Liz Herrmann

Sebastian Herrmann

Ashley Schierhout

Sonja Herrmann

 Lynn has been associated with the hospitality industry for almost as long as she can remember. Both her parents were involved and home was always ‘wherever Dad’s job took us.’ Lynn claims to have been New Zealand’s youngest hotel receptionist (at 10 years) and youngest female General Manager.

So what is it that has kindled her enthusiasm for hospitality from such a tender age? ‘Its people, people, people’, she responds, ‘I love the people and the industry.’

Our Jet Park people are ‘special’, Lynn asserts. ‘Each department head is very passionate about what he or she contributes to the smooth running of the hotel.’ Each and every guest is greeted like a VIP and treated accordingly.

Lynn is a lady of wide personal interests too. Outside work, the outdoors is her favourite ‘place’. Swimming, walking, camping (with all facilities, including the kitchen sink), fishing and boating all feature on her activity list, with a little reading and piano playing squeezed in.

Holiday destinations are easy — anywhere you can camp, taking all the ‘mod cons’ with you!

Lynn Matthews

Jeeva feels the hospitality industry is ‘in his blood’. Little wonder. Growing up in Sri Lanka with a father in the industry and spending 25 years in hotels himself, you can see the connection.

He views his involvement as being similar to the experience of having guests in his house. ‘The people working in the industry are mainly service-orientated and gel together with the same mind set’, he observes.

There is no denying Jeeva’s credentials. After qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA, UK) and a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA, USA), his first real job was with a recently constructed hotel, in the pre-opening phase, charged with setting up all the systems. The hotel opened without a hitch. He’s opened several since then; the anticipation and excitement he claims is ‘hard to beat’.

Many of the staff he has trained are themselves now hotel general managers and some still keep in touch.

So how does Jet Park rate among the five countries where he has been involved in the hospitality industry?

Jeeva describes it as ‘quiet and private place for business or pleasure’. He believes it has a ‘resort feeling’ about it, combined with the efficiency of a business hotel.

Not too bad a recommendation from an employee with vast experience!

Jeeva Jeeva-Nanthan

Simon Turner

Jonathon has always felt drawn to the hospitality industry. He enjoys the international blend of guests, the food, wine and mixing with people who enjoy them too.

•  Induction into the Guild of Master Sommeliers
•  Winning the Hospitality Association of New Zealand’s ‘Best Beef” award in 2004
•  Attending the Savour New Zealand Conference with the hotel’s owner

Jonathan Missen

Making someone’s day special and turning problems into solutions are Bambi’s prime motivators.

‘We’re that kind of hotel’, he says. ‘We pride ourselves on our personality and our professionalism. We’re always open to friendly advice and we have a willingness to always be the best.’

Hospitality and caring for people is been very much a part of his background. While visiting his ill grandmother in Rarotonga Bambi rang his parents in New Zealand asking for the rest of his cloths to be sent — he’d decided to stay on!

He found gaining employment with local resorts easy, and Bambi has never regretted that transition. He recalls with pride serving various heads of state (including the heir to the Japanese throne) during an APEC conference in 2003, as well as other celebrities from around the globe.

Rarotonga remains his ‘second home’ and his favourite holiday destination. Feeling the wind through his hair motorcycling along the coast, stopping for a swim at a deserted beach or to watch the sun go down provides total contrast to his busy life at Jet Park. But Bambi wouldn’t trade either.

Bambi Wichman

May Heather