20 something directs rich and famous stays at top hotel
At just 26, Daniel Gerritse is the Associate Director of Sales at Park Hyatt, Sydney, responsible for booking high profile visits and ensuring all requests (including the weird and wonderful) are met.
From making sure an A-lister’s green smoothie is made just right and delivered at 7pm precisely, to shipping in “Flamin’ Hot Cheetos” from the US for a popstar, and even placing tin foil on windows to stop ‘out of this world’ interference, Daniel sees that it’s done, ensuring his guests are delighted with the hotel’s service.
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Daniel Gerritse, Associate Director of Sales at Park Hyatt, Sydney, has worked his way up by being trained on the job and now ensures the world’s rich and famous leave with the right impression of Australia, as well as managing the entertainment and wholesale markets.
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However, his role isn’t just meeting requests to ensure every visitor’s stay is perfect - Daniel manages the Park Hyatt Sydney’s entertainment and wholesale markets and also works with inbound tour operators that specialise in on-selling the hotel to luxury agencies located overseas.
On Monday 16th May at the Hotel Career Expo, Daniel, along with other young hotel professionals, will share their career secrets and inspire new students and graduates to join the hotel industry.
Daniel says: “My job is full on, but it’s also very exciting and it’s a great feeling to know that you’re making a difference to Sydney and Australia’s tourism reputation in the global market.”
The ambitious and talented sales professional was inspired by his mother, Deborah Gerritse, to work in the hotel trade. She carved out a successful career in the industry and was also the first and youngest female Director of Sales at the Boulevard Hotel, part of the Southern Pacific hotel chain when she was 27 years old.
From there, she was headhunted to be the Director of Sales and Marketing with Holiday Inn Menzies, where she introduced the first morning breakfast club, catered to female executives for networking purposes.
“My mum and family worked in the hotel industry, so I grew up seeing how great the career path is and understanding how it works.”
Indeed, Deborah Gerritse also developed her own signature yield and conversation training program, which has now been introduced to most major hotel chains and is part of the syllabus at the International Hospitality College in Manly.
Daniel is now supporting the Hotel Career Expo, which is shining a light on the diverse professional career pathways available in the hotel industry. The event aims to encourage professionals into the hotel industry, to meet the future skills demand.
The Federal Government has stated that by 2020, 123,000 workers and 60,000 skilled workers will be needed in the travel and tourism industry, many in hotels, in professional careers like Daniel’s.
The Hotel Career Expo is designed as the ultimate gateway for students, graduates and young professionals to find out more about the endless professional career opportunities available in Australia’s leading hotels – from hotel management, to sales and marketing, engineering, finance, IT, human resources, food and beverage and many more.
Daniel climbed the career ladder by completing ‘on the job’ training, he concludes: “I’m looking forward to sharing my hotel career story at the Expo. There are countless roles that ensure a hotel business runs successfully. All you need is the right attitude and the passion to do a great job.”
Those interested in the Hotel Career Expo are invited to attend the free event at InterContinental Sydney Hotel on Monday 16th May.
For more information and to register, visit www.hotelcareerexpo.com.au
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Connect with us on Twitter: @hotelcareerexpo
Source: Hotel Career Expo, 21st April 2016
