New Glen Mhor Hotel events chief is excited for the future at the Inverness hotel
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After enduring a year and a half of restrictions, the re-opening of society in the wake of the pandemic means that people are ready to celebrate once more – and celebrate in a way that justifies the long wait.
Going the extra mile and making those special occasions that little bit extra special is the job of Monica Dragosin, the recently appointed sales and events manager at the Glen Mhor Hotel in Inverness.
In more than 10 years in the events industry, she has worked for several five star luxury properties in London and the Maldives. From corporate clients, to wedding couples, charities, football clubs and royalty, Monica specialises in creating and planning unique, tailor made experiences, that will make your event memorable.
“The world is opening up and after such a long time, people are excited to be able to go out and celebrate,” Monica said. “But I also think their expectations are higher than before so the challenge is to know how to manage them. I find guests very particular about things that they were not before.
“Some people have been waiting two years to have their wedding and they want everything to be perfect. This means we have to anticipate their needs even more than before and ensure everything goes amazingly well.”
This, together with going beyond what you previously did is the best way to exceed expectations, Monica added. Often it is the little details which make the difference.
“If you have a baby shower, why not tweak it and combine your afternoon tea with a mocktail masterclass? It’s just about supplying the small touches that no-one thought of before,” she said.
Originally from Romania, Monica moved to London where she began her hospitality and events career at a privately owned five star boutique hotel.
“I started in events operations in a very junior role, but it was the backbone of what I have achieved in my career,” Monica added.
“It gave me a better understanding of what a client looks for when they step into a room for a private event. That offered me a different perspective and really helped when I moved into the sales side.”
After a spell with the events team at investment banker JP Morgan, where she became assistant events manager, Monica returned to the hospitality sector by joining the team at the renowned five star luxury property Rosewood London in the centre of the city. There she was able to take advantage of its comprehensive and supportive development programme, which eventually led to the role of assistant director of events.
When the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of UK hotels early last year, Monica took the opportunity to spend five months on an events consultancy role in the Maldives.
However, she is happy to leave the exotic Indian Ocean nation behind for the Highlands, not only achieving a long held aim of moving to Scotland, but also placing her in a role where she can make use of all she has learned in her career to date.
“I saw a lot of potential in the hotel itself and an opportunity for me to use my knowledge and my skills to ensure the Glen Mhor Hotel is up there with the number one hotels in the area when it comes to events space and memorable experiences” she said.
The Glen Mhor Hotel with its Waterside Restaurant already have a number of advantages. They are already well established venues for weddings and other event, both with larger function suites, some with their own private bar, and smaller private rooms which can be used for celebrations and other family events or business meetings.
Manager Emmanuel Moine revealed that lockdown had enabled significant refurbishment work to go ahead.
“We have a new chef and new menus, we have a fresh team and we are ready to go. It is like a fresh start,” he said.
The hotel is already gearing up for the return of Christmas and Hogmanay parties for the first time in two years. This, along with some proper snow, is something Monica is greatly looking forward to, but she does not believe winter events should be exclusively for the indoors.
She also hopes the gazebo and beer garden which proved so popular this summer and made the best of the Glen Mhor’s riverside location, can also be a draw in winter.
“I really like the idea of being able to hold events in the garden when it’s cold and guests are wrapped up and cosy,” she said.
“Usually in winter you run away from the cold, but to have something outside is just different and exciting, and that is just what I want to bring to Inverness.”
7 - 17 Ness Bank, Inverness IV2 4SG
T: 01463 234 308
E: enquiries@glen-mhor.com
www.thewatersideinverness.co.uk
