Career Path: Trainee Management Programme > Hotel Management > Placement > Lecturing Posts > General Manager
“Operated a Training Restaurant in a College"
My Story: After studying Hotel Management and graduating from College, I secured a placement in a hotel and Conference Centre where I trained in several roles. I then did a years sabbatical in Australia and New Zealand. When I returned I retrained and took up lecturing posts at a College. I operated The Training Restaurant, co-ordinating student placements and lecturing on the subjects of Leisure and Tourism and Hotel & Catering Management. I missed the excitement of an operational role and joined the Dorchester Hotel, I stayed for 9 years working up to Operations Manager before moving hotels as General Manager.
Funny Story: “Wearing someone else’s shoes” - When working in Guest Relations at The Dorchester, London, a guest called me to report his business shoes had not been returned from the overnight shoe shine service. He was in a hurry for an early business meeting and not amused. As the shops were shut and we failed to locate the shoes in time, I “persuaded” him and one of my colleagues to “lend” their shoes to him for the day. On return the guest was happy as said he had clinched a great deal. I politely suggested the shoes were “lucky”, he agreed and said he would buy some – I arranged a pair to be purchased, gift wrapped and delivered to him as a gift. He appreciated the gesture and became a regular guest…