Sabina Yip has always had a great passion for food, which is one of the reasons why she chose to work as a service agent for food and beverage (F&B) at OZO Wesley Hong Kong, a new hotel in Wan Chai that will open in June this year. “I would like to become an F&B expert and the hotel industry is an ideal place for me to gain experience and to build my network,” she says.
Yip’s duty is to provide guests with quality service, which includes taking care of all their requests efficiently and professionally. “Before joining this company I worked for a few hospitality companies, where I gained basic customer-service skills and a foundation in the F&B business. This is very important for my current job, which is to create a quality dining experience,” she says.
Teamwork is an extremely important part of her job, and also one of the most enjoyable. “There is always laughter and challenges at work. I work closely with my team to improve our service standard. We treat each other like family,” she says.
As part of OZO Wesley’s pre-opening team, Yip had the chance to participate in planning discussions and decision-making processes, which was a new experience for her. “I never got to try this in the past and it’s one of the most challenging parts of my job. It’s also a lot of fun and I am lucky that I have an open-minded manager who always encourages us to give creative ideas,” she says.
Since the hotel is new, Yip was able to take part in its pre-opening trial, where she got to play the part of a guest. “I got to experience the service provided by my team mates,” she says. “It was a great opportunity to understand how our guests feel when they patronise our restaurant and how to better delight them. I got to look at my work from a different perspective and I believe this will help me create a quality guest experience.”
Yip says that the most important point in having a successful career is to enjoy what you do. “You should enjoy every moment at work and always stay positive, no matter what,” she says. “It’s always nice to hear different ideas and opinions which can get us inspired and help us grow.”