Career Path: Kitchen Porter > Hotel School > Operations Director > Managing Director > Vice President > Chief Executive Officer
“As a teenager I managed to get experience at the Savoy, Grosvenor House and Claridges"
My Story: My first job in the hotel industry was as a kitchen porter. Whilst at School I managed to gain experience at the Savoy, Grosvenor House and Claridges. I even won the Sir Francis Towle Gold Medal. This was awarded to the student gaining the highest marks worldwide in the final examinations for the Institute of Hospitality Membership. I worked in the United States and France before beginning my career to a different hotel chain where I become Operations Director of a division. I then joined Hilton as Operations Director and became Deputy Managing Director before being appointed Chairman of Hilton Hotels (Australia and New Zealand) and Vice President of Hilton International. I lived and worked out of Australia. A few jobs later I’m now Chief Executive of Barcelo Hotels. When I get the chance I enjoy talking to and helping young people to enter the industry.
Funny Story: When at Jarvis Hotels offering to help the kitchen team at a very large banquet and forgetting to put on the steamer to heat the vegetables. I had to deal with the complaints!