MEET CAITLIN
Our Food & Beverage Supervisor
We sat down with Caitlin to ask her a few questions about what it is like to work in a resort hotel inside the Cairngorms National Park.
How did you find out about your role at Coylumbridge Aviemore Hotel and Resort?
I always knew I wanted to work in the Highlands so I searched Scottish Highlands on Indeed and the role at Coylumbridge came up. So I thought what the heck!
What made you apply for the role?
I used to run smaller establishments back in my home town but knew I wanted to go to a bigger scale and thought Coylumbridge was the best start in to the hotel industry. I used to visit Coylumbridge when I was younger with my family and have so many amazing memories here so I knew it would be a great start.
What does a regular day and week of work look like for you?
The best part of the job is that no two days are the same. I have been lucky enough to have so many amazing opportunities to go outside my job role which means I am constantly benefiting and learning.
I usually start with a breakfast shift, followed later by the dinner shift, but I also help run the bar, coffee shop and have started taking over the social media pages and currently training for working on reception. I love the variety the job role has given me. Its hard work but absolutely the most rewarding job.
What aspect of working at Coylumbridge Aviemore Hotel and Resort do you find most rewarding and why?
Anyone who has met me will know the most rewarding part of my job is meeting, helping and creating amazing relationships with guests. I absolutely love to learn about where people have come from, their stories and sharing mine with them. I have been lucky enough in the last 4 months of moving here to have met so many incredible people, some of those now planning to return. Its very sad to see them go when they have been here for a period of time , the goodbye hugs wont get any easier but I am glad that I got to play such a special part in their experience in such a wonderful place. Being away from your family and getting special interactions like these with guests makes the job feel more like home.
How have you found working in a secluded/serene/quiet area?
I have absolutely loved moving to a more secluded area, however its not as quiet as it looks. There is such a busy life about Aviemore and surprisingly a great night life aspect too. So, wether you want a quieter experience or to be more involved you get the best of both worlds.
I have found it personally nice to have that choice, both me time and time out in the community.
What is the community like amongst the staff? Are you like a big family?
The community amongst staff is like any other job, especially when most of us live in. We all support each other and socialise but we do like to all have our alone time. Working in a busy and at times stressful environment can be tough, but no bad days last. The team always picks up anyone who is having a more down day.
You must meet a variety of different guests visiting the hotel, where is the furthest away a guest has come from that you have met?
We are lucky that we are constantly being visited by family and tour groups from all over the world daily. The Scottish highlands is such a special place and for some a dream come true. I can honestly say I do not think there is a continent I have not met since working here, Australia is probably the furthest.
What is your favourite part about working in the hospitality industry?
My mum has always said that this is my perfect job as I love how fast paced and the constant changes you get. Constantly running around and dealing with new situations and like i said before all the people you get to meet. Hospitality is not for everyone but for those who want to work hard will find the job so rewarding. It really does help you grow as a person.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time outside of work?
The Scottish Highlands is a dream place for me as I do a lot of outdoor sports, so I am constantly entertaining myself. From paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming in our breathtaking surrounded lochs, the many different walking and hiking routes (so if you are in to Munro Bagging we have 55 here) around and of course the amazing coffee shops and food places.
Yes, it is somewhere you need to put effort in to finding stuff to do but if outdoors and adventure is for you personally there is no better place than right in the centre of the Cairngorms National Park.
I am so passionate about the Scottish Highlands and will never not emphasise enough how special it is to anyone.
What would you say to someone considering working at Coylumbridge Aviemore Hotel and Resort?
DO IT! We are such an amazing team surrounded by out of this world landscapes, ones that can only put a smile on your face.
If this is something you are remotely thinking about just say YES and do it. Lets be friends.