LAGNIAPPE
SENIH GERAY
GENERAL MANAGER THE ST . REGIS NEW YORK
Senih Geray in the hotel ' s King Cole Bar , birthplace of the original bloody mary
This is the second stint at the beaux arts hotel for Geray , who joined again as general manager in December 2016 . The veteran hotelier began his career in California and has held positions in Turkey and Colorado . Most recently , he was GM at The St . Regis Atlanta .
Have you had mentors ? What have they taught you ?
The most important lesson I have learned is to think about long-term goals rather than acting on shortterm gains . This valuable lesson has taught me the importance of being patient and not rushing decisions .
Any other helpful lessons ?
One of my mentors once said , “ To be efficient , you need to touch that piece of paper only once .” Obviously , this was before we used email , but the lesson still resonates with me today . I am very conscious of responding to emails in a timely manner and addressing tasks right away . I believe that time management is the most important skillset that a leader can have , especially in today ’ s environment .
What part of your job requires the most creative thinking ?
Guest recovery requires the most creative thinking . It is imperative that I take time to truly understand each situation to craft helpful and meaningful solutions . This process takes time but at the end of the day I would never offer the same cookie-cutter response to different issues .
What ’ s your pet peeve as a hotel guest ?
An unengaged staff , as this can completely derail a stay . I also believe that a well-equipped gym is equally important to a comfortable bed . For me , there is nothing worse than a poorly designed exercise room .
What do most people not know about you ?
I love to teach . I am passionate about sharing the insight that I have gained throughout my career to aspiring hospitality students . Some of the most inspiring moments in my career have happened in the classroom . On a fun note , I still enjoy building Legos even though my sons are now teenagers and no longer interested in joining me .
What has been your most embarrassing or funny professional moment ?
After graduating from college in the United Kingdom , I relocated to San Diego , California , where I worked as a guest service agent at The Sheraton Grande Torrey Pines . During my first few weeks on the job , a couple asked me to arrange their tee time reservation , and I immediately referred them to the restaurant , not realizing that this was a term used for golf . Clearly , I was clueless about the sport !
64 hotelsmag . com April 2017