In Your Shoes - Dawn Archibald

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I'm the General Manager at The Queens Hotel in Dundee, a role I've proudly held for the past four years. I've been with the company since 2018 and during that time, I've had the opportunity to manage hotels in Dumfries and Perth before being fortunate enough to return home to Dundee.

Living and working in Dundee is something I truly enjoy. Being back in the city where I live allows me to connect with the local community, support our guests in discovering everything the area has to offer, and continue building strong relationships with both visitors and colleagues.

One of my favourite parts of the day is spending time in the breakfast room each morning. It gives me the opportunity to chat with guests, hear about their stay, gather valuable feedback, and offer recommendations on local attractions and sightseeing opportunities. Whether guests are visiting Dundee for business, leisure, or a special occasion, I enjoy helping them make the most of their time here.

What I love most about my job is the variety that each day brings. No two days are ever the same, and I have the pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life. From hosting conferences and corporate events to weddings, celebrations, and weekend breaks, it's incredibly rewarding to help create memorable experiences for our guests. Seeing a successful function come together or knowing that someone has had a fantastic stay makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Managing hotels is about much more than overseeing operations. It's about people, teamwork, hospitality, and creating an environment where guests feel welcome from the moment they arrive. Here's a look at what a typical week in my life looks like as I balance responsibilities across Dundee and Perth while working with fantastic teams to deliver great guest experiences every day.

Monday: Setting the Tone

Mondays are all about preparation and planning. I start the week by catching up with the team, reviewing updates, discussing priorities, and making sure everyone is clear on what lies ahead. These meetings are a great opportunity to share information, address any concerns, and ensure we're all working towards the same goals.

Once the team update is complete, I spend time organising my working week diary, scheduling meetings, reviewing upcoming events, and prioritising key tasks. Having a clear plan helps me stay organised and ensures that nothing important is overlooked.

This week, we had a conference taking place at the hotel, so a large part of my Monday was dedicated to checking the conference facilities and making sure everything was set up correctly. I also worked closely with the kitchen team to coordinate luncharrangements for attendees, ensuring timings, menu options, and service requirements were all in place before guests arrived.

The energy of a Monday often sets the tone for the entire week, and having everything organised from the outset helps create a smooth experience for both the team and our guests.

Tuesday: Supporting Another Hotel in Perth

Tuesdays often see me covering another hotel in Perth, which gives me the opportunity to work with a different team and support operations across the wider business.

The morning starts with a catch-up meeting to discuss how the weekend went. We review guest feedback, occupancy levels, and any operational issues that may have arisen. It's important to understand if there are any concerns requiring my attention and to ensure the team feels supported moving into the rest of the week.

One of the key responsibilities on Tuesday is facilitating a children's swimming lesson held in the hotel pool. Before any class can begin, a series of important safety checks must be completed. This includes checking that the pool's chlorine levels, pH balance, and water temperature are all within the required operating standards.

These checks are essential to ensure the pool is safe, comfortable, and fully compliant for the children attending the lessons. Once everything has been confirmed and recorded, the classes can begin, providing a safe and enjoyable environment for young swimmers.

The rest of the day is spent supporting the team, addressing any operational challenges, and ensuring that both guests and staff have everything they need. Working across different locations keeps every day interesting and provides valuable insight into the unique needs of each hotel.

Wednesday: Planning Ahead in Dundee

Wednesdays see me back in Dundee, where the focus shifts to planning and preparation for the weeks ahead.

One of my key responsibilities is creating the staff rotas for both hotels I look after. This involves reviewing business levels, upcoming events, annual leave requests, and ensuring each department has the right level of cover to deliver excellent service. Producing the rotas requires careful planning and balancing the needs of the business with those of the team.

Another important part of my Wednesday is organising stock orders for the weekend. I work with the bar teams to assess current stock levels and forecast what will be needed based on occupancy, functions, and expected trade. Whether it's a busy weekend in the bars or a large function taking place, ensuring we have the right products available is key to delivering a smooth guest experience.

I also review any upcoming functions and events across both hotels, checking requirements and liaising with departments to make sure everything is in place. From drinks packages to staffing levels and room setups, attention to detail at this stage helps ensure events run successfully when the weekend arrives.

Wednesday is very much about looking ahead, making plans, and putting preparations in place so that both hotels are set up for a successful and busy few days ahead.

Thursday: Focusing on Health & Safety in Perth

Thursdays take me back to Perth, where a large part of the day is dedicated to supporting the team and ensuring our Health & Safety and compliance standards remain a top priority.

I spend time with department managers and team members reviewing procedures, discussing any recent incidents or near misses, and making sure all required checks are being completed correctly. Regular Health & Safety reviews are essential in a hotel environment, helping to ensure a safe workplace for colleagues and a secure, comfortable stay for our guests.

Alongside these checks, I also use Thursdays to catch up on administration and correspondence. With responsibilities across two hotels, there are always emails to review and respond to, whether they're related to guest enquiries, staffing matters, upcoming events, supplier communications, or operational updates.

Taking the time to deal with these tasks helps keep both hotels running smoothly and ensures that nothing important is overlooked.

Friday: Preparing for a Busy Weekend

Fridays are focused on preparation, reporting, and making sure everything is in place for a successful weekend. I spend part of the morning completing reports, reviewing business performance, and checking that all departments are ready for the days ahead.

Another key task is organising weekend staffing levels. With weekend trade often being our busiest period, it's important to ensure we have the right number of team members scheduled across all departments to deliver excellent service to our guests.

This particular weekend, we have two live bands performing, which means there's an extra level of planning involved. I make sure all team members are fully updated on the entertainment schedule, expected guest numbers, and any special arrangements that need to be in place. Good communication is essential to ensure everyone knows what is happening and can support each other throughout the weekend.

Alongside this, I catch up on any outstanding emails, deal with any final business matters, and ensure both hotels are fully prepared for what is often the busiest part of the week.

By the end of Friday, I want to know that the teams have everything they need and that we're ready to deliver a great experience for every guest who walks through our doors.

Saturday & Sunday: Time to Recharge... Sort Of

Saturdays and Sundays are officially my days off, providing an opportunity to relax, spend time with family and friends, and recharge after a busy week managing two hotels.

However, in hospitality, you're never completely switched off. Although I'm not physically at work, my phone is always available 24/7 should any issues arise that require my attention. Whether it's an operational question, staffing matter, guest issue, or something unexpected, I remain on hand to support the teams when needed.

Knowing that the hotels continue to operate smoothly over the weekend is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the teams in both Dundee and Perth. Having confidence in them allows me to step back while still being available if support is required.

While weekends are my chance to unwind, there's always a sense of pride in knowing that the preparations made throughout the week help ensure everything runs successfully. In hospitality, the responsibility never completely disappears, but that's part of what makes the role so rewarding.

Looking Back

Managing hotels across Dundee and Perth means no two weeks are ever the same. From planning rotas and coordinating conferences to overseeing Health & Safety, supporting swimming lessons, organising entertainment, and preparing for busy weekends, each day brings its own challenges and rewards.

What remains consistent throughout the week is the importance of teamwork, communication, and planning. The success of both hotels depends on dedicated teams working together to create memorable experiences for our guests.

Although the pace can be demanding, it is incredibly rewarding. Every conversation with a guest, every successful event, and every positive piece of feedback reminds me why I love working in hospitality. Helping create enjoyable experiences for guests while supporting fantastic teams across both hotels makes every week worthwhile.