Sir, – Just what is it that hotel managers and soccer managers have in common? They both manage teams in order to get results. Results that are designed to generate good revenue and to deliver a substantial profit.
In both cases, their tenure is precarious. In both cases they are contracted to deliver on the owner’s expectations; expectations that are often contained in their budgets. In the past, hotel managers were required to build a team and to instil a strong sense of loyalty and cohesion to ensure maximum guest satisfaction. This often entailed hours upon hours of leading by example and searching for the right candidate for that pivotal position – be it restaurant manager or centre forward.
The manager then had to train the team to deliver on the owners’ expectations. Each meal time, each function, each overnight stay was similar to a football match with a view to an outright win at the end of the day. A win that would ensure a return visit or a promotion to the champions league. We both had the same pressures.
However, I cannot imagine any dismissed hotel manager getting a goodbye cheque for €16,000,000. Can you? – Yours, etc,
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TERRY O’DOHERTY,
Kenmare,
Co Kerry.