Employee Experiences

Lauren Hodson – Head Housekeeper

I started working with Hastings October 2003 on the Trainee Management Programme. The programme gave me a great insight into hotel management and I got to spend time at each of the Hastings Hotels. From this I moved into a Duty Management role for 1½ years at the Culloden Estate and Spa before being promoted to Assistant Bar Manager for 4 months. I then took on the challenge of managing the housekeeping department which I have been doing for the past 9 months. It’s a busy position but I really enjoy working in such a prestigious hotel and its lovely surroundings.

Craig Stewart – Operations Manager

I started within the Culloden Estate & Spa in 1987 as a Function Porter.  I was promoted after 2 years to the position of Head Porter.  I also worked part-time as a breakfast waiter in the Mitre Restaurant for 7 years.  I was then promoted to Head Concierge when the hotel gained 5 star status in 1995. From 2001 I covered Duty Manager responsibilities before being promoted to Operations Manager in 2006. My twenty years with the Hastings Group, all spent at the Culloden Estate and Spa, have been very rewarding and the time has passed very quickly.

Brano Petovsky – Chancel Lounge Supervisor

It was February 2004 when I came over and started to work for Hastings hotels.  I started working within the housekeeping department as a Housekeeping Assistant for 3 months and then as a Function Porter for another 3 months.  With some experience gathered I then started in the restaurant where I built my way up from Commis Waiter to Wine Waiter.  I then got promoted to Lounge Supervisor.  I do really enjoy my work with colleagues from the hotel.  The Culloden is a lovely and busy place to work with many challenges and opportunities.

Frank Saksa – Function Porter

I am 29 years old and I am from Slovakia.  I came to Northern Ireland 2 years ago and have worked at the Stormont hotel with my girlfriend sine then.

A friend who already worked at the hotel told me about a job which I applied for.  I passed my interview and started work as a function porter in the conference and banqueting department.  I really enjoyed the job because I got to meet lots of different people from different countries.

After 1 ½ years I moved departments and started working as a bars person in our cocktail bar.  I really enjoy working here because I get the chance to talk to lots of people and this has helped me to improve my English.  I also go to English classes one night a week and work are helping me to pay for this.

I like this hotel very much, it is a very nice place to work and I get on very well with my workmates and managers.

Micheal McGinn – Bars Manager

I am 20 years old and I am Bars Manager at the Stormont Hotel.  I started working when I left school at 16, I worked in La Scala Restaurant as a waiter.  I showed plenty of enthusiasm and worked hard to gain promotion to Trainee Food & Beverage Supervisor.  In this capacity I learnt the cocktail bar, restaurants, reception and c & b.  From this I moved to Shift Leader at reception, I learnt the hotels software and supervised a team of 5, I also learnt the night audit and worked the dreaded 11-7 night shifts!!.  After 1 year an opportunity arise as Assistant Bars Manager I took this and assisted the manager in stocks, running all bars and doing rotas.  When the bars manager left I took over as Function Bars Manager, in this I took over stock and deliveries, wage forecasts and rotas and managed 15 casual staff. Just recently I have now taken over as Bars Manager, I am now in charge of 6 full time staff and 18 casuals, I take on Duty Manager shifts within the hotel and assist various departments when required. I am the youngest manager in the hotel and maybe the group!!