Meet Lydia, Cluster Talent & Culture Manager at Accor

Feb 01, 2023

This month's Employee Of Choice is awarded to Lydia MacDonell, who is the Cluster Talent & Culture Manager at Accor Hospitality Group. Lydia works across multiple venues including Novotel Melbourne South Wharf, Ibis Melbourne Glen Waverley and Ibis Budget Melbourne Airport. Read on to find out more about her hospitality career so far.

About Lydia

How did you find yourself in your current role?
I worked for Accor for 2 years before being ready for a change. I moved to a different employer but it wasn’t long before I missed the culture and people we have at Accor, where I could really develop my strengths and be myself. I was very grateful to be offered an opportunity to return in 2022, and as that opportunity wound down, another appeared! I am currently covering a maternity leave. You never know what opportunities could be coming down the track!

What skills have you developed through your hospitality journey?
Customer Service, listening, time management, and above all, empathy.

Who’s one role model or mentor that you’ve looked up to throughout your career?
While I was studying my HR degree, a program alumni came to speak and she was a Senior International Director for HR for a hospitality group. I knew straight away I wanted a career that looked just like hers. Also, I’ve referenced Cal Newport and Brene Brown (Authors) around the office way too much. I’m very lucky to have always had strong female managers to learn and develop from, and who have supported and pitched for my growth.

What’s the one utensil you can’t live without?
Chef’s knife. It can do everything.

What was your biggest mistake in hospo and what did you learn from it?
I forgot to put half a table order in on my last shift at the last restaurant I worked at. No amount of charm or free fried food will bring you back from that. I learned to double check my work, and have a colleague check it too!

What advice would you give to your younger self thinking of working in hospitality?
Do it, and don’t undervalue the skills it helps you develop and demonstrate for all other areas of your life and career.

About Accor

What do you love most about working in your venue?
The people, and the staff rates for coffee (free!)

How have you found working for your current hospitality group?
A place where people can really be seen and appreciated, where genuine opportunities are created. I’ve never once not wanted to come into work. Even on the hardest days, it matters to show up and support your team.

About the hospitality industry

What’s your most memorable hospitality experience?
Being a hotel all rounder in Scotland was memorable, scones and jam on Loch Ness is a neat experience, but honestly it’s running a whole lunch service on my own at a previous restaurant. It was a rush, but I achieved it! (no meals were forgotten).

What changes in the hospo environment/culture have you noticed over time?
Higher level of respect for the craft that goes into delivering exceptional service, and more study and career paths related to it as a passion.

What trend in hospo do you predict will happen next?
More self-serve options with augmented membership experiences. Concierges will become more commonplace to tailor experiences exactly to a guests preferences and wow them!

How can hospo be made better?
If everyone who goes out to enjoy hospitality services worked a breakfast shift once a year to remember how hard it is.

What do you love most about hospitality?
The people it draws to it and the opportunities it offers those willing to make the most of it. The international associations and local travel discounts are great too!

A big thanks to Lydia and her hospitality insights! If you want to start you hospitality journey, barcats is the place to start! Create your staff profile here.

Or if you’re ready to make the jump and work for one of Australia’s best hospitality groups, check out all of Accor’s range of job roles here.