Original Article by Lora Waugh for Hospitality Careers
Posted Thursday, November 15, 2012
The small plane is late. In the harbour waits a 220,000-ton cruise ship with 5,400 guests and crew on board—and it cannot delay its departure. As the Associate Hotel Director, Joao Mendonca has to act quickly. The Captain wants an ETA—the sightseeing tourists should have been on board the vessel 10 minutes ago. Joao calls his Hotel Operations support team and the search is on….
The first impression Joao gives is one of a passionate and thoughtful leader—coaching, directing, and carefully guiding his team. He wants positive feedback on crewmembers and strives to nurture and promote his team. I notice how important it is to him that guests have a great vacation. Joao’s goal on board the Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship is to deliver a superb guest experience. It is a complex, fast-paced work.
As the Associate Hotel Director, Joao oversees 11 Hotel Operations Divisions. He works with all the different division heads and has wide-ranging responsibilities. Continue reading
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