Joleen Hurst was introduced to the bustling hospitality scene as a starry-eyed child travelling with her parents in Sydney.
"I had been exploring the hotel we were staying at and was intrigued when a very fancy-dressed gentleman showed me around. The rest, they say, was history."
There Joleen discovered her calling and love for hotels, and at 21 years old, she embarked on the journey to becoming a General Manager.
From dreams to reality, Joleen is currently the General Manager, also affectionately known as The Mayor (by her team), of The Porter House Hotel – MGallery. With a distinguished career working in Australia and New Zealand, she brings more than 27 years of experience in the field to her role at the newest MGallery hotel in Sydney.
The job description of General Manager is vast and encompasses many different skillsets. While overseeing Talent, Finance, Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management, Engineering, Food & Beverage, and Housekeeping, at the same time, she is also the counsellor, the inspiration, and the operational and creative leader. Leading her team through change, guiding, mentoring and helping their career aspirations, Joleen looks to create an inclusive and diverse space, welcoming all.
Joleen Hurst, General Manager, The Porter House Hotel – MGallery
"As the manager, I strive to provide authentic service to a vast array of guests, creating a moment in time that they will remember, taking a challenging situation and giving the guest a surprise and delight that they did not expect."
Where heritage meets modernity, the jewel in the crown of The Porter House Hotel Sydney - MGallery is the multi-level, historic F&B precinct – Porter House, which preserves all its heritage features from tin ceilings to exposed brick walls adorned with modern artwork. The team can also take guests on a tour of their archaeological finds for those interested in uncovering the fascinating Victorian-era history of the site and original Porter House.
"Porter House is moody, with intimate spaces to celebrate with friends and family or to connect for work. We provide a venue for all Sydneysiders to join us for cocktails, to have an amazing dinner, or drop in for coffee, a baguette, a bunch of flowers or even a piece of NSW sourced Leatherwork."
Over the past five years, Joleen has noticed a change in consumer needs, preferences and behaviours. Guests now want to explore the space they are staying in. They want to have a memorable experience and to connect with something unique or individual to where they are. They want authentic service, to see elements of sustainability, and to make choices about the type of food they eat – extending to how the food is sourced and presented.
Guest experience has taken on a new definition and dimension amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is vital for The Porter House Hotel – MGallery to respond and adapt to these shifts.
Joleen’s immediate plan is to open the Porter House in honour of the history and legacy of the heritage site, harnessing its storied past to deliver unique and memorable experiences for the next generation of travellers to enjoy.
