Let’s rise together – proud supporters of Hospitality Rising
It’s no secret that the hospitality industry is suffering from a staffing crisis and the talent pool entering our sector is diminishing. As such, IRIS are proud to support Hospitality Rising, a collaborative movement formed to create the biggest hospitality recruitment advertising campaign the world has ever seen.
The main aim is to attract new talent to the sector, while also shining a light on exemplar employers and raising the bar for employee experiences across the industry. We couldn’t agree more, and we can’t wait for the high-profile campaign to launch in early October.
To highlight how our sector can offer exciting, creative, and rewarding careers, we asked some of our Magic Makers at IRIS about their first experiences in hospitality and what they love about working in our industry. Here’s what they had to say…
Catalina Furtuna, Customer Success Specialist
‘‘My first hospitality experience was as a Catering Assistant for Graduation at the Cambridge University Colleges. The first thing I noticed and loved was the diversity of people I met and how connected the hospitality community is.
Shortly after, I got the opportunity to start my hotel career in a boutique hotel called Hotel du Vin. Because of the size of the hotel, I was able to immerse myself in different roles around the hotel and get a better understanding of what I excel at, and that is Guest Relations. I built strong friendships with some of the hotel staff and made great acquaintances with some inspiring guests, some of them researchers, university teachers and famous business people. During my time there I saw some of the most unique cars in my life and the brightest memory I have is seeing Her Majesty the Queen herself.
This industry provides people with unlimited growth opportunities, and this was evidenced when I got the chance to work in my dream hotel, Hilton.
I will never forget my time there, the team and the guests. My favourite part was having regular guests that became like family to me and me to them. Being a foreigner and not having my family close to me, I never felt lonely, knowing I had people that cared about me at my workplace. Christmas and New Year always felt like a family holiday during my time there.
When the pandemic started, I thought my hotel career had ended and that I wouldn’t be able to apply my experience elsewhere, but I was so relieved to discover, how many career paths my previous work experience had opened. One of which is becoming a Customer Success Specialist at IRIS, where I feel like I’m part of a team of 1000+ hotels all the time!’’
David Molofsky, Product Manager
‘‘When I was 20 years old, I enrolled in a two-week bartending course and became a Certified Mixologist.
I started my first bartending job a few months later, and for me it represented freedom. It meant that no matter where I was in the world, I knew I could find a job I was qualified for and had experience doing.
And when I moved from the USA to the UK, that’s exactly what happened. Soon after I arrived, I was able to secure a work as a bartender in a pub, which gave me some stability as I began my life in a new country.
I’m now a Certified Scrum Product Owner and Product Manager at IRIS, overseeing the conception and design of our new product features.’’
Kate Fuller, Senior Marketing Manager
‘‘My first experience in hospitality was working as a waitress in a large food court in a shopping centre every Saturday whilst at school. There were about 6 different food and drink concessions that people could choose from.
As a foodie, I remember feeling constantly hungry and drawn to all the delicious dishes that were being served up – there was such a wide range, from Mexican, Italian and Chinese food to crepes, cakes, sandwiches and coffees – temptation at every corner! It was a great, fun experience where I made lots of friends and although my feet ached at the end of the day, I still look back at it with fond, happy memories! A brilliant introduction to the world of hospitality.
Having studied Business Studies at university and undertaken various marketing roles at software companies, I now combine my IT marketing experience and passion for hospitality by marketing IRIS across our wonderful industry. We have some amazing clients and I enjoy working closely with them, hearing their stories and promoting our partnerships. There are some spectacular hotels, I spend my days drooling over their incredible facilities and stunning interiors …my holiday wish list is a mile long!‘
Jim Stewart, Global Sales Manager
‘‘I was fortunate to experience hotels at a very early age as my parents used to take us to hotels on holiday, which I think gave me the bug.
My first job was peeling potatoes and making chips for a local restaurant in Edinburgh aged 12!
At college, I studied Hotel Management, working in the Caledonian Hotel, Fort Augustus during my placement and I then managed to secure a place on the Gleneagles Graduate Management Programme which put me on the map!
One of the best things about our industry is meeting so many different, interesting people from all walks of life, you never know who you will meet and become lifelong friends with. I could write a book about my experiences.
My advice would be to make sure your attention to detail is better than everyone else’s and be prepared to roll your sleeves up and help where you can - the recognition will go a long way. There are new opportunities opening up and a lot of talented people who have fantastic ideas, don’t be afraid to share them! The hospitality sector needs to be recognised as a great career choice however many see it as long hours and low pay…not always the case!
If you work hard, you will secure a promotion very quickly and the world really is your oyster. The opportunities to work abroad are endless and you can always secure a job and work your way up to a senior position in a relatively short period of time. ‘‘
Want to be part of the movement?
Hospitality Rising is asking hospitality businesses and suppliers to invest £10+VAT per employee to help them hit their £5m target. They need everyone in hospitality to come together to stop the recruitment crisis forever.
Come and join IRIS and other influential businesses in supporting the campaign, including Zonal, Whitbread, Pret a Manger, Welcome Break, Revolution, Hilton and Hawksmoor.
Make a pledge at Hospitality Rising – Hospitality Rising
