Q&A with Graeme Bateman - Managing Director, Elite Hotels
How do the staff help Elite Hotels in achieving its purpose?
Staff are instrumental to achieving the company's goals and objectives and setting the vision. Without the staff, we don't have a business.
Whilst we have these iconic buildings surrounded by a beautiful parkland, it's the staff that bring them to life and make Elite Hotels what it is.
How are the staff encouraged to grow at Elite Hotels?
Many of the staff have grown with the company over the years. Starting with myself, I started as a head waiter back in early 1980s and moved onto the role of restaurant manager. I then progressed through the ranks to general manager, took on the role of managing director, as we purchased The Grand in 1998.
What advise would you give to somebody who's interested in working in hospitality?
If you want to get into hospitality first and foremost, you need to like people. It sounds very obvious, but there are those that are incredibly passionate.
If you want to make a difference for a customer, then hospitality is a tremendous industry. It's a very broad industry and there's something for everybody.
Why should people join Elite Hotels?
Why Elite Hotels? Obviously, there's a lot of different hotel companies. Elite Hotels is independent. You're not a number, you're a person. And whilst with over 750 permanent workforce, 250 variable workers, people do feel they're part of a family, and that's why people stay with us so long.
