I've worked at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa for just over a year and a half. I started my hospitality career back in 2006 as a waitress in a cute little French restaurant on Brunswick Street in Melbourne. My first day was a trial shift, along with around 10 other people who were also being tested for the job. I was terrified at the thought of having to carry three plates, had no idea what a Riesling was or what was classified as a ‘house wine’. Breakfast was so popular there, people would happily wait in line for an hour!
I juggled this job with working on the door at one of the local pubs where bands performed. Later that year, I accepted a full-time job waitressing at a restaurant in Federation Square in Melbourne. And over the next one and a half years, I moved up to a supervisory level position. My manager at the time had worked at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa - and said it would be a great next step in my hospitality career. Before I knew it, I was in Broome!
My first job at the resort was as a Food and Beverage Supervisor at the Sunset Bar and Grill. I started with breakfast shifts before moving to night shifts in the peak season of 2008. A vacancy came up in the conference and events department as the Conference & Events Coordinator - so I applied, and was lucky enough to be given the opportunity.
At the moment, my job is all about weddings! Every year, there are over 60 weddings held at the resort-and I coordinate every one of them. This includes meeting with clients to discuss their wedding plans, creating and distributing event orders, showing potential clients around the resort and liaising with suppliers to book marquees, decorations and entertainment. I also help with coordinating in-house events and the Resorts sponsored functions. I am an expert at answering questions from soon-to-be brides!
Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa has really helped me move smoothly from a floor-based restaurant role to an administrative role. My experience in hospitality was mostly hands-on-and I didn't really have all the skills for an office based position. With the great support I received, I was able to pick up the new skills I needed quickly - and I settled into the role almost immediately. The resort was very encouraging-and my manager and I have now moved into the new Weddings and Events office - and are working on what we will be promoting in next year’s wedding kit.
While I'm here, I'm also completing my diploma of hospitality at Kimberley TAFE.