A Day in the Life of Great Scotland Yard Hotel’s Nicolas Kissling
October 6, 2022
In this week’s ‘A Day in the Life of…’ Nicolas Kissling from Great Scotland Yard Hotel (Unbound Collection by Hyatt) provides an insight into his role as a Sales and Marketing Coordinator.
Hi Nicolas, can you tell us a bit about your role and how you got here?
Once my marketing undergraduate studies at Goldsmiths were concluded, I started looking for a new challenge. I wanted to find a place where what I learned at university, in life and from my previous jobs could be applied and, also, where I could learn and develop myself professionally. The Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London is where I found all of that, and much more than I expected. From my first interview to my current trajectory now – I have worked alongside a group of highly skilled professionals that enable me to learn and grow personally and professionally. When thinking about where I am now, I feel a great sense of accomplishment.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My typical day starts with a cup of coffee and breakfast from Pret (yes, I’m one of those with a subscription), followed by walking to the Hotel while updating myself on the latest news while crossing the Thames. I try to get to the office early, so I can have some focused time in the morning and my day starts stress free. I always start by sorting through my emails (checking if there are any urgent actions required) and then setting out priorities for my day. Throughout the day, I work on different projects that require site visits with potential clients, meetings with other departments or planning memorable events. In the hospitality industry, every day can be different from the day before – and that really excites me.
What part of your role do you enjoy the most?
Working in hospitality means you are mainly focused on other people’s needs and in finding ways to satisfy them the best you can. I get pure joy from seeing my clients happy, and that is also the best feedback you can get in this line of business. Being part of a 5* hotel team also has amazing benefits, such as getting to taste amazing menus prepared by our extraordinary chefs.
Which top three skills are vital for this role and why?
For my role as Sales and Marketing Coordinator, I believe the top 3 skills are: confidence, comprehension and project management. Firstly, to be confident in what you do is extremely important, especially when facing clients who – most of the time – don’t know what they want. That brings me to comprehension, which means understanding others and being able to guide them towards the best possible outcome we can arrive at together. At last, project management, which brings together the importance of determining priorities, time management and organization.
What’s the most challenging aspect of your role?
Dealing with people and service may be part of the joys of my role. However, it is also one of the most challenging aspects of it. Sometimes we need to manage sudden changes or complaints. Imagine you have been planning an event for months, working on every small detail, getting the whole team onboard, making sure the event will be perfect and that on the day everything will run smoothly. On the event day, your client informs you that the guestlist will be almost double the size you planned the event for. There is only one possible action, coming up with the best solution for this situation as a team and keeping your client happy. Making the impossible happen is what we do in hospitality.
How do you help others feel like they belong in your team or promote inclusion?
I’m very friendly and outgoing with everyone around me. I try to always carry a warm welcoming smile and to be interested in the life and wellbeing of my colleagues around me. Our team goes for coffee breaks, lunches and walks outside to spend time together and build out relationships. We also celebrate our successes, and personal events such as birthdays or promotions by going out for dinners or drinks after work.
Which podcast/Youtube series would you recommend to someone interested in pursuing a career in this area to help develop their skills ort prepare them for the role?
Event Brew is the podcast I would recommend as event professionals gather from different backgrounds to talk about the latest, most interesting and controversial topics in industry.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Given the current economic and political instability, this is a quite a tricky question to answer. I see myself progressing within hospitality and taking on a leadership role in 10 years from now. Starting my own business and applying all skills developed from my work experience is also a possibility for my future.
If you are looking for a new role with an inclusive employer, don't forget to sign up to our free careers event WorkFair 2022 on October 19, here.
