Page 27 - INSIGHT MAGAZINE - NoBleed_Neat

“In the AGM role I really learned a lot,” faced from a small, but vocal group of
says Vanessa, noting having good mentors people both in-person and online, when
along the way has been key to her success. the hotel welcomed Afghan refugees from
“They’ve taught me not just about this August 2021 to October of last year.
industry, but about people, and people “For my team and all of us to deal with
play such a big part of it.” that, it was really hard,” she says. “But at
Therefore, the decision to leave that the same time, we became so protective
hotel five years later in 2009 to pursue an of them (refugees) because you see them
attractive opportunity as the Sales Manager as family now and you just want to do
at Homewood Suites by Hilton Cambridge everything you can to help.”
wasn’t easy to make, she admits, but it’s That sense of family and community is
one that Vanessa has always relished after something Vanessa says she cherishes
her family began to embrace their new even more after colleagues and friends
home in Hespeler. rallied around her when Al passed away
“We settled into a beautiful life here following a lengthy illness this past spring.
and we raised our kids here,” she says, “Here I am a few months later and I don’t
before describing her growing community feel like the loneliest person in a city I
involvement over the years as her son didn’t even come from,” Vanessa says,
and daughter became involved in local adding how grateful she is for the many
sports, which included a lengthy stint as a connections her work at Homewood Suites
board member with the Cambridge Minor by Hilton Cambridge have created.
Football Association.
She is also an active member of the Rotary Creating connections and the right work
culture have been key to the family
There’s a job for everyone here and I still Club of Preston-Hespeler and is a Past destination-centred hotel’s success, says
believe to this day at a hotel you can start Board Chair of Explore Waterloo Region, an Vanessa, adding it’s something she and
anywhere and work your way up and really organization she joined when Homewood Homewood Suites by Hilton Cambridge’s
find yourself, which is what I did.” Suites by Hilton Cambridge’s former GM 40 employees take very seriously. The
For the next decade, Vanessa learned the moved on to another opportunity. award-winning hotel continues to gather
ropes in every department – from sales “All of these different touchpoints have accolades.
to housekeeping, as well as food and given me an opportunity not just to live “Everybody we bring in kind of has the
beverage – working her way up through here, but to be part of this community in a same mindset,” she says. “I want to provide
the ranks. different way,” says Vanessa, adding being a home for the guests who are coming
“I started rotating and managing all the part of the community is important when here, and home starts with the people
different departments and then another operating a small business. “No matter that are here. If the people who work there
opportunity came up at a Toronto hotel,” what your business is, you must know your don’t treat each other like family and don’t
she says, adding it wasn’t an easy decision community and really become involved. think of it as a ‘home away from home’, it
to leave but noted that many hotel When you understand your community, won’t be successful.”
managers often switch jobs every few you can understand a lot about the people For more on Homewood Suites by
years. “There’s that sense if you’ve been you work with because many of them come Hilton Cambridge/Waterloo, visit
somewhere too long you go stale.” from there.” www.hilton.com or call 1-800-Call-Home.
At that time, she and her late husband, Al, However, she admits understanding
and their two young children (now in their human nature can be challenging at times,
early 20s) were living in Milton, but she referring to the backlash she and her staff
braved the lengthy daily commute to Yonge
and Bloor to manage the housekeeping
department at the downtown hotel.
“It was the worst year of my life,” Vanessa
admits, describing a less than ideal work
environment which she vacated after a
few months. “The place wasn’t very people
centric, more money centric.”
She found solace by taking a position
at the Courtyard and Residence Inn
Mississauga (now Residence Inn by Marriott
Mississauga) managing housekeeping
where she was promoted to assistant
general manager six months later. PHOTOS BY BRIAN RODNICK

www.cambridgechamber.com Fall 2023 27