Working in high-end, large-scale events is a huge, daily challenge. From the technical facilities, to the food, to the decorations, well-traveled clients expect to be surprised at every turn, and it’s your job to make it happen. In this interview Mar Ors explains what it takes to deliver excellence every time as a Catering Manager. 

How did you get into hospitality?

I have wanted to work in events ever since I was child. I loved organizing dinners and parties at home and saw a path to a professional life that I love. When I got the opportunity to join the Hotel Arts as a trainee in 2014, I fell in love with its philosophy and how genuinely the guests are taken care of. 

What sort of education/experience is necessary for this role?

Education is the backbone of every professional. Study hospitality management or tourism, to get the big picture of it. But there is also some very specific training you can do, such as wedding planning, becoming a sommelier or doing a course in marketing, that can help bring out your best self. As a next step, getting a good internship and learning the business end-to-end is also key. 

What sort of jobs did you have to do to get where you are now?

I worked across several departments, starting with two years in F&B, then one year in sales, and finally I ended up as Catering Manager in events four years ago. These are the three key steps for all events: selling, operating and finally, managing them. 

How important is a good mentor in this business? 

I’ve had amazing leaders here at the hotel who’ve guided me through every step of my career. What they all have in common is that they love what they do and, in one way or another, they managed to find a way to instill their passion in me. 

What is the most useful bit of advice you have received? 

To be passionate about your job. Hospitality comes with hard work and long hours, so if there is no passion, you will rarely enjoy what you do and that will be directly reflected on the outcome. Passion is the key to success. 

How can a platform like HOSCO help, or be useful for recent hospitality graduates?

This tool is key to the industry for both entities: hiring companies and candidates, because it perfectly matches the job demand with the person. Having access to so many possibilities and opportunities as a candidate is really helpful, especially when you finish university and you don’t necessarily know where to go. It’s nice to have a tool that helps you decide what you want, research a role and start applying. 

What are 3 reasons to join the hospitality industry?

First, you will be making somebody happy every day. Second, you’ll have a lot of fun while you’re doing it.  Third, you’ll get the opportunity to work with other properties and people all over the world. 

What are 3 personality traits you’ll need to succeed?

Be resilient, strong-willed and flexible.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry today? 

Have patience, persistence and a sponge-like love of learning. Soak up as much as you can from everyone around you from bottom-line to management. 

Learn how to prioritize, keep yourself organized and face adversities with confidence, this way success is 99% guaranteed. Once you start enjoying the problems, you become much more successful at solving them. The secret is to count on the team you are working with, and learn to enjoy the process of solving last-minute situations. 

What is the best way to move up the events career ladder?

Good communication and commercial skills are essential, but you also need a learning mindset. Learn about food, wine, entertainment, and every single other aspect that may be involved in an event, because the more you know the more successful you will be. Having a varied network is also key. Make sure you’re constantly developing relationships, because your success will rely on being recommended by satisfied clients.

If you could describe your love for hospitality in one word, what would it be?

Passion

What is the best thing about your job? 

Making people happy. Every event is unique and you are responsible for creating something that the guests will remember for the rest of their lives. 

What is the hardest thing about your job?

This business asks a lot of you and events especially can have a very long lead time. You never stop thinking about it, and this isn’t something that can be addressed because it comes from within you. Lots of trainees don’t realize this – they only see the beautiful part, but there’s the hard, stressful part that you have to take into consideration. 

Work life balance is definitely not something that you renounce when you come into hospitality, but it is a passion that takes over your life. It becomes one of your top priorities and you need to be very clear about that when you enter the business, otherwise it won’t make you happy. 

What is your biggest inspiration? 

Our company vision and the industry at large: my colleagues, wedding and event planners, and DMCs. Instagram is a great tool. It’s not about copying, but learning from others in your field. It’s a great way to push yourself to be better. 

What are the biggest challenges facing the industry right now and what can be done? 

The global pandemic tore the whole hospitality industry apart. Without people or travel there was nothing we could do. But, once countries started lifting restrictions, we went from 0 to 100% occupancies from one day to the next and were not fully prepared for such a wave. 

One of the problems we faced at that time (and still are dealing with as a consequence of the whole global situation) is staffing. Lots of rotation and new incorporations make brand and service consistency harder than usual. However, we are now moving in the right direction and we’ve making progress. 

It is an opportunity to rethink and make new SOPs (standard operating procedures). To be better professionals in this new era. 

Finally, what continues to make hospitality an exciting place to be?

Every day is different. You never know what’s going to happen, you never know how your day will end, and you never know who you’ll meet throughout the journey. For me this is the most beautiful part of our industry. 

If you think a career in events could be for you, sign up with HOSCO today, and find out what exciting opportunities await. It’s a big, beautiful world out there and this career path allows you to be part of making it that extra bit special.