Acorn Winner 2006: Kelly Morgan

Kelly Morgan
Age: 26
Position: Reception manager, Sheraton Park Tower, London

Career to date… A stint on the reception desk at the Sheraton Brussels Hotel and Towers in Belgium, during a work placement while studying for a diploma in hospitality management at Ireland's Shannon Hotel School, proved a career-defining moment for Morgan. She was the first work placement student ever to be allowed to take on such a responsible, high-visibility role at the hotel and she proved a natural.

On completing her course in 2001, she moved to London to join the Sheraton Park Tower's front desk team, moving quickly through the ranks first to take on the role of assistant front desk manager and then to her current managerial position. Along the way, her talent received industry recognition when she was awarded the 2005 Olive Barnett Award to further her industry education.

As reception manager, she is responsible for all staff training for a team of 14 people, as well as the day-to-day running of front desk operations at the hotel.

Why is she a winner? Morgan has been instrumental in setting up department goals and motivational objectives for her team. When she began her job in 2004, the hotel was going through a period of change and high staff turnover; under her leadership, she reduced turnover in her department from 70% to 20% for 2005.

In addition, she has helped to contribute to the hotel's highest-ever average daily room rate of £211.73, and she has implemented an upselling programme under which she exceeded revenue targets by more than £7,000 last December.

Her enthusiasm extends to the hospitality industry as a whole, and she followed up her Olive Barnett success by working with students at London's Westminster Kingsway College on their Toque d'Or entry - offering advice on presentation of ideas and helping them to carry off the 2005 title.

Morgan has also worked with Springboard, recently filming a video encouraging school leavers into the industry.