MEMBERS of the executive team at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess have hung up their jackets today to cook, serve and press laundry in order to understand first-hand the challenges faced by front-line staff at the hotel.

The job swap is part of a comprehensive program the hotel is undertaking to cross-train employees.

Jon Crellin, the hotel’s general manager, will work as a chef while Allan Trew will set aside his job as hotel manager to vacuum and clean guestrooms as a houseman.

Photo: Fairmont Hamilton General Manager Jon Crellin working in the kitchen under the guidance of Chef Serge Liebowitch.

Matthew Harding, the hotel’s controller, will embark on more strenuous work in the Maintenance Department.

Meanwhile, Roydell Neverson will set aside her duties as director of rooms to wash dishes and clean restaurants as a steward.

Rehanna Palumbo, normally the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, will take on hosting duties at Harley’s Restaurant & Harbour Terrace.

Instead of running the hotel’s food and beverage program, Norman Gardener will press linens in the Laundry Department.

“The job swap programme grew out of comments we were reading in our Colleague Engagement Surveys,” says Kellianne Smith, director of human resources at the hotel.

“The benefit to cross-training is that when people have a chance to learn about their colleagues’ roles, they understand the challenges that person is faced with and how their own actions might affect that person’s work.

"Walking in each other’s shoes has the potential to make us a stronger team, and that will benefit the customer tremendously.”

The job swap program will take place on a monthly basis for the remainder of the year. The first job swap took place on March 18.