I spent years walking past The Ritz while working for other hotels, and hoped one day I’d work here. Sometimes I have to pinch myself.
At 17 I went into an accounting role in the hospitality sector before I even knew what a debit or credit was. It was the people who drew me in. I worked full time and in part-time roles to fit around my children, and I gradually realised that to get further in the sector I needed to obtain a professional qualification. I studied AAT before moving on to the ACCA qualification.
I was diagnosed with dyslexia as late as 2020. Studying had been a struggle, so I saw a specialist who said that although I thought I was able to read, in fact my brain was not reading the whole of the story but picking up enough information to understand and get by. I advised ACCA of my diagnosis and was given extra time to complete the exams. The invigilators were amazing because I would be the last person sitting in the hall.
New technology improves processes, but you still need real people on the floor
I think with newer technology like AI coming in it is great to have people like me who think differently. AI is one of the biggest challenges for the profession at the moment, but it is about understanding how AI and your skills can add value together. Evolving your skills to be able to analyse data and tell the story is really important.
We are going through a digital transformation process. New technology improves processes, but you still need real people on the floor seeing to guests. In a previous job a lightning strike took the whole hotel system down; nobody could check in or out. We had to operate completely offline, with just pen and paper. It was a pretty stressful day!
If you’re struggling with any learning, as I did, there may be a good reason. My advice is to go and seek help – it was life-changing for me.
