The Menlyn Boutique Hotel, a stunning 5-star establishment in the heart of Pretoria is delighted to announce the appointment of their new General Manager, Paul Duverge. Having obtained distinctions in his City & Guilds qualification in Operations and Services, Duverge was destined to excel in the hospitality sector.
Duverge loves the industry and what he loves most is that it is continuously evolving. “There are always new developments in the market and within the local hospitality sector. Traveler’s needs are forever changing and it is important to find new ways to accommodate these needs. The endless change and competition creates an environment where one cannot become complacent or bored. It is a very demanding industry, yet is extremely rewarding,” Duverge adds.
He explains that he was very fortunate to have been offered numerous opportunities within this industry by good people who recognised that he had potential, allowing him to steadily work his way up the ranks. As with any new entrant one has to learn the practical skills and be mentored, but Paul advises “it is imperative that any new entrant work with eagerness and passion for the industry. These attributes far outweigh any inexperience and will result in progression.
Formally trained at the City Lodge Group, he gained tremendous work experience. “I have learnt a great deal by working in the hospitality sector and I continue to learn on a daily basis.”
Thrilled with his appointment as the new General Manager of The Menlyn Boutique Hotel, he has many goals that he has set out to achieve in this new role. “I am looking to take the hotel to the next level in terms of service excellence across all departments. We are extremely proud of our occupancy rate as well as the return rate of our guests. However, I would like to improve on this by winning over new guests and by exceeding the expectations of all our regular customers. My vision for the hotel is to be the preferred hotel of choice in Pretoria.”
Joining an existing passionate team that strives for perfection, Duverge believes that the enthusiastic energy of the staff is a key component in making the hotel a success. “We also have committed owners who are always investing in the property and making necessary upgrades. They do so to keep the look and feel of the property fresh and up to date with current trends.”
According to Duverge, The Hotel’s signature restaurant The Black Bamboo is yet another feature that makes the hotel so unique. “Our Head Chef Pellie Grobler is driven and passionate and regularly changes the food and wine menu to enhance the dining experience of our guests.”
“In essence, what makes The Menlyn Boutique Hotel distinctive, is that we strive to move away from the industry norms by offering a personalised and special experience as opposed to just offering a bed to sleep in. We aim to go above and beyond for our guests and we want our guests to be wowed each and every time that they visit us,” Duverge concludes.