The Post: Operations Manager, Stormont Hotel
The Post Holder: Sam Denning
A career in the busy hospitality industry means no two days are ever the same for Sam Denning.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I started with Hastings Hotels in 2010 when I was 16 years old. My first job was a casual food and beverage assistant at the Ballygally Castle Hotel and after moving to the Culloden Estate and Spa during a six-month refurbishment of Ballygally, I was promoted to Food and Beverage Supervisor for the Cultra Inn in 2013.
I returned to Ballygally Castle as Food and Beverage Supervisor to assist in opening the newly refurbished property in 2014 and was then promoted to Bar and Duty Manager in 2016. In 2019 an opening for Estate Beverage Manager became available in the Culloden Estate and Spa and I was eager to return to the five-star property. Since then, I have progressed from Estate Beverage Manager to Restaurant and Bar Manager and then onto Estate Food and Beverage Manager.
I have recently embarked on the next stage of my career having joined sister property, the Stormont Hotel, as Hotel Operations Manager.
What was your favourite subject at school?
My favourite subject at school was Travel & Tourism and Geography.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so, what did you study and where?
I finished my school career after completing A-levels in Travel & Tourism and Applied Business.
How did you get into your area of work?
I joined Hastings Hotels as casual member of staff alongside my school career.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
No, my plan was to attend university in Liverpool to complete a foundation degree in Forensic Science.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
For my role as Food and Beverage Assistant, GCSEs were a requirement with a minimum of C in English and Math. Good people skills were also a must.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
Yes, dependent on experience and the role. Hastings Hotels offer a great Trainee Manager Program. This is a two-year rotation around the Hastings Hotel portfolio in various departments. From this, individuals gain valuable experience in managing many aspect of the business.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
It’s a very varied role and it does require a number of skills – you need to be good at communicating, a team player, problem solving and decision-making, time management, be able to motivate staff and have customer service skills.
What does a typical day entail?
In hospitality no two days are ever the same. My day begins at 9am – they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, – so I am there to oversee breakfast at the hotel and ensure our guests receive the very best experience before departing for their day.
We then hold a 15-minute morning meeting with all Head of Departments present to discuss business and priorities for the day ahead. During the day I could be working in the hotel lounge, running a wedding, working in our restaurant or behind the scenes with our housekeeping teams. I make sure to check in with all guests that are staying or visiting, both new and regular. There is also an element of training and development involved daily, which is done on the job working alongside managers, supervisors, and team members.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best aspect of my job is the development and training of work colleagues – however, with so many team members, this can also be the most challenging aspect. Being part of someone else’s career journey is very rewarding and watching their progression, after investing time in training them, is the best reward.
Why is what you do important?
Can you imagine a world without hospitality? Without bars or restaurants, without hotels, without cinemas and theatres, without clubs and social events. We are social beings, and it is very important, especially after coming out of the pandemic, for mental health and well-being. I want to give people the very best experience and showcase the very best in Belfast and Irish hospitality.
How has Covid-19 impacted your business/role?
The tourism and hospitality sector was one of the industries most impacted by Covid-19. However, since the reopening of the industry, we at Hastings Hotels, have been working hard to maximise business and ensure our guests have the most enjoyable experience across our six hotels.
What adjustments have you had to make?
There were many adjustments we had to make to stay in line with the restrictions and regulations at the time. From single use menus, social distancing, a maximum of six people per table from only two households; the list could go on.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Brace yourself! You will be entering one of the more challenging career paths but one of the most rewarding. You will develop so many different skills, you didn’t know you even had. You will become not only a hospitality worker, but a doctor, a therapist, a teacher and a detective. You will meet all different types of people from all over the world. With hard work, determination and a passion for people you will succeed and the benefits will be bountiful.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
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