‘ Rude ’ hotel manager hits back at one-star TripAdvisor review
Macdonald Hotels creates new graduate programme
Prince Charles awarded with ‘ special contribution ’ to Cumbria tourism
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FIGHTING BACK
‘ Rude ’ hotel manager hits back at one-star TripAdvisor review
The manager of Sefton Park Hotel responded to a TripAdvisor review with a reply that some have described as “ rude and patronising ”.
The reviewer gave the hotel a one-star rating , calling it the “ worst hotel in Liverpool .” The visitor , from Zurich in Switzerland , wrote that they were asked to pay a “ ridiculous ” deposit for their “ freezing ” room .
Hotel manager Conor O ’ Donovan replied to this telling the visitor that the grammar in their review was “ all over the place ”, suggested they had “ anger management issues ” and advised them to take up “ beginners yoga ”.
The exchange , which was reported by Liverpool Echo , attracted many comments on social media with some users describing O ’ Donovan ’ s responses as “ unprofessional ”.
One comment said : “ Criticising the grammar , for goodness ’ sake ? If the rest of the staff take their tone from the manager , it ’ s no wonder the customer got irate ”.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Macdonald Hotels creates new graduate programme
Hospitality group Macdonald Hotels and Resorts has launched a new graduate programme to help young people start a career in the hospitality sector .
The 18-month scheme , which starts in September , will help students gain hands-on experience in all areas of the hotel business .
Some 33 graduates who have already completed the programme have gone on to work full-time for Macdonald Hotel Group . Following the success of previous schemes , the hotel group has now assigned a senior mentor to work with each graduate and help develop their skills .
Those who successfully complete the programme are guaranteed a full-time position within the business .
Gordon Fraser , managing director of Macdonald Hotel Group , said : “ Our training programmes offer excellent experience for young people with a passion for good service and the ambition to work in hospitality .
“ The Macdonald Hotels Group is focused on developing and rewarding talent , and giving graduates and those starting out in their careers the opportunities and support they need to fulfil their potential ”.
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ROYALTY
Prince Charles awarded with ‘ special contribution ’ to Cumbria tourism
Prince Charles has been recognised with an award for his “ special contribution ” to tourism in Cumbria during a two-day visit to the county .
Cumbria Tourism - the destination marketing organisation which represents 2,400 tourism businesses in the area - said it had honoured the Prince of Wales for his many years of “ strong support ” for visitor dependent businesses and communities .
The organisation said notable examples include the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease , as well as the floods in 2009 and 2015 . It is believed the 2015 floods led to a collapse in the number of tourist bookings at the beginning of last year .
Prince Charles was presented with a personalised print of iconic Herdwick sheep in a Lake District setting - the work of photographer Ian Lawson - by the managing director of Cumbria Tourism , Ian Stephens .
His visit was part of a two-day tour to preview Whitehaven ’ s redeveloped Rosehill Theatre , which is set to open to the public in May , including a newly restored auditorium and a new restaurant overlooking the Solway Firth .
END : THAT ’ S ALL . YOU ARE NOW UP TO DATE
12 www . hotelowner . co . uk May 2017