‘Hard work, long hours’… but it’s beautiful!
1. Please give a brief overview of your career history – where you started, how you
progressed, the companies you have worked for etc
I studied Hotel Management in Hungary for 4 years at university level, then worked as a waiter back
home. In England, I worked at the Quality Hotel Brighton as Food and Beverage Supervisor, Duty
Manager, Reception Supervisor and in Conference and Banqueting Sales. At the Macdonald
Berystede Hotel I worked as Assistant Conference and Banqueting Operations Manager and I am
currently the Conference and Banqueting Manager at the Macdonald Botley Park Hotel
.
2. Have you always wanted to work within hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism and
why? If not, how did you end up where you are now?
My dream was to become a tennis pro, but I realised quite early that this wasn’t going to happen. I chose to study hospitality at uni, fell in love with it and still love it!
3. What sort of qualifications and training have you had and what else would you like to do?
I did 4 years at uni, have done numerous short courses such as wine tasting, forecasting and
budgeting and have completed the Macdonald Hotels Stairway to Success courses.
4. What are the top 5 activities you would typically carry out on a daily basis?
Meet and greet conference and banqueting organisers, brief staff, check rota and function sheets, 5-
10 minute meetings with the chef and restaurant manager and oversee the operation of tea and
coffee breaks, lunches.
5. What do you most enjoy about your job?
Meeting great people and working to deadlines.
6. What would you say is the biggest challenge you face on a daily basis?
Motivating staff to work extremely hard for national minimum wage.
7. What would you say is your biggest achievement to date?
Increasing the standards and service whilst using less staff at my current workplace.
‘I chose to study hospitality at uni, fell in love with it and still love it!!’
8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
As an experienced Operations Manager or new General Manager.
9. What piece of advice would you offer someone who wants to work within our industries?
You have to be born for this, but it will turn out in the first few weeks whether this is for you or
not. Hard work, long hours… but it is beautiful!
10. What would you say are the essential person characteristics for your job e.g. enthusiastic, team worker, proactive etc?
Organised, good under pressure, multitasker and patience.