Theresa Maw
Name: Theresa Maw<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>
Date of birth: 19 September 1959
Job title: General manager, Marriott Park Lane
Location: London
First job in hospitality? A reservations sales agent at London's Cunard International hotel in October 1977.
How did you get from there to your current job? At the Cunard International hotel I became a chef de brigade and later, head of customer services before undertaking a working holiday in Asia and Australia.
I started with Marriott in June 1985 as guest relations manager at the London Marriott hotel in Grosvenor Square. There, I set up a guest relations programme for all European Marriott Hotels. In November 1989, I became the hotel's director of reservation sales. I then became director of guest services in June 1990.
In May 1996 I was appointed director of international operations (training and performance support) and was responsible for putting together teams of hotel experts for the openings of hotels in the UK, Africa, central Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
In January 1998 I was offered the post of resident manager of the London Marriott County Hall and oversaw its opening.
In May 2000 I became hotel manager of the Renaissance London Chancery Court hotel, before moving to the London Marriott Park Lane in March 2002 as general manager with overall responsibility for the hotel's operations.
What are your main responsibilities? The London Marriott Park Lane opens on 4 November 2002 and will be the 25th hotel I have opened, so opening hotels has sort of become my expertise. Once up and running, I'll be at the hotel from about 7.30am until maybe 8pm, doing everything from hosting meetings with the hotel's owners, our PR associates and, of course, my staff. I also aim to spend around 60% of my time with either those who help sell the hotel or guests. I'll be overseeing the Marriott policy of "lobby hosting", which means there is always a management presence to help and greet guests during both the check-in and departure periods. I'll also be hosting my own general manager's cocktail party once a week. This will be a chance for me to meet our guests.
What do you most enjoy about your job? My job is so diverse. That's what I love about it. It's never, ever boring. I might be testing the menu one minute, choosing pillows the next and then examining the brickwork. There is always something exciting happening or some new project evolving.
What do you most dislike about your job? I honestly can't think of anything I dislike about the job. I really can't. I love it so much. It's my dream job.
What attributes do you need to do your job? Lots of energy, attention to detail and an ability to advance and help staff, as well as balance the many priorities. To be able to open a hotel successfully, you really have to be a Jack-of-all-trades and have a sound working knowledge of how construction works and know which pipes and wires go where.
What would be your next move? I'm so focussed on this project for the foreseeable future that I simply haven't considered any subsequent move. This hotel's location is so superb.
What would be your ultimate career move? Who knows? There are so many opportunities with a company like this, and you never know what chances will come up in the future. I'll remain open on this one.
