Michael Grahamslaw chats to... CALUM MANEKSHAW General Manager of the new INNSiDE by Melia Hotel in Newcastle.
Did you always envisage a career in the Hotel industry? Initially, absolutely not! However I suppose I fell out of love with academia in my latter stages at school and questioned whether University was something I really wanted to do. I already worked part time at my local hotel in North Queensferry so was able to move into a full time role where I had a lot of fun, caught the hospitality bug and got used to earning money. What has been your career path so far? I have very much come through the Food and Beverage ranks through a variety of roles. These have included opening Dakota in South Queensferry, the repositioning of the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, the opening of Hilton Bournemouth and repositioning of Savage Garden rooftop bar at Double Tree by Hilton Tower of London. I even dabbled with a six month spell in a call centre before deciding that this industry was the one for me. What have been the biggest challenges you have faced so far? Opening Hilton Bournemouth and Double Tree by Hilton Tower of London were tough as they were owner managed Hotels which presented a series of hurdles and issues to overcome. Naturally working through the pandemic has been difficult although it taught me what is important and the need to treat people well. What has been your proudest achievement? Opening Hilton Bournemouth I suppose. I also take great pride in my progression through the ranks in my career and delivering upon the opportunities that have been presented to me. What attracted you to your new role? I loved the 13 years I spent with Hilton but thought it was time for a new challenge. One of INNSiDE’s pillars is to be “be social” which matches my personality and character. It is great to be developing a brand in its infancy in the UK, within a terrific location, surrounded by great people. What facilities does the Hotel have? 161 bedrooms, five meeting rooms, residents gym and studio, two outdoor terraces and our own Gino D’Acampo restaurant. We also have a terrific team imbued with great Northern hospitality putting customers at the forefront of everything we do. What is the Hotels greatest asset? Our prime Quayside location which is blessed with natural light, our team and the quirky fun product that we offer. What are you currently working on? Very much establishing Melia within this wonderful City by training and investing in the team. Our midterm ambition is to be the number one Hotel in Newcastle on Trip Advisor. We are also turning our attention to Meetings and Events getting busier and planning our first Christmas and New Year. Is there a mantra you aspire to do business by? Have fun – work hard and play hard. Who are your heroes and mentors? I’ve been very fortunate to work for a lot of incredible leaders. I owe a lot in particular to Nitin Ramtri, a phenomenal leader who always believed in me. He is the current Hotel Manager at London Hilton on Park Lane. How do you like to unwind? A good whisky, supporting Arsenal FC, playing guitar and the odd game of very average golf.