Rachel Abbott (Sydney)
Sheraton on the Park

Rachel is currently the Human Resources Manager at Sheraton on the Park, Sydney. She completed her first year industry placement hours at Yarraton Hospitality Services (then known as Warrane College Household Administration). The remainder of the course, she worked at the Hotel Nikko, Darling Harbour - now known as Four Points.

In the years since graduating, Rachel has had a rich variety of experience here and overseas. She worked as a Guest Services Agent at the Nikko after finishing Kenvale. She then worked as Guest Services Manager in the Observatory Hotel.

After that she worked in Human Resources in hotels, restaurants and a resort - from Scotland to London to Turtle Island, Fiji. On returning to Australia she worked in Corporate Recruitment, before returning to hotels to the position of Training and Recruitment Manager at the Sheraton on the Park,

"If you can go overseas, do it - keeping in mind that building and maintaining relationships along the way is very important."

Serena Ryan (Orange)
Marriott Hotel, USA

Serena stayed in the one property, Swissotel, while studying, but managed to move around several departments - from housekeeping to front office and reservations.

On completion of her studies, she stayed on at the Swissotel, before travelling overseas to work in the Melville Marriott, Long Island, New York, where she has met her husband-to-be! In the Melville Marriott, she started in front office, before becoming assistant to the general manager.

She moved on to Accounts Receivable and is currently back in Front Office as the Front Office Supervisor and Trainer.

Emma Hatch (Bourke)
The Grace Hotel

Just a few years out of College, Emma is working as Assistant Manager of Front Office at The Grace Hotel, Sydney. 

Like Rachel, Emma’s first work placement was Yarraton Hospitality Services.  In the second year at College, Emma moved into a role at The Grace Hotel.  Once she completed her course, they offered her full time employment.  She has moved through most areas of the hotel – communications, reservations, housekeeping, reception and night audit.  In March 2008 she became Assistant Manager of Front Office.

Her loyalty and hard work have not gone unnoticed.  In 2006 she was awarded Employee of the Year, which including a trip to Malaysia and 5 nights accommodation. 

More recently, she was nominated for the AHA (Australian Hotel Association) Front Office Employee of the Year for 2008. 

“The life experience that I have had the pleasure of gaining at Kenvale has been invaluable. If I had not decided to go to Kenvale I would not be the person I am today, and would not have had the career opportunities I have had. The lifelong friends that you meet there are with you forever and that is something I will treasure always.”