Marriott Hotel celebrates 25th anniversary

9th June 2011

As Cardiff’s Marriott hotel celebrates its 25th birthday, four loyal employees have their own special reason for celebrating, having clocked up a century’s service between them.

All four have been with the hotel chain since Marriott took over from original owners, Holiday Inn back in 1986.

Eddie Haste, a safety & loss prevention manager; cost controller, Peter Smith; kitchen steward, Martyn Dickers and maintenance engineer, Alan Greest who all hail from Cardiff were each presented with a commemorative pin and given access to a host of special Marriott privileges.

Alan, who now lives in Pontycymmer and was just twenty-two when he first joined the team, says he still very much enjoys his job and has great memories of bumping into some very famous faces during their visits to Cardiff.

“If you’d ask me 25 years ago if I thought I’d still be in the same place a quarter of a century later, I’m sure I would have laughed but I think I speak for all of us when I say the Marriott has and continues to be a really good employer and I cannot believe where the time has gone”, said Alan..

“I actually started in the role of concierge and one of my most memorable moments has to be the day Tom Jones’ wife Linda gave me her cushions!

“She’d been living at the hotel for a while in the 80’s while Tom was touring and had made herself at home with some personal belongings.  I happened to mention I liked the cushions and on the day she left, she gave them to me as a gift.

“During my time at the Marriott I have also had the pleasure of meeting the late Pavarotti and Michael Jackson and there’s never a dull moment in this sort of environment.

“Martyn, Eddie and I actually all started on the very same day and Peter soon after so it’s become a running joke that over the years I’ve probably spent more time with them than I have with my wife!”

Speaking about his own experience, Martyn added:

“Alan’s right that there is never a dull moment and no two days are ever the same which probably keeps it interesting. 

“We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years – both to the physical appearance of the hotel and to the staff – but Marriott's commitment to the high standards we were promised when we started has stayed the same.

“I’m still genuinely very happy in my job and hope to continue for a few more years yet!”

Marriott General Manager, Derek Harvey congratulated all four on their years of service saying:

“Our industry can be quite transient so it’s unusual to have members of staff who stay with one hotel for this length of time.

“All four are very valued members of the team and on behalf of Marriott, I’d just to like to wish them all the very best as they continue to do a great job for us here in Cardiff.”

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