Frederic Verdier is Sales and Marketing Manager for the Royal Hotel & Leisure Centre in Bray. Fred is picture here with his son Tadhg. He is a French native and before coming to Ireland he lived in the US for 4 years and 7 years in Spain.

The Royal Hotel Bray website is www.royalhotel.ie

Thank you Fred for taking the time to do this interview and may this summer season be another successful one for you and all the team in the Hotel.

1. Give us your elevator pitch for the Royal Hotel (i.e. why should the visitor stay in the Royal Hotel, you only have 15 seconds in the elevator to sell the benefits to the visitor)
3 star hotel offering 100 en-suite rooms plus 30 new executive rooms, WIFI connection, Business Centre, Swimming Pool, Fitness Centre, Beauty Treatments, Creche, Conference Rooms, Banqueting Facilities, Wedding Venue, Carvery Lunch, Restaurant, Bar, Live Entertainment. Perfect location in Bray centre, near the Sea, at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, 30 minutes from Dublin Centre… (You can actually say all that in 15 seconds… I tried it! )

2. Some people take the view that people in Sales & Marketing are never “off duty” and always look for an opportunity to sell. Do you agree or disagree?
I am constantly questioning my own work and monitoring if marketing campaigns turn into sales. I check and compare with what the competition does and constantly search for new ways to improve the sales and marketing campaigns (I am big into learning about online marketing at the moment). You can say there is no “off duty” in the Sales & Marketing function; but that’s what make it so interesting…

3. Do you believe in the mantra – “The customer always right”?
Yes, with limits. Our job here is to welcome people and make them feel at home and make sure they have a great time at the hotel. Unfortunately, and as much as we hate it, you will always have the odd occasion where the client is not happy. Some complaints are genuine, and if we can, we will try to make up for our client’s discomfort. On the other hand, abusive and rude people exist too. In that case be polite but firm.

4. What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?
Creation and communication!!! I can’t get enough of those.

5. What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into Hotel sales and marketing?
There is no need to have an extensive hotel background: a hotel is a product like any other: define and package your product and know your market. As web bookings are on the increase, online sales & marketing is the way forward.

6. What is your favourite place in County Wicklow?
I am new to the Wicklow area and am more familiar with the South Dublin / North Wicklow area. Wicklow is an ideal place for me as it combines Sea and Mountains. I am into Sea-Kayaking and the perspective of the mountains from the sea is incredible. Also, the DART ride from Dun Laoghaire to Bray offers one of the most beautiful sight I have seen, with ever changing sea and light. The view onto the Bay with Bray Head, the Sugar Loaf and the Wicklow Mountains behind is amazing.

7. The 3 websites I look at regularly are….
I am a French native, but lived in the States for 4 years and Spain for 7… I read the news and follow the sports from those countries: www.lemonde.fr, www.elpais.es, www.nytimes.com.

8. My ideal holiday destination is….
The West Coast of Ireland in Summer (I mean real summer, with sun and temperatures above 20 degrees) in a camper van: beautiful scenery, warm-ish sea, empty beaches, great outdoors, long days, great pubs, great music..

9. What 3 items would you take with you to a desert island?
My laptop, with a solar rechargeable battery, and a satellite internet connection: that’s it!!!. All you ever need is online..

10. I like being me because…..
I have lived in great places. I have travelled all over the world. I speak 3 languages. I have a fantastic network of friends from all cultural, economical and religious backgrounds. I have an amazing family: a beautiful Irish wife and a great little boy. Life is good!!!