Meredith Forrest

First hospitality job:

I was a Museum Tour Guide at Huronia Museum and Huron Wendat Village in Midland Ontario.

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Age you started working in hospitality:

19

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Your inspiration to begin working in hospitality:

Meeting new people from around the world while I was an ambassador to Canada showing my hospitality.

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My hospitality mentor:

Not one person, a group of individuals on a Tourism Marketing Board in Georgian Bay (Midland). I sat as a director of a board who promoted southern Georgian Bay. These other directors represented our tourism sector (hotels, attractions, cruises) I was inspired & mentored by Mary Mandley of HHP.

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What are your favourite aspects of your job?

The perks of being a Hotel Manager included quarterly conferences including a trip to Las Vegas to the Choice Hotels Annual Conference where I won a Gold Award.

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What has inspired you to continue your career path in hospitality?

People who work in the tourism sector have a very special energy which makes me drawn to them. No matter what part of the hospitality industry I always found great people to work with.

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Advice for students interested in a career in hospitality:

Search for a mentor to guide you. Don't be shy, just ask. Take them out to lunch as a thank you from time to time. Having a mentor is invaluable.