Acorns 2019: Rita Martins Bengtsson, 27

Business development director, InterContinental London Park Lane

Nominator Kiera Blystad, PR manager, InterContinental London Park Lane
Proudest moment "Securing and delivering the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting 2018."

Greatest inspiration "My mentor, Erin Thompson, senior manager of global sales at InterContinental. She has been a massive support from my first day at the hotel five years ago, and she continues to support me from across the Atlantic."

Why hospitality is a great career "It offers diversity. I would definitely recommend it to someone who enjoys meeting new people from different cultures and backgrounds."

As business development manager responsible for the diplomatic segment of InterContinental London Park Lane, Rita Martins Bengtsson more than doubled its revenue and boosted the hotel's presence in the London market.

Certainly, last year was exceptional for her as she secured the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, generating £2.2m net revenue. Indeed, a succession of business wins, including attracting delegates visiting for the Queen's birthday, saw governmental group business increase by 168%. Her promotion in January to business development director is testament to this outstanding performance.

She leaves nothing to chance and liaises with clients from start to finish to create tailor-made proposals. In addition, she works with departments across the hotel, briefing on minute details to ensure the highest service standards.

At the end of the day, though, it's her cultural awareness and multilingual skills that enable her to maintain strong relationships with clients, creating a level of trust that supersedes traditional sales expectations.