Food and Beverage Assistant Ben Wilson talks about getting into meetings and events, and how a close-knit team and the freedom to make decisions can make all the difference.
How did you get into hospitality and events?
I started in hospitality while I was at college and spent several years working in hotel restaurants and bars. That gave me plenty of experience looking after guests, but moving to Crowne Plaza Newcastle gave me the chance to learn a different side of the industry.
My manager, Ty, introduced me to meetings and events and showed me how everything works behind the scenes. I already understood hospitality, but this helped me build on that experience and learn what it takes to look after organisers and keep an event running properly.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The team is the main thing for me. A job’s a job, and there are plenty of hospitality jobs out there, but it’s the people you work with who keep you somewhere.
We’re a close-knit team, from the sales team and managers to those working on the events. We know what’s expected of us, we get the work done and we have a laugh as well.
We’re also trusted to use our judgement. If an organiser needs something and a manager isn’t immediately available, we are trusted to sort it ourselves, and we know the managers will back us.
What gives you the most satisfaction at the end of an event?
Hearing that the organiser was happy. After you’ve worked a full day and put everything into getting the room and the event right, that makes it feel worthwhile.
After one particularly busy event, the organiser came over and shook every team member’s hand to say thank you. Usually, feedback goes to the managers, so for her to take the time to thank each of us personally was a small thing, but it meant a lot.
What are your top tips for delegates visiting Newcastle?
If you want a quieter side of Newcastle, take a walk along the Quayside on Sunday morning when the market is on. Cross over to Gateshead, near The Glasshouse, and you get a brilliant view back towards Newcastle and the Tyne Bridge.
People are often surprised by how close Newcastle is to the coast – there are plenty of beaches to choose from.
There are loads of good local restaurants, too. The scran is banging – and there’s plenty of places to try a sausage roll or a Newcastle Brown Ale. Delegates should see St James’ Park too.
The city itself is stunning, with older buildings alongside the modern parts, but it’s the people who make it. You can ask someone for directions and they’ll genuinely give you their time. That friendliness comes naturally here.
