Placement to profession
Offering the same commitment and positivity today as she did 35 years ago, Shelley is a true asset to Brend Hotels and has quite a story to tell…
Shelley first joined Brend Hotels in April 1987 as a student from Blackpool & The Fylde College where she was studying Hotel Catering and Institutional Management. And when her original work placement fell through, Shelley took up the offer to carry out her 26-week work placement at The Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth. Whilst there, Shelley worked in many departments including Restaurant, Bar & Housekeeping and enjoyed it so much she stayed for 30 weeks in total!
After finishing her placement, Mr John Brend wrote to Shelley confirming that she’d be welcome back anytime after she finished college. So rest assured, Shelly returned to The Victoria Hotel in May 1988 after completing her final year at college [pictured left during Christmas 1988].
After enjoying her time both working and living in Sidmouth, Shelley was promoted to Restaurant Manager at The Park Hotel in North Devon in August 1989. Over the next few years, Shelley remained a key member of the management team and was loved by all of the staff. Unfortunately, a personal tragedy in 1995 meant that she had to leave work for a period of time, but Shelley re-joined the Brend family in September 1999 and resumed her role as Restaurant Manager.
Shelley continued to work her way up through the ranks, and as determined as ever, she was promoted again to Deputy Manager in 2003. Shortly after in 2004, Shelley went on maternity leave to have her daughter Rosie (who now also works at The Park Hotel) rejoining the company in 2006. Upon her return, Shelley started a new role within Central Reservations (3 days a week) and Human Resources (2 days a week) where hours followed more of a ‘nine till five’ structure - this was ideal as it made it easier to manage both work-life and family commitments.
However, since the Covid-19 pandemic when Brend Hotels made the decision to close Central Reservations, Shelley’s role now focuses on Human Resources for North Devon Hotels.
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with the Brend family on a daily basis. knowing that I am not just a payroll reference but a valued member of one big team means the world to me.
I have been a part of Brend Hotels all of my working life and have made many lifelong friends along the way. It is a true pleasure coming to work each day when your colleagues are your best friends.” - Shelley Blundell
What started as a short-term work placement for Shelley, turned out to be a lifelong career. All of us at Brend Hotels feel lucky to have her as part of the team. With her infectious enthusiasm, positive attitude and memorable stories to share, there is never a dull moment when Shelley is around.