Trevor Burgess
We chatted to 28-year old Trevor Burgess to get the 411 on how he went from studying at The International Hotel Schoolʼs Durban campus, to Hotel Concierge and now Guest Relations Butler at The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga.
Trevor was born in Pietermaritzburg, and decided to study at IHS because he thought he would open a nightclub when he finished his studies – being 18, it sounded like a good idea at the time!
He spent three years studying at IHS – two in Durban, and one at the Cape Town campus, cultivating friendships with people that heʼs still close to today, and achieving a higher diploma when he finished in 2005.
What did you hope to be doing at the end of your studies?
“Travel – and I did! The qualification really does give you a great opportunity to travel and work in some amazing places all over the world. I worked and travelled all over South Africa, bits and pieces of Europe, the Seychelles for almost two years, and then back to SA for the world cup. I worked as a Lodge Manager in a private game reserve, then an Account Manager at a Destination Management Company, then a Restaurant and Duty Manager at a Boutique City Hotel, then as an Experience Host on a private island in the Seychelles, and finally as Head Concierge and Guest Relations Butler at the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga.”
When you look back on your studies, what are your fondest memories?
“Certain teachers that took a personal interest in me, and all the silly mistakes you make learning your way through the different hotels you do your practical training at. There were lots!! Tanya Brooks and Helen McMiles were my favourite lecturers – both were very passionate about their jobs and pushed me to do my best and Iʼm still in touch with them today.”
How easy was it for you to find jobs after finishing your studies?
“Fairly easy. The hospitality industry is full of opportunities! I got into my current job through a friend who was at IHS a few years ahead of me.”
Do you love what you do?
“If I didnʼt, I wouldnʼt be here! You have to be passionate about what you do or youʼre just wasting your life. As a Guest Relations Butler, itʼs my job to make sure guests are happy at the hotel. We constantly meet and greet and engage with guests to make sure theyʼre enjoying their stay. If there are any unhappy guests at the hotel, itʼs up to us to fix the problem and turn the guest around so they love the rest of the stay and leave saying that this was one of the best stays theyʼve had anywhere.”
Do you feel your studies at IHS prepared you for the real world?
“The practical aspect gives you a good idea of what youʼre getting yourself into, and the theory will give you the knowledge you need to do your job and do it well. There are things you can learn from books and teachers and they have stood me in good stead by supplying the knowledge I need to achieve certain aspects of the job, but thereʼs no substitute for experience.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
“I want to be the guy who says, “Welcome to Space”, but I think thatʼs quite a way off… Life happens when youʼre making other plans, and my motto for life is ʻLive NOWʼ. But I can happily see myself one day owning and running a small hotel in the tropics.”
Any advice for hospitality students considering a career in guest relations?
“Buy a little black book and start making contacts. Everyone you meet is another person you can call for information or help. Youʼd be surprised how many times the most random person youʼve ever met is the exact person you need, who can solve an issue for you.”
