H O T E L
M A N A G E R
Q & A
John McGuire HOTEL MANAGER - BRIDGEWAY HOTEL, POORAKA WHAT IS YOUR POSITION TITLE, AND WHICH HOTEL DO YOU MANAGE? I am the Hotel Manager of the Bridgeway Hotel in Pooraka. HOW DID YOU ENTER THE HOTEL INDUSTRY AND WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH? I lost my job when I was 20 years old and was having a drink at the Bridgeway Hotel. I asked the owner at the time (Ken Nicholas) for some work and have been in the industry ever since. I started in the front bar, then the bottle shop and just worked my way through the hotel until Greg and Judy Fahey bought the Bridgeway and gave me my first chance in a management role. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY CONNECTIONS IN THE HOTEL TRADE? No I just started on my own, but now my son Logan works for us here at the Bridgeway, starting as a glassy and now in the bottle shop and bar. WHAT DOES YOUR POSITION ENTAIL? I run the hotel with Donna Lester and as a management team we look after functions, bars, dining, entertainment with the largest band venue in Adelaide at a hotel complex, also taking care of 30-plus staff members and contractors. WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN HOTELS AND HOSPITALITY? I enjoy the meeting of people and the difference that happens on a weekly basis, with one week never being the same as the other with bands, shows and general service. WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR ROLE? The most challenging thing is dealing with all the COVID-19 changes and the fact that a certain number of patrons feel that the changes are not valid. They blame the industry and us but all we are doing is complying with the rules that are given to us. WHO HAVE YOUR MENTORS BEEN OVER THE YEARS? I have had good people that I have worked with over the years like Kwan Tan, Dave Olsen, Dick Jones but by far the most influence I have had in the industry is Greg 16 | Hotel SA | W W W . A H A S A . A S N . A U
Fahey. I left the group 21 years ago and when I was given the chance to work with the Fahey family again it was an easy decision to say “Yes”. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE LOOKING TO WORK THEIR WAY UP THE HOTEL BUSINESS LADDER? The most important thing that a person can do is always be honest with not only cash handling but with the way that you conduct yourself. Work hard and it will get noticed. Also never think that your know everything because you don’t - things change so fast in this industry! Back to Contents
