Christine Saldanha, Crowne Plaza SZR, Dubai Christine Saldanha, Crowne Plaza SZR, Dubai


Christine Saldanha, Crowne Plaza SZR, Dubai

About Christine
Christine holds a Diploma in Hotel Management from Mumbai India. Christine started her career in hospitality with the Taj Group of Hotels; the largest and most reputed hospitality group in India. For the next nine years Christine worked at the iconic property Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai where she moved up the ranks of the department swiftly. In 1987, Christine was transferred to St. James Hotel in London to set up the Housekeeping department in the newly established property. A year later, a promotion to Executive Housekeeper ensued and a relocation to Calcutta, where Christine headed up the Housekeeping department at one of Taj Group’s biggest expansion projects – the Taj Bengal. She continued working at Taj Bengal for the next eight years and won the Hotelier Award for the Best in Housekeeping Profession in 1994, from Hotel & Food Service (Business Magazine of the Hospitality Industry) Christine returned to Taj Mahal Mumbai as Executive Housekeeper in 1997 and continued working there until 2001. Christine achieved the certification of CHHE (Certified Hotel Housekeeping Executive) in 2002 and was also granted a certification as an examiner from the American Hotel and Lodging Institute. In 2001, Christine moved to Al Bustan Centre and Residence Dubai and continued working with them for nine years. In 2010, she moved to Crowne Plaza Dubai, IHG Group to undertake her current role as Executive Housekeeper.
Above and beyond…

Christine was a great support to the Assistant Chief Engineer and the Engineering team in the absence of the Chief Engineer for four months, from December 2011 to February March 2012. During this period, she was responsible for carrying out some major projects such as the repair and painting of the water tanks, changing the water pipe line valves and replacing the laundry heat exchange.
Christine organised and motivated the Engineering team by giving them additional responsibilities and creating a healthy spirit of competitiveness between them. Christine also commissioned a new laundry machine without disrupting the services of the hotel’s laundry operations.
In the absence of the Chief Engineer, Christine took over the unfinished project of renovating the hotel’s fitness centre, Crowne Fitness. Thanks to Christine’s knowledge, expertise and experience in renovations, the project was completed before the deadline.

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Christine introduced a regime of stretching exercises, breathing techniques and meditation to reenergize and revitalise her team. These exercises take place before the start of every morning shift. The practice has helped the team members to feel more energetic and remain positive throughout the day. To motivate her team, Christine also shares a thought or quote with the team daily. Christine explains the meaning behind each thought or quote and challenges the team to apply this to their daily routines in any way possible.

Christine consistently promotes environmentally friendly initiatives. This has motivated her team to think ‘green’ and contribute individually to save costs. Each of her team members now keeps an eye on the wastage of water, switching off lights, recycling paper bags and collecting extra toilet rolls for use in the staff washrooms. Christine recycles and reuses all discarded linen by converting them into colour-coded dusters for the Housekeeping department to avoid pilferage and the wastage of materials.
Christine teaches the team members of the Engineering and Security departments’ computer skills and tricks of the trade to aid their preparation of presentations and project reports.
When Crowne Fitness and the Engineering team were short on staff, Christine allocated some of her team to help with their day-to-day practices. This was done through the efficient management of the Housekeeping schedule and adjusting the duty hours of her Housekeeping team.

According to the Employee Satisfaction Survey, the Total Housekeeping Result was 88% in 2011, an 11% increase to the previous year. This has most definitely contributed to the overall ES score of the hotel. There has also been an upward trend within each Housekeeping criteria. All in all, the statistics illustrate that the leadership style of Christine is impeccable, as is her team’s motivational levels."

Testimonials:

