Dream Job Profile

Kerry MacKinnis

Assistant to the General Manager, The Fairmont Banff Springs

BanffLife: When (what year) did you first come to Banff / Bow Valley? 

January 1994

BL: How old are you?

36

BL: What made you decide to come to Banff?

A very good friend of mine came out to Banff in September 1993 to do a work placement at the Banff Springs Hotel.  I kept hearing how great it was at the Banff Springs, the Town of Banff, and about all of the activities that you can do and most importantly, that there were jobs for everyone!  Being from PEI where unemployment is the “norm”, I knew that there would be so many opportunities for me in Alberta and in Banff!

BL: Describe your first job in Banff and how you got it.

My first job in Banff was in Human Resources at the Banff Springs Hotel.  I had a university degree and had worked as a retail outlet manager in PEI. I had no hotel experience and no computer experience at the time!  I actively pursued this job and in my interview, I told the HR Director that if after 3 months I weren’t up to her expectations, I would resign.  I knew that if given the chance, I could do a great job for her.

BL: Describe your job’s now including your job title/s and position/s.  What things do you like best or think are the coolest about your job!

I work for the Regional Vice President, Alberta Region and General Manager at The Fairmont Banff Springs.  He is responsible for the Fairmont properties in Alberta: Hotel MacDonald, The Palliser, Chateau Lake Louise, Jasper Park Lodge and Banff Springs Hotel. Also, Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire is included.  Mr. Kissane is on many boards/committees in the Bow Valley, AMPPE, University of Calgary, etc.  As well as many North American Associations: American Hotel and Lodging Association, just to name a few. 

As his Assistant, I deal with all his above-mentioned associates and in doing so; I am acting as his business assistant as well as his personal assistant. Handling all e-mail inquiries, telephone calls, organizing his daily schedule for appointments, arranging flights/car rentals for business and personal travel, making and taking room reservations at our property as well as all Fairmont properties, intercepting telephone calls that come into the Executive Office: internal/hotel calls, guest calls which could be nice comments as well as complaints that must be handled ASAP.  Responding to all guest comments/complaints via e-mail or written form. Coordinating donation requests: what we will donate to, decline to, then receiving the call when someone wants to redeem the certificate.  Lots of guest interaction on a daily basis.  Preparing reports, power point presentations, etc.  The co-ordination of our retail lease holders, maintaining a relationship with these owners, making sure they are informed of hotel business other activities and maintaining their files. 

My job is very fulfilling and keeps me very busy on a daily basis...I never really know what the day will be like until it is happening.  You need to be organized at all times, on top

BL:  How did you get to where you are now from where you started in Banff?

I think the only advice that I can give, which I used myself, is to go after what you want…try everything and anything.  When you see an opportunity to make a change in your job and make it better, do it.  Volunteer to do extra: join committees at work and in the community; try different ways to do the same job, be creative; as you never know, the end result could be great!  And, of course, always have fun!

BL: Can you tell us why Banff is a great place to get a life?

Banff has so many opportunities!  Both personally and professionally

You meet so many different people from different parts of the world, learning from them is so important.  In Banff, you are so close to everything; work, friends, ski hills, nature, night life and at the same time, it is so big that one moment you can be in the park with friends and the next on top of the world/Sulphur!  You can meet friends from your hometown or new ones who are from half way across the world!

The best part is that in Banff you can be free to be whoever you want and with this, create the life you have always wanted to live…there are no boundaries to what you can accomplish.  Just have the desire to do and be and it can be yours.