Berlin, 8 September 2025. Around 80 new trainees and dual higher education students started at Leonardo Hotels this year, and they are experiencing training which delivers more than a mere standard programme. Fair conditions, personal support and real development opportunities all make the hotel group one of the most popular options amongst companies in the hospitality sector which provide training.
Leonardo Hotels offer an average gross training allowance of €1,389.86 in the third year of training and alongside a general working week of 38 hours. These figures are significantly better than those stated in the latest Training Report for the industry as a whole published by the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB). The company also takes the topics of working time and paid leave seriously. Whereas regular overtime is very much in evidence elsewhere, the average at Leonardo Hotels is only around 4.5 hours per year per trainee. This constitutes virtually nothing and is viewed as a beacon in the sector. In addition to this, Leonardo Hotels offer 30 days of paid leave rather than the usual 24.
This is a company where people matter and where the training plan is not the sole focus.
“Training is not a task which we think we have to do. It is something which is very close to our hearts,” said Anke Maas, Chief Human Resources Officer at Leonardo Hotels Central Europe. “We make a conscious decision to invest in young talent because this secures our future. The aim is not simply to train skilled workers. We are seeking to develop personalities who feel at home with us and who will grow and go on to establish long-term careers. We want our trainees to enjoy the start of each new day and not feel that they are just a number.”
Personal coaches instead of off-the-peg training
The “Stuzubicoach” programme forms the heart of training at Leonardo Hotels. All trainees and dual higher education students are assigned a personal coach who provides individual support using modern methods and shows genuine respect to everyone. “Mapstell” is an additional tool which is deployed to make strengths visible and to highlight development pathways. Leonardo Hotels have received several accolades for this innovative training concept, including “Best Trainer” Awards from Handelsblatt and Capital in 2024.
Training with prospects which extend far beyond the final qualification
Young people commencing training with Leonardo Hotels enjoy good chances of pursuing a long-term career. Permanent employment is offered to 93 percent of trainees upon completion of their programme. Many former trainees now occupy leadership roles both in Germany and across the entire Leonardo Hotels Group in Europe. The company also boasts its own world of continuing training via the Leonardo Academy. Courses and specialist seminars are available, and cooperation arrangements are in place with an online university. A special graduation event is also held every year to celebrate the successes of up-and-coming talents.
“It is important to us that our trainees sense that they are being taken seriously, that they are able to grow and that it is worth their while to stay, stated Torsten Kraft, Team Lead for Talent Management. “This is precisely what we are looking to achieve, and it is a source of pride for us.”
The training on offer at Leonardo Hotels shows that the fostering of young workers is part of the company’s DNA rather than merely a duty to be performed. The objectives are for young people to be brought up to speed professionally and to become stronger personalities. This creates an environment in which training is more than an entry to the world of work. It is the beginning of a career which will open doors.