Patience Needed In Hotel Trade

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32166, 9 December 1969, Page 2

Patience Needed In Hotel Trade

Patience, tolerance and understanding of people were the main qualities needed in the hotel business, Miss Barbara Macintyre of the Hotel Australia, Melbourne, said n Christchurch yesterday. Miss Maclntyre, who has been In the hotel business for over 17 yearns, is touring New Zealand to promote a family-rate scheme for New Zealanders travelling to Melbourne and staying at the Hotel AusMia. One of the few women to occupy a top position in a hotel, Miss Maclntyre is accommodatim manageress for Hotel Australia, a position she gained'four years ago. A New Zealander herself, she began hotel work in Timaru as a receptionist and after four years went to Sydney and then to the Hotel Australia in Melbourne where she has been for 11 yean. Promotional Work For the last three years her work has also ineluded promotional work throughout Australia and now for the first time in New Zealand.

She said the present familyrate scheme was aimed at the average New Zealander, providing a luxury holiday at a reasonable rate.

“Our rate is usually $lB a day with no meals for a

double room. Under the family rate we will charge $l2 a day with breakfast for a double room and including any child under 12 yean,” Miss Maclntyre said. "With only $2O a day allowed for New Zealanders overseas, this rate will still leave them spending money and at the same time, provide luxury accommodation."

Hotel -Small" Miss Maclntyre said the Hotel AustAlia with 102 rooms, was small by Australian standards, and the policy was to emphasise the personal element in dealing with the public.

Handling work that often finds her in any part of the hotel ait any time, Miss MacIntyre said the latest device Invented to keep her In contact with the main desk was a “beeper”—a mechanical gadget which was carried on tiie person and beeped loudly when ' the main desk had a message. Miss Maclntyre will return to Australia this week, having established contact with travel agents throughout New Zealand. While in the South Island ■he also visited her family in Tlmerti.