Having long-standing members on the team makes working not only easier but so much more enjoyable. Petrona, like Donald, is more like an old friend or family member than simply a work colleague, in addition to being a trusted and highly valued member of the team.
Like most of our team members, she did not have formal hospitality skills and training when she first approached us in 2000. She impressed us with her “can do” spirit and eagerness to learn along with her pleasant personality. Starting as a housekeeper, Petrona is now a multi-talented key component to Hotel Mockingbird Hill. Alongside her role as Head Housekeeper, she now oversees the daily operations, having gained experience over the years in the areas of food, beverages and service, she will cook you a delicious breakfast, serve you with her winning smile, make tour arrangements for you, whip up a wicked cocktail, and of course make sure all the details are attended to so that you truly enjoy your room and your stay at the hotel.
We are happy knowing that when we do leave the hotel our guests are in good hands, and really appreciate when we return and receive the feedback from our guests that they are always full of praise for the team and their attentiveness. For us this is one of the greatest satisfactions after 17 years; to know that we are fortunate enough to work with individuals like Petrona who make all the effort over the years so worthwhile. We enjoy the camaraderie and share an understanding that enables us to laugh and overcome all the daily challenges. In fact, we often smile to ourselves when we listen to her introducing new team members… she expresses our values and shares tips like our formal spokesperson … and recently one of the new staff members responded “Boy, not only you really know your employers… you just like them!”, which we hopes she takes as the compliment intended!
Yes, she really does know our values, and we are so grateful to have the pleasure of working with such a lovely, dedicated person; and we are honoured with the greatest compliment of all, that her daughter has now also joined her team, so we are now training & developing the second generation!
