Contributed by Mrs Fiona Cole, Sales Development Manager of Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

It is a milestone year for Fiona, who is celebrating a trio of anniversaries in 2018. Her 50th birthday, 10th wedding anniversary, and 20th work anniversary have all coincided! She shares with us how she is commemorating these special dates.

Based in the corporate office in London, Fiona also supports Hi Life as coordinator for Millennium Hotels and Resorts Europe, sharing with us exciting stories and news taking place in the region.

What a year! 2018 has been memorable, as it is the year I’m celebrating my 50th birthday, 10th wedding anniversary, and 20th work anniversary all at the same time!

I joined Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) back in March 1998, in a sales role at Copthorne Slough Windsor. At that time, I had just had my daughter Henrietta, so I joined the team in a part-time capacity to support the Sales and Meeting & Events department. I then moved into a full-time sales role and eventually became Sales Manager at the hotel and for the Southern Region, which then included Copthorne Effingham Gatwick, Copthorne London Gatwick, and Millennium Madejski Reading.

One very memorable moment for me was in February 2001, when I was named Employee of the Year for Copthorne Slough Windsor! It was such great recognition for the sales wins I had worked on, in particular accounts with Reckitt Benckiser and LG Electronics, which at the time were huge for the hotel.

In 2003, I moved from Copthorne Slough Windsor to the Head Office in London, and changed roles to become a Sales Development Manager, supporting Sales, Sales System, and Sales Training. As a Sales Development Manager, I support all sales teams in all aspects of their role. For example, training the Sales team to improve their Telesales and Showround Skills and the sales tools they use. Since taking on this role 15 years ago, I have trained hundreds of new Sales staff, ensuring that they start their careers with MHR fully aware of our processes, and how to use our systems. My team assists me in managing all administration and reporting needs of various departments, and I report to Mr Richard Adler, Vice President, International Sales, working with Mr Clive Harrington, Chief Commercial Officer, on various global projects.

What’s most rewarding in this role is seeing how new recruits grow and develop. I am at my happiest when working with our new recruits and am very proud of my trainees that have gone on to achieve great things both in and outside of MHR. For example, Marciej Gurgul was someone I first trained back in 2004 as a Telesales Researcher, and he is now Director of Sales – Europe!

One other highlight throughout my 20 years with MHR is also when I once went to Windsor Castle for tea with Prince Charles! I was representing MHR at an industry tourism event. I actually stood and drank tea and spoke directly with Prince Charles! (Unfortunately this was a time before selfies and camera phones were popular so I do not have any photos of this event.)

My work family has also been a great source of support. My first husband and Henrietta’s dad, Nick, passed away in 2001. We had been married for 10 years and my daughter had just turned four when he was suddenly diagnosed with late stage cancer. He passed away soon after and it was devastating. I found myself a single parent working in Slough with no family in the area. I went back to work, and my colleagues and even customers were very supportive and helped me to cope with the loss.

Eventually my late husband’s best friend introduced me to his friend Michael. We got together in late 2003 and married in March 2008. This year also marks a decade of being married to him! When asked if we have any secret or tips to a happy marriage, I’d have to say its red wine! And of course, being honest, loving, kind to each other, and having fun together.

We celebrated our wedding anniversary earlier this year, a surprise that was planned by our girls (Henrietta, my stepdaughter Emily, and our daughter Alice). We had a lovely meal at Amaya, a Michelin starred Indian restaurant in Knightsbridge, London, and enjoyed a stay at Millennium Knightsbridge.

Michael and I are both celebrating our 50^th birthday this year, and we are looking forward to our holiday at Disneyland in Orlando with our family!