Speakers

Passionate Hospitality Leader | F&B Expert | Team Motivator | Culinary Enthusiast | Future Operations Manager

With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, I have built my career from the ground up literally. At 15, I began my journey in the kitchen, washing dishes, and quickly developed a passion for the culinary world. I pursued my love for food by studying Culinary Arts and Cookery for two years, specializing in bakery, before stepping into a high-paced kitchen at the Crowne Plaza NEC. There, I worked my way up to Chef de Partie, gaining invaluable experience in the heat of the kitchen.

While I loved the kitchen, I was always drawn to the energy of front-of-house operations. After five years in the kitchen, I transitioned to Front Office, where I deepened my understanding of guest experience and operations. A move to Edinburgh led me to the Sheraton Grand, one of the citys most prestigious 5-star hotels. Over seven years, I expanded my expertise across F&B operations and Group & Event Sales, ultimately stepping into the role of Assistant F&B Manager.

In order to gain international experience, I relocated to Amsterdam, where I took on the role of F&B Manager at the Holiday Inn & Holiday Inn Express Arena Towers. After a fulfilling break to become a mother, I ventured into entrepreneurship, launching a successful baking business that supplied cakes to mobile coffee outlets, weddings, and events.

However, my passion for hospitality never wavered. Post-COVID, I rejoined the Arena Towers reopening team, successfully leading the hotels reopening during challenging times. Most recently, I have been leading the F&B team at Novotel Amsterdam, where I continue to drive performance, enhance guest experiences, and lead large teams with motivation and vision.

I thrive in dynamic environments, enjoy mentoring teams, and have a track record of delivering exceptional results. I am forward-thinking, embrace new technologies to improve efficiency and guest experiences, and always seek ways to enhance operations. Looking ahead, I aspire to step into an Operations Manager role, where I can leverage my diverse hospitality background to drive even greater success.