Loyal Employee Celebrates 33 Years of Helping Guests Stay Happy at Aberdeen Hotel

Jurys Inn Press releases

Hotel PR photograph of Lesley Ann Martin - a long serving staff member at Jurys Inn

73-YEAR-OLD Lesley Ann Martin is celebrating after dedicating almost half of her life as a long-serving staff member at a leading Aberdeen hotel.

Lesley’s 33 years of dedicated service means she has served up an incredible 270,000 breakfasts during her time at the stylish hotel – which equates to a staggering 540,000 sausages and around 400,000 cups of coffee.

She started her role as Breakfast Supervisor at Jurys Inn Aberdeen Airport in 2015 when the hotel group took it over from Thistle, however Lesley has been based at the hotel in its many guises since 1985.

Over the years she has gone out of her way to source many special requests for guests, such as traditional ‘square’ or lorne sausage to start their day and has seen the bulding transform since she first joined.

The devoted employee regards meeting new people from across the world and making new connections the most enjoyable part of her job which she is able to do by helping with numerous weddings and functions held at the hotel.

Lesley said: “The hotel has become much busier in recent years which makes the job very exciting. Meeting new people and hearing their stories is so interesting.

“There are guests who come back and remember you from their previous visit. We used to get these regular Australian visitors coming over to Scotland for their work training.

“They all remembered my name and some made conversation in the morning asking about how I’ve been. It’s a lovely feeling knowing that you made a lasting impression on people.”

PR photo of Jury's Inn, Edinburgh. The hotel chain works with public relations agency Holyrood PR

To help guests stay happy, Lesley makes a special effort to fulfill their wishes, ensuring nothing is too much trouble to create the perfect stay.

She added: “We’ve had regular visitors and people who stay for a while longer request breakfast items that aren’t on the menu, like lorne sausages and black pudding.

“I get the requested foods and make sure that they are ready for our guests when they arrive for their breakfast. It’s heart-warming to see that you’ve contributed to starting someone’s day off right.

“Cooked breakfast is undeniably people’s favourite. There’s something pleasant about the smell of bacon in the morning, it perks people up. Though, I personally  prefer the lighter options like cereal or toast.”

Lesley has worked in hospitality for over 40 years, previously spending seven years at Baker’s Oven and a local cafeteria in Dyce.

Her expertise and commitment to her craft led her to win an Exceptional Employee Award at Jurys Inn in 2015. Beyond this, Lesley bagged herself two nominations at Employee of the Year Awards in 1999 and 2002, and more recently at Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards in 2016.

Lesley said: “I couldn’t believe it when I won the Exceptional Employee Award. It really feels special to be recognised for your work and having others appreciate the person that you are and knowing that you make a positive difference to the guests’ experiences.

“I’m so proud to have been here to see the hotel evolve – all the Jurys Inn interiors are so stylish and modern, as are the uniforms.”

Lesley, who lives in Dyce, gets up at 4am sharp to begin her shift at Jurys Inn at 5.30am.

She said: ”It’s great to kick-start your day so early. Having done it for so many years, I definitely enjoy finishing my shift knowing that I’ve made people happy and having the rest of the day to do other things that I enjoy.

“I like spending my free time doing relaxing things. I love reading and watching TV, especially motor racing and golf as well as just spending time with my husband – thankfully, he does the cooking at home.”

Alison Christie, Area General Manager at Jurys Inn Aberdeen, said: “Lesley is an extraordinary person and an employee who always makes our guests smile. The whole team loves her and her impact on others really shows when our regular visitors ask about her. She’s a real asset to Jurys Inn.”

Jurys Inn Aberdeen Airport is located just a short walk from the airport, making it the ideal accommodation for guests travelling from abroad.

For more information on Jurys Inn Aberdeen Airport, visit https://www.jurysinns.com/

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