[category]
[title]
Sue-Ellen Kamba’s journey in hospitality spans more than two decades, perfectly positioning her as the best candidate to unpack her line of work. She joined the industry as a receptionist and was so determined to build a sustainable career that she decided to further her studies and this plan proved fruitful as she now wears the Housekeeping Manager hat at Park Hyatt, Johannesburg.
A respectable profession
Front of house (FOH) is often othered and seen as the “underdog” in the hospitality sector, but Sue asserts it is a key role and technological advances will never replace the professional service and human contact of housekeeping. Hotel guests don’t just pay for food and accommodation, but for cleanliness and comfort.
“Look what happened during Covid 19, everything was about hygiene. No guest wants a dirty hotel room and it’s not only about how you feel, it’s reputational; and in this business reputation is money,” she says.
Another misconception is that FOH staff is uneducated. Sue shares that she regularly gets invited to engage tertiary students and teach them things about the industry that seldom make it to the classroom.
“We are responsible for sustainability. I always tell students that when the top executives visit hotels, the first thing they do is inspect the rooms, kitchens and public areas. Housekeeping is a highly important trade that should not be looked down upon.
Challenges of being a FOH professional
Interestingly, just like other facets of hospitality, FOH too tends to be men-dominated, especially at senior management level. But this status quo can be challenged and Sue’s success is testament to this. She says she could not have done it without women like Simone Lobetti, Lindiwe Sangweni and Margaret Lamont and many others who have been instrumental in her career growth.
She is not the only one as there are colleagues she is proud of for how they built themselves from porter, cleaner and other junior positions before gradually climbing up the corporate ladder. Growth opportunities are abundant at Hyatt as Sue shares that the company has monthly sessions for staff to plan out their own developmental journey.
“I’ve only been here for a few months and I have already received tons of support. But you can’t grow if you don’t have a plan in place. The company does follow up engagements and you even get reminders to say hey, you haven’t told us how your experience has been.”
Down memory lane
Sue’s wealth of experience includes working at the City Lodge OR Tambo during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Sun City Resort's Soho Hotel and Casino and more recently, the G-20 Summit.
Reflecting on the World Cup, she says it was the biggest hype that South Africa had ever experienced. She enjoyed welcoming different cultures and demographics to her country. For Sue, this wasn’t merely about cleaning, it was about showing the world what Mzansi is made of.
“The biggest thing was opening the City Lodge which was more than 300 bedrooms and it was exciting to see the furniture being packed. When you pass that building you remember that you had a hand in that, and this is an experience I'm eternally grateful for,” she recalls
Being part of the G-20 was also a career highlight and Sue says people tend to forget the importance of FOH staff at these prestigious events. Other projects she has worked on include the South African Music Awards, the Nedbank Cup and international concerts.
Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook , TikTok and Instagram ! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city.
TIME OUT JOHANNESBURG RECOMMENDATIONS:
📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg 🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg 🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg
🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg
📢 Latest news from Johannesburg