Why did you choose a career in the hotel industry?

As a young kid in the United States, I was fortunate to travel with my family on holiday – or ‘vacation’ as the American in me would say. We visited Hawaii, Mexico, London and France and hopped domestically across the US, but no matter the destination, for me it was always a lot of fun to stay in hotels.

The service and glamour of it all was exciting and something so playfully different from being at home. Each hotel was a base for exploring a new city, dining in restaurants, and going out on adventures further afield. It was this zest for travel that led me to a career that allowed me to share my excitement with others.

What was your first job appointment?

Clearing tables in a local restaurant in my home town. It wasn’t the most glamourous job, but it taught me some life-long hospitality skills that I still use today.

Do you have a particularly interesting/funny moment you can share?

Because QT Wellington has the most fantastic collection of art, the hotel is a prominent stop for an art walking tour that regularly makes its way through the CBD. Shortly after I started at QT Wellington, I got a little cheeky and sneaky and joined the back of the tour hoping to learn a thing or two as the new kid on the block.

Before I knew it, I had taken the reins directing the tour. I found myself guiding 15 art enthusiasts through our Gallery 4 floor, speaking to each local artist who created bespoke works for the 25 different rooms. That was not how I expected the tour to go, but I loved it! I surprised myself with my knowledge of the art I had come to love so quickly, and look forward to playing tour guide again soon.

What has been a career highlight?

The obvious answer would be one of the awards my teams have won, but looking back at all the hotels I have worked in over the last ten years, becoming the General Manager here at QT Wellington is the most significant career highlight and learning experience for me. Throughout an incredibly challenging year for many, I could not have done it without the outstanding leaders I work with on my QT team.

As an example, while the events of 2020 saw our signature restaurant Hippopotamus go into hibernation, the team’s creativity didn’t slow. Operating on a pop-up basis for special events and themed menu offerings last year allowed us to come back stronger in 2021 with a plan to continue refreshing our menus around the changing seasons and special occasions. There will always be something new and exciting to look forward to on the Hippo menu.

What do you see as the biggest issues the hotel industry is facing at the moment?

Travel restrictions. While in New Zealand we’re been fortunate that Kiwis have been doing their part to support the hospitality industry and exploring their own backyard, the fact remains that we are still missing out on sharing our country with our international friends – and their spend fuelling our economy. That’s a big gap to fill.

What excites you most about being appointed Hotel Manager at QT Wellington?

The challenge we and our neighbouring hotels collectively face is a highly competitive Wellington market. As the creative capital, Wellington lives up to its reputation as the cultural hub of NZ – and QT Wellington is the epitome of artsy capital quirk. That’s where we really shine, which is an exciting position to be in.

With international travel off the cards, we’re welcoming a whole new generation of QT guests who would normally be overseas in arguably more exotic locales. I’m loving that we’re now exposing them to Wellington’s arts scene through our own gallery at the hotel, plus long-standing fashion, arts and music partnerships. What excites me in constantly creating new experiences that will keep them coming back time and time again.

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