Elizabeth Gee

So, Elizabeth, how long have you worked for the Prendiville Group?

Since February 2021, so for about two and a half years. The time has flown!

What brought you to work for the Prendiville Group?

If you asked me five years ago “where do you see yourself” there’s no way I would have pictured the life I live now. Truth is, I didn’t know what I wanted until I experienced it and fell in love with it, so it was a combination of fate and passion really. My brother visited Broome for work as a marine biologist and thought the town would suit me, so I applied for a vacant Front Office Manager role at Prendiville Group’s stunning Mangrove Hotel. 

Tell us about your journey with the Prendiville Group?

Before joining Prendiville Group I was working in a front office role at a Perth hotel. While I didn’t have the exact experience required for the Front Office Manager role I applied for, after an initial interview with the General Manager, the hiring team learned of my passion for people and created a role to fit my experience. And so I began my journey as the Mangrove Hotel’s Assistant Front Office Manager.

The team saw my ambition and helped create a career pathway for growth, which led to my promotion to Front Office Manager in a mere seven months. After that, I was promoted to Rooms Division Manager, before applying for a role at our sister property on Rottnest Island, Samphire, where I’ve been the Rooms Division Manager since June. 
What do you love most about your role?

Having travelled a lot as a child, I’ve always had a passion for exploring new cities and meeting new people from all walks of life. Hotels play a very special role in bringing to life each city and connecting people through magical experiences that are unique to their surroundings. I’m proud to play a small part in creating this magic through my role at Prendiville Group. Plus, I get to enjoy the perfect balance of beachlife and worklife. 

What are the three more important lessons you’ve learned during your time at Prendiville Group?

My first and most important lesson is that personal integrity is essential. Working in hospitality for the past two and a half years it has become very clear to me that you won’t succeed unless you stay true to the things you believe and have an end goal to work towards. The second learning is that you should develop and surround yourself with the right people. I quickly learned that when you care about your people you get to experience the best versions of them, so empowering your team with the right tools and understanding their career goals is vital. My third lesson is in business: People, service and profit are the cornerstones of hospitality, and again it all starts with the right people. People will deliver the service that will keep guests coming back time and time again, so work with your people to create a culture of empowerment. 

What would be your advice to anyone looking for a career in Hospitality?

Always go for it and put everything you have into your role. Yes, if you want to do well it’s hard work, but there are so many rewards and opportunities for success and growth. Put yourself out there and go for it!

And finally, tell us your go to dish and drink

For me, it’s the Snow Crab Ma Hor share plate at Samphire Rottnest’s South East Asian inspired restaurant, Lontara. And to finish the evening, my go-to drink is an amaretto sour served fresh by the talented team of mixologists at the Rottnest Hotel.