From a newspaper advert and a first reception desk to nearly three decades at the hotel, Rhona shares the people, routines and stories behind a life in hospitality.

There are hotel jobs that guests see, and many more that quietly shape a stay before the front door ever opens. Rhona knows both sides. She began her career at reception and now works across The Address Cork and The Address Sligo, managing the detail behind bookings while helping the next generation of front office colleagues find their feet.

Her working day involves rates, reports, rooming lists and a famously well tended inbox. Yet when Rhona talks about hospitality, she returns to people which are her colleagues who care about getting things right, the guests who ring back year after year and the friendships built over more than three decades.

Born Bred And Buttered In Cork

Rhona describes herself as a “pure Cork native”, or “born, bred and buttered”, as she would say. She was born in Cork City, later made her home in Glanmire and now lives in the countryside near Kilworth with her husband, John.

Her route into hospitality began with a newspaper advert spotted by her mother. Rhona applied for a receptionist role at Ardnavaha House Hotel in Clonakilty, got the job and discovered a career that suited her. A summer at Aghadoe Heights followed, where she also met her husband John, who was the chef at the time. She went on to work at the Three Lakes Hotel and Killarney Park Hotel, progressing from junior to senior receptionist before returning to Cork in 1996.

Then her mother spotted another advert, this time for a Reception Manager at a new hotel called the Ambassador. Rhona joined in 1997, one month before the doors opened. The hotel would later become The Address Cork, and Rhona has been part of its story ever since.

From Reception To Cluster Reservations

In 2025, Rhona became Cluster Reservations Manager for The Address Cork and The Address Sligo. Her job covers day-to-day bookings, enquiries from travel agents and private groups, hotel rates, packages, online content, forecasts and budgets. She also supports the reception teams, sharing the practical knowledge that comes from years spent speaking with guests and solving problems in real time.

“The best part is the relationships and friendships built over the years,” she says. “A regular guest will ring and say, ‘Ah, are you still there? Great to chat again!’ Work is not all budgets and targets.”

The Morning Starts With The Details

Rhona’s first task is the Daily Request Sheet used at the managers’ morning meeting. It gathers the day’s arrivals, departures, occupied rooms and stayovers, along with guest requests, group arrangements, meal plans, porterage requirements and maintenance matters that need attention.

Reports come next, followed by a check of availability and visibility across hotel websites and booking partners. Then she turns to email. “Oh boy, are there emails,” she laughs. Rhona likes to respond quickly and admits that she hates a messy inbox.

The rest of the day moves between following up on deposits and rooming lists, reviewing group enquiries and tentative bookings, discussing opportunities with the Group Revenue Manager and making sure pricing and availability are aligned. It is detailed work, but every line on a report eventually connects to a person arriving at the hotel.

The People Behind A Hotel Stay

Rhona would like guests to know that behind every hotel are ordinary, hardworking people who genuinely care. Much of their effort happens out of sight, from recording a special request correctly to checking that a group’s arrangements are ready before anyone arrives.

“We put our hearts into our work,” she says. “Guests may not always see everything that happens behind the scenes, but we do our very best every day.”

It is a gentle reminder that hospitality works best as a two way exchange. Guests remember warmth and attention, while hotel teams remember patience, kindness and the familiar voices that return over the years.

The Day Roy Keane Needed A Taxi

A long career in hospitality produces its share of stories. One of Rhona’s favourites dates from her time at Silversprings Hotel during her first Cork Jazz Festival weekend. Reception was packed with guests checking in and looking for information when a man approached the desk to request a taxi.

Without looking up, Rhona agreed and asked for the name. The reception area went quiet. She finally raised her eyes and found Roy Keane looking back at her, apparently a little surprised that no introduction had been necessary until that point.

“Oops,” she says. “Imagine my embarrassment!”

Life Beyond The Inbox

At five o’clock, Rhona heads home. The drive gives her time to switch off with the radio, sometimes singing along at the top of her voice. Home life is busy too. Her family is closely involved with Kilworth GAA, and Rhona is the club registrar as well as a loyal supporter on match days. When she finds a quiet moment, she is happiest with a book in the conservatory.

After so many years, the part of hospitality she values most is still the human connection. Systems change, targets move and inboxes refill, but a guest saying, “Great to chat again” can make the day.

Read Rhona’s local guide to Cork next for her favourite city stops, quieter corners and ideal Rebel weekend. To plan your own Cork stay, explore The Address Cork.