Executive Housekeeper: Marian Stratford on change and challenges
though my initial training was in food and beverage, I completed my practicum in all departments of a hotel. Before moving to the world of housekeeping I was a trainer in the food and beverage department. Then one day I was asked to assist in training housekeeper’s; I loved it so much and I have never looked back since...
By Mandy Clarke, Editor
In March, I interviewed highly respected executive housekeeper Marian Stratford, to talk about her role, and the role of the housekeeping team at the new Hotel Chadstone Melbourne.
Q. Tell us about your current role.
So much has happened since March and re-reading her answers for our winter edition I realised how prophetic some of her words were. I caught up with Marian again, this side of the COVID-19 crisis, keen to hear her post-COVID thoughts...
March (pre-COVID) Q&A with Marian Stratford: Q. Tell us about the Hotel Chadstone Melbourne. A. I am very excited to tell you all about the sensational Hotel Chadstone Melbourne, MGallery by Sofitel, it’s a hotel inspired by its destination, also known as The Fashion Capital. Every feature of the hotel’s design and offering has been carefully considered to reflect fashion inspiration from the Art & Design library to the digital art displays and the chic interiors of our guest rooms. Our points of difference include an indoor rooftop pool on Level 12 with sweeping views, two unique penthouse suites, our skyline private events space - Altus East & West. On the Mezzanine level
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AccomNews - Winter 2020
Marian Stratford you will find our Day Spa - Holism Retreat with nine treatment rooms and a yoga studio. We also have our ground floor restaurant Pastore which is operated by acclaimed Melbourne chef and Restaurateur Scott Pickett. Not to mention our unique location here at Chadstone – The Fashion Capital – with over 550 boutiques, luxury brands, dining, and entertainment options on our doorstep. MGallery by Sofitel is not a brand it is a collection of memorable hotels by Accor. Each hotel reflects their own unique story and destination
and present customised rituals to make our guests feel inspired. From our custom hotel scent to a welcome drink on arrival, there are many touch points throughout the hotel stay at an MGallery hotel that are designed to leave you with found lasting memories. This gives you special stories to take home, stories that stay with them forever. Q. Tell us your story. A. I was born and bred in the hospitality industry; my parents had restaurants when I was growing up so you could say hospitality is in my DNA. Even
HOUSEKEEPING
A. I have been part of the preopening team at Hotel Chadstone Melbourne, MGallery by Sofitel which opened its doors as the newest luxury hotel in Melbourne in November 2019. I look at this role in two parts, first the pre-opening stage which is all about the setup of things like the department structure, hiring the team, securing suppliers and implementing policies and procedures to ensure that the hotel is ready for opening. The second part is the post-opening which is about refining the processes, ensuring they are correct, and that we are focussed on guest satisfaction, productivity and compliance. This is not my first experience with an opening, so I knew what to expect and was able to apply my past experiences to ensure a smooth transition. Of course, we always continue to improve and learn as our industry is always evolving with new trends and technology. Q. What motivates you and what is your management style? A. I’m proud to have been in this industry for over 20 years, I
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