In October, Tamara Reid from Guest Services and Jayne Parry from Account Management jetted off to Singapore for their secondment trips. Their visits were a great success, and the two easily settled into the APAC sunshine and way of life. After their jam-packed trips, we sat down with them to ask all about their secondment experience; what they learnt and what their highlights were.
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| Tamara Reid - Guest Services Manager | Jayne Parry - Head Account Manager |
Why did you apply?
Well, why not? One of my greatest passions in life is travelling and going to new places, so when the opportunity arose, I was instantly interested in applying. I had heard such positive things about Singapore, so I felt that I needed to see it myself! Having the opportunity to work and live there was an absolute dream, even if just for the week.
- Tamara
I have always been really interested in the idea of working in a different country. The culture in Singapore has always intrigued me and I thought it was a great opportunity to develop my understanding of the local taxes and a new currency in relation to my work.
- Jayne
How did you prepare?
I got in touch with the APAC team before my trip to get some ideas and recommendations of the top sites, and did my own research on popular landmarks, and things to do. I also checked out the Singapore serviced accommodation I’d be staying in, which added to my excitement as the photos looked incredible. When packing, I read about the dress code in Singapore and considered how best to be comfortable in the humidity.
- Tamara
I also investigated some places I wanted to visit during my time in Singapore. Before travelling, I researched the country’s laws and rules and packed clothes that would be appropriate for the hot and humid climate.
- Jayne
Where did you stay?
The Novotel Living Singapore Orchard was fabulous, a great location to get into the office and ideal for shopping lovers! It was also close to restaurants and some of the top tourist spots, not to mention the apartments offered incredible city views. The studio apartment was a great size, with a full kitchen and a much-needed outdoor swimming pool to cool down in the evening humidity.
- Tamara
Yes, the swimming pool was the cherry on the cake, and the reception upon arrival was lovely. The staff were so helpful and accommodating and we were spoilt for choice with restaurants and shopping plazas with other 400 stores! The studio rooms also featured a washer and dryer which was very useful and an extremely comfortable bed with plenty of linen, towels, and storage space.
- Jayne
What were your favourite moments?
I loved every minute of being in Singapore! I went up to the top of the famous Marina Bay Sands building and was mesmerised by the views of the city’s incredible architecture, the Gardens by the Bay, and National Stadium. During the evenings I explored Singapore’s culinary scene which is a food lover’s dream. The famous Lau Pa Sat and Satay streets are lined with local vendors selling the most delicious satay I have ever tried. From restaurants to Korean BBQ joints and local eateries, there was something for everyone. I also visited Sentosa Island and went on one of the cable cars over the island which displayed impressive sunset views. I also visited Little India, Haji Lane and of course tried as many different Singapore Sling cocktails as I could find. Getting to see the APAC office was a big highlight for me; the team looked after me very well and were the best hosts. It was also great to attend some property viewings and see the inventory of serviced apartments in Singapore. They were beautiful and gave me an insight into the APAC market which will be beneficial for my day-to-day work tasks in the London office.
- Tamara
It was great to learn about the properties available in Singapore and I agree with Tamara that the team were so welcoming and kind. As well as this I would have to say the biggest highlight of my trip was getting to attend the 2023 Singapore SilverDoor Social. This was on the rooftop of a central hotel, with extraordinary views of the Marina Bay Sands. It was a spectacular evening with prosecco, skyline views and meeting new partners. Exploring the city was a great experience, from Chinatown, Little India, and Gardens by the Bay.
- Jayne
What did this secondment mean to you?
This secondment gave me the chance to explore a new place and learn about a new culture. The Singaporean culture is even more diverse than I had anticipated – everyone has a different background which I found so fascinating.
- Tamara
On this secondment experience, I had the opportunity to learn about a different culture and new city. Having always wanted to visit this part of the world, it was an incredible experience that will be hard to forget.
- Jayne
How has this shaped your work back in the UK?
Building better relationships with the APAC team has positively shaped my work back in the UK. I believe I can offer insight to my Guest Services colleagues and Account Management team with my widened knowledge of the APAC market.
- Tamara
This experience has equipped me with more knowledge of the APAC market, as well as helped me to communicate with different international clients and operators. As a Key Account Manager, I am always looking to expand my understanding of the wider industry, and this secondment experience definitely helped me to do this.
- Jayne
Interested in joining SilverDoor and potentially getting the opportunity to go on one of our incredible secondment trips? Check out our vacancies on our careers page - if you think you have what it takes, you can apply by sending your CV and Cover letter today!
