My Work Experience at Alba Meru

It has been one year and 2 months since I joined Alba Hotel Meru. The journey has been long, interesting, and full of opportunities, adrenalin, joyful tears but still I yearn for more. My name is Raphael Hope Kutwa, Born in October 1993 and aged 24 years. I love playing hockey and meeting new people. However, I love working in the Hospitality industry specifically in the Service Department.

From the start I always had fears on how I will manage to talk to clients but surprisingly I found this easy and very interesting. I have been in the service department since I was employed and this was just after completion of my attachment. I really never knew I would managed to hit such a huge post having just come from campus, but I would always remember the first time I was called by Mr. Njiru, our General Manager, and told me that he believes I can do this, and that there is always a starting point to everything, “Get enough experience as you can Mr. Raphael..” that’s what he said,” and everything else will come after.” Those words have been my driving force all this time. There is nothing more perfect than a manager who believes in you.

Working in the service department has exposed me to various experiences and challenges that have made me grow both mentally and psychologically. I have been able to meet people from different walks of life, different cultures and religion, but still you have to find a way of fitting into their shoes so as to make sure they are comfortable, enjoying every single moment of their stay and wholesome experience.

A typical day for me starts at 6:30am in the morning; however you have to wake up earlier than that so as to get ready. On other instances you can be requested to come in earlier than the normal time. I start off my day by making sure that the restaurant is fully set and ready for breakfast service, the buffet set up is perfect and my team is ready for service. This extends to 11:00am and we proceed further for lunch service. My most exciting moments are when its busy coz in some way, time gets to move really fast.

Nothing gets boring when working under our Strong, Confident, Hardworking and Understanding manger. I won’t fail to mention her name, Fridah Kimathi Wanja. She gives me the morale, zeal to push on harder and come out to be the best. All I can hear at the back of my mind when we are working together are these words…” Raphael, I want to make you the best manger even more than I am, this position is now for young people like you….and I know you can make it” she is the best. She has managed to turn the department into one of the best departments in the hotel, my team and I celebrate her efforts each day. All I would want her to know is that we appreciate her each day.

My fellow comrades, Andrew Muturi, Christopher Wangombe, John Ngunjiri, Joshua Kioko, Ernest Brown, Gichama Peter, Kevin Karia, Gabriel Maina, Winnie Apiyo and Doreen Kawira are all responsible for my and our success. The happy moments we share together, the drills of “Swimming”, all this make working at Alba a wholesome, everlasting experience. With this team, all of whom I can call friends, nothing is impossible. The passion, humility and hard work each one of them posses is nothing to be taken for granted. They have lifted and made me the leader I am today. I won’t forget to mention our promoted team: Lisa Busienei, who was promoted to a Receptionist, Churchill Vida, who now is undertaking is Master Program at Moi University and Erick Abuga who currently is undertaking his training at the Embakasi Administration Police Academy. We still do celebrate these guys.

To the management, all that my team and I can say is THANK YOU! With you we have been able to fully exploit our potential, turned our weaknesses into strength and made us the best of them all. You have been able to provide us with enough working equipment, motivated us both in the intrinsic and extrinsic ways. May the All Mighty God Bless You.

As I finish up, I would love to encourage all those students and the youth out there, having a passion and desire for this industry never to give up. There is always a starting point and not to make it their comfort zone. Strive to get to the top most level and always aim for the highest. When faced with challenges and you feel like giving up, hold on, talk about it to someone and face each new day with knowledge of the new opportunities it offers you.

To our esteemed guests out there, I encourage you to come and experience international, top notch service at our Brasserie Restaurant and Atmosphere Bar. My team and I will make you leave Alba with our names written on your hearts.

Raphael Hope Kutwa

Food and Beverage Supervisor.