Open To… Moment Makers

Meet Keiran Bailey

Team Manager - Guest Relations

The opportunities that have been made available to me at Whitbread have been abundant. It feels like a collaborative effort getting to the next stage of your career, and there’s always the support to make that next move - whether it’s a leap or just a step up (or across).

I had a conversation with my manager early on about relocating, and they went on the journey to find the right role with me. Then, it came up, and I made the move. Everyone’s there to help you set the direction for your career, but you’re the one leading it and really making it happen. But, they’re definitely holding the doors open for you.

Twelve years later, and what’s always excited me is that you can’t predict the day ahead. Whether that be in the Support Centre, hotel, or in the restaurants. That unknowing feeling brings excitement.

They won’t always be easy days, but the interaction with our guests brings so much reward. I remember one real stand-out shift when I worked in hotels. It’s a really specific thrill being on the front-line with our guests. There was an extremely busy shift, a mix of stag and hen parties, and families. It was super busy, but such a thrilling experience and lots of great conversations. At the end I felt tired from the day, but energised by the experience and so ready to go again. 

Whitbread provides a really unique safety. It’s opened my mind to push myself out of my comfort zone. The opportunities that Whitbread has allowed me to take has shown me that I can stretch myself further than I imagined I would be able to, and having an environment that feels so comfortable and welcoming is the perfect place to do that.

Plus, progress is a part of the culture, and who we are. Whitbread listens and wants to improve. It’s the ‘want’ that is so important to a company. The want is there to keep making it an inclusive environment that lets people thrive, and that’s key, there’s no doing things for show, everything is done with meaning and action.

The future is bright, and we’ve really cemented our place as the largest hospitality brand in the UK. The Whitbread that we know today is not the same as ten years ago, and it’s not the same as we’ll be in ten years' time.

We are Whitbread and we are #OpenToYou. Join us here.