Ever wondered what management roles in a leading UK hospitality employer look like? Well, wonder no more!
We sat down with one of our General Managers (GMs) so you could learn about their typical day and how you might progress to become one yourself!
So sit back and learn all about General Manager hospitality jobs from our very own Pete!
Journey to a Holiday Park General Manager
I joined the Holiday Park industry back in 1996, starting off as seasonal on the entertainments team, where I hosted the quizzes, shows, and games - I just fell in love with holiday park life.
Through various acquisitions, I started working for Parkdean Resorts, and I’ve worked there since the start. I’ve been a General Manager now for over 10years, and this is what I’ve always wanted to do - to be in the thick of it all! It’s amazing how far parks have come since I started my journey, especially with new technology - back then we still used CD’s and cassettes!
What makes a good General Manager?
Being a good General Manager is about being adaptable; the role becomes part of your social life, and I just love that. For example, I come on park with my family for a meal and to watch the entertainment. I have a great work-life balance, and a lot of that is to do with being a part of Parkdean. If you have an excellent team around you, then you can rely on your team a lot more. This takes time to build, and it’s never there right from the beginning, but once you have your team perfect, there’s no better feeling.
I have 100% trust in my team, and they trust me 100%, it works both ways.
What are your biggest Parkdean achievements?
My biggest achievement here at PDR has to be becoming GM.
I came to Cayton Bay in 2001, and I started as Entertainments Managers, my proudest moment was becoming the GM for the park. I just fell in love with it.
I met my wife here, who worked behind the bar at the time. We lived in a house on-site, and my kids were born here in Scarborough. That’s my proudest accomplishment on park.
I’ve had a few small wins, like winning awards, the company has taken us to Las Vegas, South Africa, Canada, and New York, and a lot of various other locations, and this is a result of the good work we’ve done. I tell myself every day how lucky I am to have this job. I love coming to work.
Tell us a bit about your week as a GM
My work week varies, and I’m prepared to work as and when I’m needed. I’m here pretty much first thing in the morning 8 am sharp, to say good morning to all the team.
I usually spend the first hour getting through a few bits and pieces on my computer - emails and that sort of thing. Check my calendar, make sure I know what’s happening for the day. Then the rest of the day is just about checking things and speaking to team members. I make sure to speak to our kitchen staff and grab a hashbrown and then hit the bar to help them out. I usually then chatto guests, finding out how they are and how their holidays are going.
Weekends can be different; I’m usually based in Caravan Sales. Of course, there are reports and wages, etc., to sign off and complete boxes to be ticked, but that’s what makes park life amazing - every day is different, and I love it.
My most enjoyable time here at PDR is seasonal times like peak, welcoming all our guests, and getting ready for the rush. We have guests who have saved up a lot of money and decided to spend it with us during their holidays, and it’s about making that as special for them as we can.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without Parkdean Resorts - they really have encouraged growth and set up those opportunities!
Join Parkdean for a fun and varied career!
There you have it; plenty of reasons to start your career in hospitality or advance into General Manager jobs.
If you’re curious about other roles at Parkdean, browse our park and head office roles and apply today!
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