‘Hotels convey a sense of happiness because they conjure nostalgic memories’ – Johanna Marshall

Tourism and hospitality professional Johanna Marshall has linked her passion for the industry with the various “nostalgic memories” of past holidays that hotels bring about.

Ms Marshall, who has worked at The Westin Dragonara Resort for over 11 years, last February announced that she was promoted to Director of Events in October. This represented her latest move in hospitality, having initially joined the industry as a Food and Beverage Attendant at Radisson Blu Resort, Malta back in 2004.

Following this, MaltaCEOs.mt reached out to her so that she can expand on what she will be tasked with in her new role, and what has kept her at the hotel for so long.

“This new role will allow me to acquire further experience within the events discipline, as it provides a more holistic approach towards the segment,” she said, before adding that she is “thrilled to continue growing” at The Westin Dragonara Resort.

“Apart from the day-to-day running of the events department, I am now more actively involved in decision making, planning, and budgeting,” she continued.

She remarked that the hotel’s management “really believes in growing people from within”, and she has witnessed a similar change within her as well. She initially joined The Westin Dragonara Resort as Event Coordinator back in 2011, before she was then promoted to Convention Services and Sales Manager. Afterwards she was named Event Manager and Food and Beverage Revenue Analyst, a position she stayed in for four-and-a-half years, before she was promoted to her present position.

When she had first joined, she had “very little experience” in the events department, yet as she progressed and moved upwards, more tasks and responsibilities allowed her to gain “better insight not just on the events discipline, but on the hotel operation in general”.

When asked whether she has ever considered a career away from the hospitality industry, she said that she "tried to leave" it in the past, yet she "failed", leading her to believe that she is "here to stay". She also remarked that "from a young age", she has "always loved hotels", making a potential move away even tougher.

“My parents come from a tourism background so I believe that this has influenced me in pursuing a hospitality career. To me, hotels convey a sense of happiness because they conjure nostalgic memories of when we were little and used to go on holiday, so I can relate to why guests visit our properties,” Ms Marshall added.

“Planning is something I have always been keen on and even in my personal life I have to have everything thought through to the dot,” she concluded.