Hotel boss goes undercover on TV
Tuesday, 15 Jul, 2010
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TravelMole likes nothing more than when bosses get down to some hard graft, so it’s rubbing its paws in anticipation of Channel 4’s new programme Undercover Boss on Thursday night.
Best Western chief executive officer David Clarke has swapped his comfortable existence in York for a series of rather less well-paid positions within his empire in order to see what life is really like for his staff and guests.
Clarke went undercover as ‘Andy Green’ at Best Westerns in Kendal, Lutterworth and Watford and took on roles including housekeeper, maintenance man, chef, waiter and green keeper. Only the hotel owners knew about the programme.
After 10 days, Clarke chose people who had showed themselves to be “hidden gems” and brought them to the York office where he revealed his identity and rewarded them.
Said Clarke: “I was nervous about going into the hotels under disguise as I did not know what to expect or whether someone would recognise me. I had no idea where the camera crew were taking me and what I would be doing whilst there.
“Whilst filming I spent time with some amazing people whose hard work and dedication filled me with pride and admiration."
The programme fortuitously coincides with Best Western’s recent TV campaign called Hotels With Personality which highlights the great characters that work in the hotels.
Look out for the show at 9pm.
by Dinah Hatch
Dinah
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