Rydges Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Joel Day as General Manager of Rydges Plaza Cairns.
The appointment marks a homecoming of sorts for Mr Day, who began his career in hospitality while still at school in Far North Queensland and went on to excel in managerial roles across several island resorts in the region before transferring to Melbourne.
Born and raised in Tully, QLD, Mr Day is excited to return to tropical Cairns and the resort lifestyle that first inspired his passion for the hospitality industry.
“My first exposure to the resort lifestyle was at the age of 14 as a waiter, and since then I have been driven by a personal goal to ensure every customer leaves with positive memories of the service they received,” Mr Day said.
“I am excited to return to Far North Queensland and the opportunity to work at a fantastic property where I am able to be at the forefront of tourism in the region, while inspiring staff to provide a level of service that exceeds our customers’ expectations.”
Area General Manager of Rydges Hotels and Resorts in Cairns, Matthew Hurley, said Mr Day’s diverse background in food and beverage and customer service spanning more than ten years made him an ideal candidate to lead Rydges Plaza Cairns into the future.
“Joel has demonstrated leadership abilities at the highest level, combined with a strong focus on customer service that is in alignment with our objective to provide guests with a superior experience during their stay with us at Rydges Hotels and Resorts in Cairns,” Mr Hurley said.
Before taking the helm at Rydges Plaza Cairns last month, Mr Day served as Front Office Manager for Rydges Bell City for five years, overseeing front-of- house management at the multipurpose, 844-room property in Melbourne.
He then took on a role as Rooms Division Manager at Melbourne’s Blackman Hotel in January 2015, with responsibility for a team of 20 staff at the boutique 5-star Art Series Hotel, before seizing the opportunity to return to Rydges and the world-class holiday and conference destination he knew well from his formative years.
Mr Day began his career at the Horizons Resort in South Mission Beach, QLD in 2003, where his natural leadership skills led to his swift promotion from food service to the role of Bar and Restaurant Supervisor.
Realising he had found his calling, Mr Day completed his high school diploma while still working at the resort, and accepted a role as live-in Duty Manager with after-hours responsibility for 80 hotel rooms and 15 staff members.
His contagious enthusiasm and unending professionalism led to management roles at a variety of exclusive Queensland island getaways including Voyages Brampton Island Resort, Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island, and Voyages Dunk Island Resort.
At Brampton Island, he honed his expertise as Food and Beverage Supervisor from 2007 to 2008, before taking on a different challenge as Weddings Coordinator at Kingfisher Bay Resort, where he relished the role of planning and executing every detail of the most special day of his customers’ lives.
Mr Day then served as Bar Manager at Voyages Dunk Island Resort from 2008 to 2009, before accepting an offer as Duty Manager at Sea Temple Resort and Spa Palm Cove, where he stayed until leaving for Rydges Bell City in Melbourne in 2010.