Colleague # 1 Sunil Wickramage Asst. Chief Engineer To Whom It May Concern: When I think of Christine, the word ‘up-lifter’ comes to mind. She’s smart, flexible, funny and generous, and is an excellent communicator both verbally and non-verbally. Christine is articulate, clear and intelligent. Her ability to observe and provide solutions motivates others. I personally have learned and benefitted from Christine's generosity, resources and mentoring. When Christine has something to say about coaching, especially where leadership skills are involved, I always stop to listen intently. Christine's mentoring through the coaching certification process was invaluable. She often provided great just-in-time teaching and coaching of methodology. As a coach, she sees clearly and quickly any issues and is skilful in offering solutions and new ways of responding to issues at hand. Christine is a great person to work alongside. As a trusted member of the management team, she offers impeccable support. Christine has an unusual ability to quickly and gently steer people toward the right paths of action. Christine and I have worked together to deliver several projects. What always amazes me is her thoroughness in preparation, her depth in understanding projects and her curiosity to learn more. In every project I have worked with her the project has been successful and the project team always walks away with powerful, new insights. I trust Christine and, like many others, consider myself fortunate to work with her atCrowne Plaza Dubai. Sunil Wickramage Asst. Chief Engineer
Colleague # 2 2 .Georges Farhat Hotel Manager To Whom It May Concern: As her immediate superior, I have worked very closely with Christine over the last 30 months. During this time I have had the opportunity to experience first-hand her leadership and team building skills and her ability to deliver under pressure. Christine is by far one of the most competent Managers I have worked alongside during my experience in the hospitality industry. Christine handles her duties and responsibilities with the utmost dedication and commitment and has successfully created an organised Housekeeping team. Christine has excellent relationships within the hotel and is highly respected by all. The high morale and level of cooperation within the team would not be possible without Christine’s earnest efforts in supporting them with her constant guidance, training and coaching. Christine’s knowledge and skills in her field have significantly contributed to the smooth operation of our Housekeeping department. Her efforts in keeping the department’s operational expenses at a minimum while paying attention to detail and guests requirements is highly commendable. Christine takes a keen interest in the preparation and organisation of budget, manning requirements and capital expenditures that concerns the Housekeeping department. Her professional views in all our operational and departmental meetings and her recommendations are always constructive. Christine is involved in many of the hotel’s major projects due to her extensive expertise and familiarity with hotel operations. Her professional input in the refurbishment, expansion, or renovation projects are very much appreciated. I am delighted to have Christine on our team and I am very impressed with the progress and standard of service the Housekeeping department delivers under her stewardship. She is without doubt a great asset to the organisation and a valued member of the management team. Georges Farhat Hotel Manager 3.
Guest Letter #1 27 May 2012 To Whom It May Concern: I travel a lot and the service I receive at Crowne Plaza Dubai is always the most consistent and pleasant. The rooms are exceedingly comfortable and extremely clean. The bed and linens were wonderful. I loved how the towels smelled like fresh laundry and not of chemicals as so many hotels’ linen does. The bed was so comfortable it literally felt like my bed at home. The housekeeping staff are unfailingly polite and cheerful. They are great ambassadors of your establishment. I was so impressed with the operation and comfort of your hotel. I have rarely had such great service during my many visits to the Middle East. My overall stay was wonderful. Michelle Sbuttoni Coffee Shop Owner, UK
Guest Letter #2 13 June 2012 To Whom It May Concern: I have very rarely experienced such exceptional service. Any issues we highlighted were addressed immediately. Every detail seems to have been addressed and the staff really do make all the difference. The team goes that extra mile to get everything done. The personal touch doesn’t match with any other hotel in Dubai. The rooms are of superior comfort and cleaned frequently thanks to the outstanding Housekeeping staff. Overall, I can say without a doubt your Housekeeping staff is fantastic; friendly, courteous, attentive and professional making every guest’s stay an absolute pleasure. David Parry Royal Air Force
Colleague # 3 16th August 2012 Malcolm Mitchell Director of Security & Safety Crowne Plaza Dubai To Whom It May Concern I have been here at the Crowne Plaza Dubai since January 2011, after transferring from IHG in the UK after eleven years. When I arrived at the Crowne Plaza Dubai Christine Saldanha Executive Housekeeper made me feel very welcome and at home, she went out of her way to ensure that I settled into the new management team and hotel really well, and went out the way of her very busy schedule to ensure that this was the case. Now having worked with Christine for some time I find her very helpful, caring and knowledgeable, and we have worked very closely on a number of projects. Christine is hard working but still ensures she spends time with her own colleagues, training, coaching and sharing her knowledge with them, as well as celebrating their birthdays or any other special occasion. Our Heartbeat and guest letters can support the wonderful job that she does. Malcolm Mitchell Director of Security & Safety
Guest # 3 TO WHOM IT MIGHT CONCERN My name is Federico Dal Prà, and I am the export manager of IPC Euromop Italy. I am dealing export activities in the cleaning business worldwide and my second home is always an hotel room. As a frequent traveler is quite difficult to “feel home” when you have to sleep or to eat abroad. I had the great pleasure to stay at the Crowne Plaza in SheikhZayed Road in Dubai. Excellent service, warm welcome and my time out of home was passing quite fast. During my staying I had the chance to meet Mrs Saldanha to whom I requested few things for my room. In few minutes my room was more comfortable, I was happy and positive impressed by the professional approach she had with me. As the result of this experience, right now I am frequent guest of Crowne Plaza in Dubai. 

 

 

 

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