Business

High Flyers: Stephen quickly caught the bug for hotel life...

Stephen Meldrum
Stephen Meldrum Stephen Meldrum

In the high Flyers spotlight this week is Stephen Meldrum, general manager of the tallest hotel on the island of Ireland, the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast, which was recently awarded a five-star rating by the AA.

What was your first job?

My first job was working as a bar waiter for Croft Inns when I was 17 years old. I loved this job and had the opportunity to work around various departments. This is where I caught the bug for hotel life.

What qualifications do you have?

I have numerous qualifications including A-Levels, BTecs, GCSEs, NVQs, not to mention a number of musical qualifications in piano, musical theory and brass instruments.

What do you attribute your success to?

Hard work, commitment and the support of family and friends. I am also blessed to work for a great family company who have believed in me from the offset. Throughout my career, I also have been very lucky to work alongside so many wonderful people in all the hotels I have managed.

How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?

Larger than life character, who beneath the surface is caring and enjoys a good laugh.

Who do you look up to in business?

There has always been so many individuals I have looked up to throughout my career. I always admired our founder, the late Sir William Hastings, who made it his business to know the people who worked for his company and was extremely pragmatic.

How do you get the best out of people who work for you?

I believe you should never ask anyone to do what you wouldn’t be prepared to do yourself. Teamwork is so important and showing and demonstrating to the team that you will work alongside them.

If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?

Having a stable and functioning Executive who looked forward to the future and put the past firmly behind them. Northern Ireland and its people are truly wonderful and offers so much to visitors near and far.

What website or app could you not do without?

I must admit, I use Whatsapp a lot with my friends and also enjoy seeing what is happening in the world of Facebook and LinkedIn

What was the last book you read?

To be honest, I am not a huge reader when it comes to books!

What car do you drive?

I have just recently purchased a Lexus Hybrid Jeep which I love.

Tell us something interesting about yourself?

When I was much younger, I used to dabble in the ‘decks’ and did a spot of DJ’ing around Greater Belfast.

What’s your greatest passion outside work and family?

My greatest passion has to be my support of Liverpool Football Club.