Role: Director of Sales and Marketing
Company: McKeever Hotel Group
Track Record: In 2006 Bridgene completed a degree in Business specialising Marketing and started working in the McKeever Hotel Group . In 2008 she was involved in the relaunch of Corr’s Corner Hotel following its extensive refurbishment and in 2009 was responsible for
From an early age, Brigene McKeever has been hands-on in the family business.
Her parents, Eugene and Catherine McKeever, grew the McKeever Hotel Group from a 40 seater restaurant in 1986 into it’s present day portfolio of four Hotels.
Growing up in the business, Bridgene gained an Extensive Knowledge of every aspect, from housekeeping to accounts. This experience combined with a degree in business studies and marketing, mneans she is well equipped in her current role as director of Sales and Marketing for the group.
Working closely alongside her father and her brother, Bridgene has has no problem separating business from pleasure.
THE POST
Director of Sales and Marketing
THE POST HOLDER
Bridgene McKeever
From an early age, Brigene McKeever has been hands-on in the family business.
Her parents, Eugene and Catherine McKeever, grew the McKeever Hotel Group from a 40 seater restaurant in 1986 into it’s present day portfolio of four Hotels.
Growing up in the business, Bridgene gained an Extensive Knowledge of every aspect, from housekeeping to accounts. This experience combined with a degree in business studies and marketing, mneans she is well equipped in her current role as director of Sales and Marketing for the group.
Working closely alongside her father and her brother, Bridgene has has no problem separating business from pleasure.
5.30am Alarm goes off – I check emails and social media accounts.
6.30am At this time I’m usually standing in the gym about to start a session with my personal trainer Daniel Buser. At the beginning I put my negotiation skills to good work and bargained workouts in my favour, now unfortunately he is wise to my ways and lets me away with nothing – he is determined to get me fit.
7.40am Home, shower and a quick breakfast before heading to work.
9am Arrive at Drumsilly Hotel, grab a coffee and check emails, reply to any enquiries and flag the majority of others to follow up. Check in with my team in ‘The Hub’ which is the marketing head office at Corr’s Corner Hotel to get a run down on the planned activity for the day. This can be anything from trying to find the owners of a lost teddy bear to contacting clients and developing packages.
9.30am All the senior management across the McKeever Hotel company have arrived and it’s time for the monthly group management meeting. This usually starts with a supplier presenting new product lines or pitching for business. It is a great opportunity for suppliers as they all get the main decision makers in one room, including the general manager from each hotel. This morning is the return of Woodford Bourne- new wines, new wine list. It’s a pity it’s so early or we could have had some more samples. Alas they are left to try later.
10pm Down to business in the meeting. Usually on the agenda is suppliers, training, operations, promotions and finances.
12noon Management meeting over, another check of the emails and it’s time to try and get back to few of these. Proof of branding elements for Dillion’s Hotel and look at the strategy and timeline.
1pm Working lunch with group operations manager Eddie, aka ‘My Brother’ and managing director Eugene aka, ‘my father’. This is the time when we talk about everything that is happening – usually these days around the new hotel, investments and how the new development is coming along. Although a family business, we are naturally very good at separating personal and professional. These two elements never cross over into each other – we can disagree on a professional level and go out for dinner that evening, have a laugh and its never mentioned gain. Well, until we’re back in the office!
1.45pm I’m off to see a client. It’s one of my long term contracts therefore it is now a cuppa tea and a catch up. I know it doesn’t sound like much work, but relationships are very important to me and also of course the business.
3pm Heading now to the Adair Arms Hotel to meet with one of my media contacts. Time to discuss upcoming events and PR requirements including wedding shows, MacMillan Coffee Morning, and of course the new hotel in Letterkenny.
3.445pm Checking through the emails once more, speaking with the hotels about any queries that they may have with pricing for groups, conferences Christmas and so on. Design some adverts for upcoming events. Proof off new website wireframes for the new hotel website build. Contact a range of tourism and activity providers in Donegal to confirm appointments for tomorrow.
5.30pm Still in the Adair Arms Hotel, I am now attending a meeting of the management committee for the Ballymena Chamber Commerce.
6.45pm I’m heading back to Belfast and meeting a friend at 8pm for a bite to eat, glass of wine and a long over due catch up. There truly is no better way to unwind than sharing stories and having a laugh about life and the situations we tend to find ourselves in.
10pm Home and catch up with the housemates, usually ending in another laugh, or too as we recall incidents throughout the day and have a good chat.
11pm Heading upstairs, catch sight of my guitar out of the corner of my eye and make a mental note to make more time for it. Before going to bed I go over tomorrow’s to-do-list, check emails and social media accounts one last time.
11.30pm Lights out, alarm set for 5.15am to be on the road to Letterkenny for 6.15am