The Townhouse Hotel, situated in the heart of Cape Town’s historical and vibrant CBD, has a General Manager, Jacqui Williams, who is big on service and on providing a distinct personal touch to the in-house experience of her guests.
As a complement to the hotel’s uptown luxury and extensive green conferencing programme, the GM’s approach to service and personal attention is conferred to guests through the committed and enthusiastic staff working at the hotel, from the doorman and bellboys, to the receptionists, concierge and waiting staff in the Trees Restaurant.
Raymond Maarman, who joined the Townhouse Hotel team as a Junior Sous Chef on 24 March 2014, is currently striving to make the leap up to Sous Chef, and finally wishes to own his very own catering business. Raymond says he loves his time labouring away in the kitchen and it is essential to him that he brings new ideas to the table (excuse the pun!). Raymond’s noteworthy approach to service excellence is to be a team player among his colleagues by making use of his great people skills and reserves of emotional intelligence.
In the four years that Janine Bramble has been at the hotel, she has taken the initiative where possible and moved up from her initial position of Kitchen Cleaner, to Waitron, and lately handles all ingoing and outgoing calls in her current role of Switchboard Operator. Clearly a people’s person, who has thrived in her four years of service, she cites spending time with children as a favourite occupation and, not yet content with her career progression to date says, ‘Over the next few years I would like to explore all areas of the front office.’
The Townhouse Hotel boasts 107 beautifully refurbished rooms, providing guests with a seamless transition from a tough working day to a relaxing overnight stay. On checking in at night, you’ll enjoy the assistance of the charming Night Porter, John Nchong, who will carry bags to your room for you. John was born in the Cameroon, but has lived in Cape Town for four years now. Already a mover and shaker in that short time, he has made one career jump from Banqueting Waitron to the present responsibility of Night Porter, and wastes no time in his leisure hours by devoting these either to his Transport & Logistics studies or involvement in his church. John’s philosophy to the working world is, in the short term, to learn everything he can about his position and the industry and, in the long term, to tie his studies in with the goal of starting his own small business that facilitates the transport of goods by sea.
Formerly holding positions at The Conference Company and the Hilton Hotel, Durban, Theone Williams was hired as Banqueting Manager at the Townhouse Hotel and has recently been promoted to Key Accounts Manager for Sales, where she hopes before long to find her feet and thrive. There is little chance that she will not do so, as she is now in her sixth year of service and has a bubbly personality – her short-term work goal is ‘learning how to slow down a bit.’ Theone does know how to relax in her downtime, though, something that is essential both for balance in life and achievement in the workplace. When off duty, she books herself a manicure or pedicure, enjoys a night out at a sushi restaurant or a pub where she can watch rugby, and has a strong nurturing side; she says that her cats, Sam and Popcorn, are her children!
Long a favourite for business guests, the hotel’s conference centre is spread out over two levels and is equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and full Wi-Fi coverage. In the kitchen, Michelin-trained Executive Chef Stefan Schmidt prepares customized menus that cater for everything from working breakfasts to light finger lunches, not to mention the more decadent and eclectic sit-down fare on offer in the Trees restaurant, where South African flavours are cleverly combined with a global gourmet twist.
When the stress of events – F&B functions, conferences or even special occasions – hits the hotel, the staff member who knows how to laugh and take it all in her stride is Roeshaan Baartman, the Assistant Banqueting Manager. Roeshaan’s humour comes through in her short-term goals, which are to succeed in her new role (she moved up from Senior Banqueting Coordinator on 1 May), to satisfy her superiors and continue to maintain her sanity! This attractive and smiley Townhouse employee has no plans to move away from her current career home base, as long as it affords her a little leisure time to read and spend time with her kids.
And last, but not least when it comes to the efficient upward progression of Townhouse Hotel staff through the ranks, is Valencia Ham, the Food & Beverage Supervisor. Valencia joined the team in March 2012 in the role of Room Attendant, shortly thereafter progressing to Waitron and, before long, to her current position which she hopes soon to be comfortable in by learning rapidly and gaining more knowledge as she goes. Valencia, who is mom to a daughter, is a valuable Townhouse Hotel staffer as she has a patient temperament – an essential quality in the hotel industry – and because she holds 10 years of valuable guesthouse experience under her belt. Valencia’s long-term goal involves completing the secretarial course she once started, and making her dream of starting her own business come true.
