Released on: September 7, 2007, 5:08 am

Press Release Author: Joss Simpson at Liz Lean PR on 01202 884095 or 07710145722 or
joss@lizleanpr.co.uk or

Industry: Food & Beverage

Press Release Summary: An employee at a local hotel is proving how valuable long
term staff are to organisations and how important it is for managers to give them
responsibility.

Press Release Body: Sharon Hamblin has been the housekeeper at Best Western The
Connaught Hotel in Bournemouth for 20 years. Sharon's long term employment has been
key to the successful transfer of the hotel to new ownership in December 2005. The
Connaught has been bought by entrepreneurial businessman David Miller who came to
the venture with a strong background in business management but no experience of
running a hotel. David has found Sharon a huge asset and noting her commitment from
the beginning soon gave her a great deal more responsibility and promoted her to
Executive Housekeeper.

David says, "Think of a hotel housekeeper and you might be forgiven for thinking
that they don't have a very significant role to play." However, David believes this
is quite the reverse, "People like Sharon are vital to the success of a business
such as this. The knowledge Sharon has gained over 20 years is invaluable, her role
is key and the consistency she brings to the team is a huge bonus". Another benefit
of Sharon's dedication is that David can rely on "things getting done properly".

When Sharon joined The Connaught in 1987 it was a very different hotel from today.
With only 30 bedrooms (now 83) on 2 floors (now 3), no outdoor swimming pool or
leisure facilities (the hotel now has indoor and outdoor pools and a fully equipped
gymnasium and CV suite) it offered guests very basic facilities. Since David took
over, the hotel now has the added benefit of an AA rosette restaurant; Blake's at
The Connaught.

Like David, Sharon has very high standards and he was particularly impressed to
learn how she has always been passionate about maintaining the hotel's presentation,
cleanliness and service. David has given Sharon much more say in how the hotel is
run and developed. As a result she is now at her happiest in 20 years and loves
coming to work. Sharon says "I get great job satisfaction working with David and
other members of the management who all have the same vision. We work very well
together as a team".

Although this is David's first experience of owning a hotel he believes it is really
like any other business. "As long as you get the product right and you manage the
finances properly, which means investing as well as keeping a tight control on
expenditure then you will end up with a successful profitable business." David is
putting his 'money where his mouth is'. Approximately £350,000 has been spent to
date with a further £1/2m planned to go into the bedrooms. Investment will be
on-going with structural changes planned over the next 2-3 years.

David believes in the mantra, 'A happy workforce leads to happy customers'. David
explains, "Because of the nature of the business and the types of events run at the
hotel, such as weddings, staff must be genuinely happy and approachable." David's
approach to staff management has paid dividends. During January and February this
year, a time notorious for staff turnover in the hotel industry, no one left.

With several other members of staff as well as Sharon having been with the hotel for
many years regular guests are rewarded with consistency and an understanding of
their needs thereby giving them added value. In addition, the hotel has a policy
of not using agency staff which means that standards can be maintained more easily.
In the summer months additional temporary staff are employed but the majority of
these are on holiday from college and university and go on to take jobs at the
hotel.

Business is now growing steadily with occupancy levels at the hotel up consistently
month on month. As the hotel's reputation grows, bookings are coming in from new
sources.

Sharon's drive and enthusiasm help David to keep things moving forward quickly.
With 83 bedrooms to refurbish over the next year the pace of change is relentless.
In fact he jokes, "When I come to work it's like having another wife telling me what
to do and how to spend my money!". On a more serious note David advises managers,
"Don't underestimate the value of long serving members of staff. Sharon has made my
job so much easier and in turn she has increased job satisfaction from greater
levels of responsibility. It's a win win situation."


Web Site: http://www.theconnaught.co.uk/

Contact Details: For further information contact:

Joss Simpson at Liz Lean PR on 01202 884095 or 07710145722 or joss@lizleanpr.co.uk or
Linsay Sharp at Connaught Hotel on 01202 298028 or 07860 506552 or
linsay@theconnaught.co.uk