“Having just spent a week in Somerset with a rather large number of family, all staying in an incredible self-catering property, I find myself reflecting on what it means to be someone who choses to dedicate their time to hospitality. For me, the week was spent mostly in the kitchen, which I loved. It was great seeing everyone around me enjoying themselves and the food I was providing. This made me realise that I was putting into practice the exact principle that made me go down the hospitality path.
Hospitality is a service industry, focusing on creating experiences for our guests which we hope to leave a positive lasting impression.in my opinion, it takes a certain mindset to be able to dedicate yourself to the pursuit of others enjoyment. There’s also a large element of special awareness and attention to detail that can’t be missed, and of course a great work ethic.
I believe that you need to have a love of variation. I can’t think of any two days that have been identical in my career and that has been a real benefit. The constant reaction to what’s going on around you allows you to push yourself constantly. It is without doubt the most difficult and yet most rewarding area I’ve worked in (not that I’ve tried a lot of other industries, but enough to know where my passion lies).
I believe there is also something fundamental about hospitality. We all need to eat, sleep, and sometimes drink to get on in life. By providing to those base nee3ds, we are taking something that could be perfunctory, and making it experiential and memorable. Our job satisfaction comes from others satisfaction of what we have created. Nothing is more deflating to a professional in this industry than someone having a bad experience, and on the flip side, nothing beats someone saying they have had an incredible experience.
The mentality to push one’s limits, to constantly strive for perfection and improvements, for me, underlies the basis of a hospitality mentality.”
Simon Soar, CEO, The Jersey Hospitality Association