Another in the Series Meet the People – Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things – Victoria Shaw is the general manager of the 5-star, private luxury hotel, Eichardt’s in Queenstown. So… does that mean she lives a life of luxury? “Yeah right! I always smile when people say they are going to build, buy or open a lodge so they can enjoy an idyllic lifestyle,” says Victoria. “I love what I do and you have to be passionate to stay in this business as long as I have – and yes, it can be glamorous. You get to attend some amazing events, you meet fascinating people, you eat great food and drink superb wine; but you also work long hours. You work when everyone else is on holiday (“I’ve had one Christmas off in 20 years); you deal with some difficult customers and you sacrifice friends and family. But I wouldn’t trade if for the world. I’m not sure any other industry could provide me with the satisfaction I’ve had to date,” she adds.
Victoria was thrust into the tourism industry at an early age – just seven to be precise. That’s when her dad – “a true blue Kiwi farmer” - moved the family to a remote sheep station at the end of a No Exit gravel road, 40 kilometres south of Featherston on the rugged Palliser coastline. Her mother, in need of external stimulation, started marketing one of the farm’s empty cottages. That extended to opening the family home to farmstay guests and when Victoria was nine, they hosted their first international guests. That heralded the beginning of the now internationally recognised luxury property, Wharekauhau. It was all hands on deck for the family and Victoria spent most school holidays working in the lodge. Later, after completing her Business Studies degree, she returned to the lodge “for one more summer.” She stayed seven years, completing her chef training and later taking over as general manager. She moved to Queenstown to re-develop Eichardt’s (which her parents had subsequently purchased), after the 1999 floods. “Queenstown is a special place. It’s full of opportunity and people here really understand tourism. And then there is the natural beauty, the jetboating, fishing, walking……if you love the outdoors, Queenstown is a great place to be.” www.eichardtshotel.co.nz For others in this series click on Meet the People in the label line below this post.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Meet the People - 30
Another in the Series Meet the People – Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things – Victoria Shaw is the general manager of the 5-star, private luxury hotel, Eichardt’s in Queenstown. So… does that mean she lives a life of luxury? “Yeah right! I always smile when people say they are going to build, buy or open a lodge so they can enjoy an idyllic lifestyle,” says Victoria. “I love what I do and you have to be passionate to stay in this business as long as I have – and yes, it can be glamorous. You get to attend some amazing events, you meet fascinating people, you eat great food and drink superb wine; but you also work long hours. You work when everyone else is on holiday (“I’ve had one Christmas off in 20 years); you deal with some difficult customers and you sacrifice friends and family. But I wouldn’t trade if for the world. I’m not sure any other industry could provide me with the satisfaction I’ve had to date,” she adds.
Victoria was thrust into the tourism industry at an early age – just seven to be precise. That’s when her dad – “a true blue Kiwi farmer” - moved the family to a remote sheep station at the end of a No Exit gravel road, 40 kilometres south of Featherston on the rugged Palliser coastline. Her mother, in need of external stimulation, started marketing one of the farm’s empty cottages. That extended to opening the family home to farmstay guests and when Victoria was nine, they hosted their first international guests. That heralded the beginning of the now internationally recognised luxury property, Wharekauhau. It was all hands on deck for the family and Victoria spent most school holidays working in the lodge. Later, after completing her Business Studies degree, she returned to the lodge “for one more summer.” She stayed seven years, completing her chef training and later taking over as general manager. She moved to Queenstown to re-develop Eichardt’s (which her parents had subsequently purchased), after the 1999 floods. “Queenstown is a special place. It’s full of opportunity and people here really understand tourism. And then there is the natural beauty, the jetboating, fishing, walking……if you love the outdoors, Queenstown is a great place to be.” www.eichardtshotel.co.nz For others in this series click on Meet the People in the label line below this post.
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