Whether you’re a regular guest or just popping in past, a trip to Malmaison isn’t complete without meeting the wonderful Ewa Rankin. The dedicated cluster events and sales manager splits her time across Malmaison and Hotel du Vin yet never forgets a face. We caught up with Ewa to find out more.
“I grew up in a beautiful town called Olsztyn in Poland and came to Scotland in 2005. I was visiting my brother who lived in Dundee, I planned to stay a few weeks and help him move to Glasgow. I never left, although the story of how I got my first job in Scotland is funny to say the least. I already had hospitality experience from working in the States as a student. I was a housekeeper in the morning and a waitress in the evening. I rarely had a day off but I learnt so much and caught the hospitality bug. I must have applied for at least 30 jobs in Glasgow before I got a voicemail for an interview at what was then Jurys Inn. I turned up and was told there were no interviews that day. It was only afterwards and to my horror, I had misheard the name of the hotel due to the strong Glaswegian accent. I was meant to go to Bewleys Hotel instead. Thankfully I got offered a job at both sites, and spent eight years at Jurys before moving to Malmaison in 2013.
The best part of working in hospitality is that there is no such thing as an average day. I usually prepare myself a to do list the day before, sometimes I don’t get round to completing it as other things pull me away. We work as a team and always support each other. My day is usually filled with business development meetings, networking at local events, managing my inbox, researching new opportunities and keeping in touch with an extensive base of loyal customers and ambassadors to the brand.
Hospitality is all about people; what I love the most about my job is meeting so many interesting folk. I still meet with the same guests who visited Mal in 2013. They might not be travelling as often, but they get in touch when they book in. I love speaking to guests and learning where they are from, what brings them to Mal and getting their feedback.
The biggest challenge is the constantly changing market conditions, but Malmaison will always stand
out. This is because of our exceptional service, curated and freshly prepared food and trendy beverage offering, plus our relaxing SPA. We also boast a great location with an amazing outside terrace and an incredible team. Malmaison Aberdeen is a boutique hotel with its own unique identity.
I genuinely love what I do, I’d advise anyone entering hospitality to be resilient and know your goals. Listening is so important, always work as part of the team. And finally, don’t be scared to ask for help. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness.