Hampton Inn & Suites

The Hampton Inn & Suites on Capital Drive in Charlottetown has 124 rooms and suites, a breakfast buffet, swimming pool, fitness centre, business area, and guest laundry. This property is the 13th hotel for D.P. Murphy Inc.

Jobs available: Housekeeping/Room Attendants, Housepersons who clean the public areas, Laundry Attendants, Maintenance Workers, Breakfast Hosts/Hostesses, and Front Desk Team.

“Most of the jobs are year-round and full-time, although some positions will become part-time in the fall,” says Glen Morrison, General Manager. “We began hiring in early April. The month of May will be all hands on deck as we get the hotel cleaned and ready to open.

“Working with us is a great opportunity to get in at the beginning of a brand new property, and see it come to life,” says Glen. “We value previous experience, but we can train people to clean a room, fix a TV, and check guests in or out. We look for people with the right attitude and personality who have enthusiasm and want to grow. I can’t teach that.

“We hire people from diverse backgrounds and age ranges. Many retired people decide to go back to work, and we recognize their experience and work ethic.

“We appreciate applicants who have taken a post-secondary hospitality program because they have learned what is expected in the hospitality field. But it is much more about the right personality, ambition, and desire.”

D.P. Murphy Inc. operates Tim Hortons Restaurants, Wendy’s Restaurants, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Quality Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, Four Points by Marriott, Future Inns, Leon’s Furniture, The Keg Steakhouse, Boston Pizza, and Oak Acres Children’s Camp in various locations across eastern Canada.

The companies

The company employs about 3,000 people and continues to grow. There are job opportunities and careers in every aspect of the food service and hospitality industry, including:

• Management
• Supervisor
• Baker
• Counter Staff
• Maintenance
• Housekeeping
• Crew
• Delivery Driver

“It is a tough labour market, and it is hard to find the right people,” says Glen. “Turnover can be very expensive, and it’s an interruption to the quality of service. We build relationships with business clients who visit often and like to see familiar faces who recognize them.

“There are a lot of opportunities to move around in this company. You may start out in one position, and later decide to try something else. A lot of people in the company have worked for the food division side and then flipped over to the hotel side.”

A diverse career in hospitality

Glen has been in the hospitality industry for 30 years. “I worked for eight years with one property in Sydney under three different brand names,” says Glen.

“I worked for another hotel company for 17 years in a lot of different roles, including Front Desk, Sales, Activities, and as Hotel Controller in the finance office.” Seven years ago, he joined D.P. Murphy Inc. as General Manager at the Hampton Inn in Sydney, Cape Breton.

– From the 2019 Tourism Job Fair – May 19, 2019 issue