Behind the scenes: Interview with Olivia, our Host Wizard.

Account management is a tough job. Basically, the Account Manager relieves you from all the hassle of having an Airbnb by taking care of it. However, when you manage more than 350 flats, your shoulders must be very broad. In this interview, we present you our Account Manager, the wizard who can manage 100 issues at the same time: Olivia. She will be your friend, your advisor, your guide, your sister, your guardian angel and sometimes your psychologist once you join the City Relay family.

Hi Olivia, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Firstly, can you tell us a bit more about yourself? What’s your background?

Hi Dimitri! I come from a Hospitality background and I have worked for hotels for quite a long time… about 10 years before moving out to London! I decided to work for something different but still related to the hospitality field so this is how I found City Relay.

What are your daily tasks?

There is no day like another and the tasks always change. Every day is challenging because every day is different! It’s quite interesting actually because it helps you keep up the pace and develop skills that you never thought you had. There are always different things coming up depending on the team. Sometimes I can work with the Reservations Team, then with the Housekeeping Team and I can also deal with the Maintenance Team to solve issues. I’m an Account Manager so I’m doing my best to take care of my hosts and there are always different things to deal with. Actually, it’s always challenging tasks!

City Relay team

Do you have a favourite flat…? or a favourite host?

I actually have a favourite flat and a favourite host… Awkwardly enough they are not the same! I’ve been living in Greece for such a long period that I feel like a part of me still belongs there, I was so much into the culture so I’m still very much attached and one of my hosts is Greek, so I can say he’s my favourite host! Regarding properties, we have a really cool one called Baron’s Court Lodge it’s an amazing property. I think I’m going to book a holiday in this flat for a week or so! Haha

Barons Court Lodge

What is your motto that keeps you going every day?

Never give up! There is always a brighter light at the end of the tunnel!

What is your favourite thing about working at City Relay? What’s different from working in a hotel?

Basically, City Relay is a hospitality business but different from the others. First, most of the team works in an open office, so it’s nice because you get to network with everybody. Everybody is young and full of enthusiasm. It’s quite nice to see new people, to be able to train them or to be able to take advice from other people… it’s so different from my previous experience. In a hotel, things are a bit more standardized obviously. All the hotels have their certain rules that you have to follow. We are a lot more chilled here, we are doing our job properly but still relaxed. We are all able to interfere, express our ideas and actually put it into practice and keep growing every day!