Jason Dalus - General Manager, Village Hotel, Newcastle
What did you set out to achieve this year?
At the beginning of 2023 as the industry navigated through recovery, travel was still subject to a degree of uncertainty. Here at Village we set out to provide information and re-build relationships with staff, guests and local businesses as the world steadily returned back to normal.
Has everything gone according to plan?
We always knew that 2023 would be a challenging year, between staffing shortages, coming out of a global pandemic, supply-chain disruptions and the economic headwinds which were stoking fears of a 2023 recession. Despite this the hospitality industry still defies expectations and posting strong numbers .
What are you most proud of this year?
Embracing the digital experience which has brought efficiency to our business and allowed us to be able to communicate with guests in new ways. Guests can now stay connected with key services for Village Hotels and Wellness club through the tap of an app. This includes check in, unlocking your room, order and pay for food and instant chat access as well as our Gym members being able to stay on track of their fitness goals with the Village Gym App.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve received this year?
Always be present. Even more than ever, approachability is the key it is all about being present to your team and the guests.
Tell us about your team…
During the pandemic, the hospitality industry lost much of its workforce as hotels had to make severe staffing cuts.
I am very proud to have a fully engaged team who have been with Village Hotels for a number of years. We also deliver open-pathway, gamebased training that allows employees to receive cross-department training and unleash their full potential.
At Village, some bar staff have cross-skilled by completing the kitchen staff training. This improves the staffs knowledge of the wider business, increases mastery and drives continued learning and engagement. It is a vital tool for growing their career within the hotel.
What has been the most enjoyable business event you’ve been involved with?
It has to be working with the Sage Foundation and helping them deliver the FIRST LEGO League at the hotel, which is a program that challenges young people aged four to sixteen, to build robots using LEGO bricks and components.
What have you learnt about yourself this year?
That I have one of the most challenging yet rewarding jobs in hospitality.
Describe 2023 in three words…
Exciting. Grateful. Proud.
What are your aims for 2024?
There will be a continued focus on our teams, which we believe are our most important assets. Maintaining transparency and communicating on a regular basis is now more important than ever. Village also understand that we all have a part to play in reaching a better more sustainable future and it is why we launched our Village Green Initiative with an aim of having a positive impact on the communities we operate in, both environmentally and socially. We have already been successful in reaching Silver status in the Green Tourism Certification program and will be working towards a Gold status through 2024.
www.village-hotels.co.uk
