Acorn winners 2016: Melanie Wright, 29

01 July 2016
Acorn winners 2016: Melanie Wright, 29

Marketing manager, the Capital hotel, London

Nominated by Kate Levin, general manager, the Capital hotel, London

Proudest moment "Relaunching the hotel's website. Awards season is also exciting and I loved helping three of our teams get shortlisted for the Cateys last year."

Greatest inspiration "My father, who encourages me to dream big. At work I've learned huge amounts from the Levin family. Working for a family-run hotel is special."

Ambition

Melanie Wright's degree in media and communications has stood her in good stead as a successful sales and marketing professional. It's a job that gives you a chance to "bring your brand alive and tell its story," she says.

Her own story is interesting enough. In 2010, she got a place as a PR and marketing intern at Whistler Blackcomb resort in Canada for the Winter Olympic Games. A brief sojourn at Doubletree by Hilton as a food and beverage (F&B) reservations co-ordinator followed, but by 2012 she was at the Capital hotel in London, where she was promoted twice in three years.

One of her biggest tasks has been helping to rebrand the Capital with new brochures, a website and a short video. She's also had success managing social media growth, with the hotel's Instagram presence alone growing 171%.

Wright doesn't let digital dominate, however. A postcard promotion targeted at guest profiles boosted low-season bookings. Some 2,700 cards at a cost of £2,300 resulted in revenue of £26,762 for January and February 2015.

Successful events that she has organised include a series of masterclasses with chef Nathan Outlaw and 'getting more girls in the kitchen' evenings with guest chefs Angela Hartnett, April Bloomfield and Monica Galetti.

Wright strives to improve internal communication between departments through regular F&B crossover meetings and fun events. She also keeps in touch with mentees from Oxford School of Hospitality.

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