Courtesy of Kathryn D.
Name: Kathryn D.
Position: Rooms Voyager
Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton Perth
Dream destination: At the moment, the top of my list would have to be Antarctica. I have been wanting to go there ever since I was a little girl, to go and meet the penguins, kayak with the whales, and if I’m feeling brave enough, scuba dive around the icebergs, though I might be happy with just the famous polar plunge once I am actually there.
Drink or treat of choice: I am a sucker for absolutely anything salted caramel. When I used to live in the UK, I was completely addicted to the Galaxy Salted Caramel chocolate blocks, and any time I see salted caramel on a menu, my mind is totally made up.
A career as a hotelier was not something Kathryn ever expected to build. Her passion for hospitality started from a young age, but finding the “right corner of it” has certainly been a journey.
From an event hostess and waitress to travel agent, to wedding emcee to cruise ship entertainer, Kathryn has certainly done it all. But when COVID hit and cruise ships closed, Kathryn started a degree in hospitality management from her bedroom – and that degree eventually led her to launch her Marriott adventure. Since then, Kathryn has not looked back, moving through two different hotels and taking on every growth opportunity coming her way.
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“I was so excited to become part of a company that so obviously nurtured the growth and success of its employees, from the ground all the way to the top of their careers,” says Kathryn, who’s currently a Rooms Voyager at The Ritz-Carlton Perth. “To think that one day I could maybe be the story that inspires someone else to start their Voyage journey – it’s a big goal of mine and I can’t wait to reach it with Marriott.”
Every day, Kathryn gets closer and closer to reaching that goal. Most recently, she co-hosted the Marriott International Western Australia Virtual Career Fair – a virtual career fair for high school students to explore internships, traineeships, and other opportunities at Marriott International properties in Western Australia. At the event, Kathryn doubled up as both the event emcee and a Voyager representative.
Hear more from Kathryn on how she launched her Marriott adventure, and her tips for young and early-career talent.
How did your Marriott journey begin?
Way back in 2014, I was introduced to the wonderful world of hotels while living in London. At the time I worked in events, and when I left Europe, I took my fascination with hotel operations with me. Fast forward a few years, a few careers and a few COVID lockdowns later, I found myself in the middle of a hospitality degree that I had never expected to do, looking for my next step.
I was aware of Marriott International as a brand, but never realized how big it truly was until I had to do some research about the then-upcoming W Sydney, which was under construction. Marriott International’s global reach had my traveller’s heart hooked, and so I looked for graduate positions, found the Voyage program, and applied straight away. That was nearly a whole year before my graduation — I was certainly keen!
Luckily for me it all worked out. I was offered a part-time position at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel while I finished my studies in Sydney, and upon graduation in January 2023, I entered the Voyage Program as a Rooms Voyager at Ritz-Carlton Perth.
Courtesy of Kathryn D.
What inspired you to want to become a Voyager?
The Voyage program really spoke to me as it was such an established program, with so many stories of success coming from its participants. People who had gone on to become Department Managers, General Managers, Regional Managers – you can’t argue with the results!
I was so excited to be part of a company that so obviously nurtured the growth and success of its employees, from the ground all the way to the top of their careers. To think that one day I could maybe be the story that inspires someone else to start their Voyage journey – it’s a big goal of mine and I can’t wait to reach it with Marriott.
What’s been the most memorable moment of your Marriott experience so far?
There are so many, but one standout would be creating “wow” moments for our guests. One particular guest was a little boy who visited us for his 4th birthday earlier in the year. Upon check-in, he was bursting with excitement and chattering about what he was doing (going to the zoo), how he was about to start school soon, and how he LOVES to count. I organised a very special ‘Ready for School’ gift for him, which included an animal backpack, some colouring books and pencils, and a learn-to-count book, and he absolutely loved it! He and his family come back to visit us for ‘staycations’ every school holiday, and he always brings me the cutest little bunch of flowers and gives me a high-five. I think being a part of the reason that someone loves to travel is the greatest feeling, and creating guests for life like that really brings a huge smile to my face.
I have also loved being a part of the Virtual Career Fairs – I have now done three fairs! Getting to share my experience and inspire more people to join Marriott has been such a joy, and I look forward to being a part of more of these events in the future.
Courtesy of Kathryn D.
With your journey just beginning, where would you like to grow towards next? Is there a career dream or aspiration that you have for the future?
I think like many Voyagers, my big goal started out as wanting to be a General Manager — but every day I learn about a new role within Marriott that I didn’t even know existed! I realize more and more that the choices and paths in Marriott are truly endless.
I am looking forward to discovering the unknown, and seeing what opportunities arise along the way. I always love a challenge and learning new skills, so I’m definitely keeping a keen eye out for any growth opportunities and grabbing them with both hands! That being said, the idea of new hotel openings and Marriott’s Task Force opportunities really fascinate me, so hopefully the chance to be involved in something like that could be on my not-too-distant horizon!
What would be your no. 1 career tip for early career talents?
Give things a go. Sometimes, it’s what scares us the most that will lead to the biggest growth or the best opportunities. Plus, you won’t know if you like something until you try it out! With a company like Marriott, there are so many pathways and positions out there that there really is something for everyone. I am all for taking every opportunity with both hands and really honing in on what it is you love to do – you never know where you might end up!
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