From the first day in hospo when she didn’t know who a bellboy was to today where Yuni advises leading properties on how to grow their online sales, it’s been a great ride – and there is more to come!
Tell us about your career in hospitality and the journey to STAAH.
My hospitality career began as a secretary in The Laguna Resort Nusa Dua [Bali] in 2008. I was a hospitality novice and learnt many things about the industry here. Following this opportunity was another one at bvilla Management where I acquired the skills and an undying passion for sales and marketing of hospitality businesses. I grabbed an opportunity with Wotif in 2013 (Australia’s largest OTA at the time) with both hands before continuing my love affair with hospitality sales and marketing at STAAH.
What do you like most about STAAH and your job?
The culture, the people and the products set STAAH apart from many others. It’s a great company to work for with every day bringing new adventures. What’s most exciting is that it is a big small company with endless opportunities. There is great pride associated in the work we do as we see the impact it makes. It’s been an amazing ride so far with many learnings and unlearnings. Yet, I come back each day with a renewed sense of excitement.
Your hospitality success mantra?
Always work with clarity.
If you want to walk through a crowd of people, if your vision is clear and you can see where everybody is, you can just walk through the whole crowd without touching anyone. It same likes if I want to be success, I have to set my goal clearly, then set the steps to reach my goals, and the last thing what I need is to be persistence.
Your interests outside STAAH. Do they help you do your job better?
I love reading, especially books on motivation and entrepreneurship. It’s a great way to learn – besides, I think it’s very sexy [laughs]. I take a book everywhere I go; you’ll find me nose deep in a book even while waiting for a client in the hotel lobby. Indulging yourself in a book tells the world that you’re comfortable on our own, curious about the world and in the most basic sense, intelligent.
The book that I recommend is The Secret Series; I am confident you will love it.
Some funny moments in hospitality or with STAAH.
As I said, hospitality was completely new territory to me when I started at The Laguna Resort Nusa Dua. On my first day someone asked to me hand a tag to the bellboy. At the time I had no idea about the workings and departments of the industry. I spent quite some time trying to locate a person called ‘bellboy’! I still laugh when I think about that day.
The property’s front office manager came to my rescue that day and gave me a run down on every section of a hotel, the functions and roles. That’s the thing about hospitality, the people in it are amazing and kind. Makes working in this industry a pleasure.