Interview with Silke Lorenzen

Graduated… in life. [smile]

My education gave me as a result… a great range of possibilities and opportunities.

I live in… Berlin.

My profession is… eventmanager and now: owner and manager of an adventurous little hotel.

This profession taught me... to stay patient and ambitious at the same time.

My advice for people thinking about this profession... you should ask yourself if this profession fulfills you, because only if it really comes from the heart you will be able to manage all the work it takes.

The most important tool for my work is... a smile.

Most of my daytime I spent on... communication with my guests and keep the workflow of my team running.

Teamwork is for me... indispensable.

What I like to do the most is... dream.

My clients are... from all over the world and in every age.

Work is for me... a daily adventure

The most difficult aspect of my work is... the challenge of keeping the balance between my private life and my life at hüttenpalast

Competition is for me... out of question, I never compete with others.

I am inspired by...  people who have the courage to change what they can change and believe in what they believe

While I rest... I dream of my next holiday, haven’t had one since 3 years now…

If I had more time… I would start up the next project

First money I earned I have spent on… good food, I invited my best friends to a dinner

If I wasn’t who I am, I would… probably be quite bored I guess

I am proud of… having such a wonderful partner and ally in my life

It’s the most difficult to reconcile with... the knowledge of being just a tiny, tiny part in this big world

When I think about the future... I quickly change back to the present.

The closest challenge… to keep this hotel project running

The biggest success... to get this hotel project running

The most important decision in my life… was to take over responsibility for myself.

The biggest defeat in my life… is still to come

The most important words I ever heard… learn to listen carefully, good opportunities sometimes knock only gentle on your door.

My country means for me... an opportunity and invitation not to be wasted

Connection in between culture and business is… trading, one of the oldest forms of communication between different mentalities and cultures.

Silke Lorenzen grew up in Pakistan, the Philippines, China and India. After an odyssey through Germany – from Hessen through Bavaria, Hamburg and Leipzig – she finally put down roots in Berlin and decided to stay. Although life was not as effortless as in Asia, she had developed a taste for Berlin. She cut her teeth on a variety of diverse jobs for some years until she discovered her talent for organisation. With the qualities she brought from her Asian childhood, she rapidly became an event manager who was able to cope with the most demanding situations. After managing her hundredth event perfectly, she realised that she now wanted to organise something that brought joy into her own life.

Photos: Jan Brockhaus