When I moved to the UK in 2023, it wasn’t with with a long-term plan. But I’ve always had a strong work ethic and the ability to adapt.
Most people know me as Oshane. I’m a Duty Manager at Manchester Piccadilly Premier Inn – one of the busiest hotels in the city. If there’s a United match, a City match or a concert at Co-op Live, we feel it.
A typical shift? I’d say it’s movement. I’m on the floor with the team, checking guests in, supporting the restaurant and bar, solving problems before they grow. My job is simple to explain and harder to master: make sure guests are looked after and the team has what they need to deliver.
And going by the reviews we get here on TripAdvisor, it’s working!
I joined Premier Inn two months after arriving in the country. My first role was over at our Deansgate hotel as a Groundfloor Team Member.
Back in Jamaica, I’d spent seven years as a police officer. It was my dream job growing up. But policing there is different. You’re dealing with high crime rates. You’re entering difficult situations daily. You learn to be firm. Direct. Alert.
Hospitality requires something else.
In Jamaica, I had to be authoritative to do my job effectively. Here, I had to channel that same discipline and focus into service. Same foundations but a much different setting.
At Deansgate, I concentrated on guests. I made sure they felt seen and looked after. The feedback followed – five-star reviews, guests mentioning me by name. Management noticed and I was trusted to step up into Duty Manager responsibilities.
When an opportunity came up to join the team at Piccadilly, I didn’t hang around. I’d seen photos of it and thought, this doesn’t even look like a Premier Inn. It felt like the future of the brand. I applied, interviewed and started again as a Groundfloor Team Member.
Then I did what I always do. I worked. Within a short time, I stepped into the Duty Manager role properly.
Manchester Piccadilly is high profile and high pressure. Full hotel. Busy restaurant. Big events. You have to think clearly.
One morning, a guest was having a severe mental health episode in the lobby. He was clearly agitated. His actions were unpredictable. My priority was safety – for him, for the team and for the other guests.
Policing taught me how to stay calm when other people aren’t. I managed the situation, kept everyone steady and waited for support to arrive. No panic. No escalation.
Different uniform but the same instinct to protect and serve.
And that’s the part that connects my past and my present. I like making a difference in people’s lives. Sometimes that’s preventing crime. Sometimes it’s making sure a family has a smooth stay before a big day. Both matter.
What motivates me now isn’t adrenaline, it’s impact. Guests actually call ahead to ask when I’m on shift! They leave gifts behind the bar when they check out. You can go on TripAdvisor and see my name mentioned.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from consistency: discipline, dedication and a strong work ethic.
Those are the qualities I look for in future Duty Managers too. Because personality is important, right, but without discipline behind it, well it doesn’t last.
Premier Inn has supported me when I’ve asked to strengthen certain skills. If I say I need development in an area, I’m given the opportunity to train elsewhere and learn.
Progression isn’t just about ambition; it’s about support. And I’m ambitious.
Some people join hospitality for flexibility while studying. Some stay short term.
For me though, this is my chosen career, so I want to explore how far I can go in this company.
My goal is Hotel Manager… and beyond that. Regional Operations Manager maybe. I know what I’m capable of. Being in a flagship hotel means I meet people from across the business, including Support Centre teams. I pay attention. I build relationships and I learn.
But progression also has to work around life. I have a young daughter, so I prefer morning shifts during the week to pick her up from school. Weekends? I’ll take evenings. My managers support that balance. It means I can build a career without sacrificing being present at home.
If you’re thinking about joining Premier Inn, I'd say think about what it is you want.
If it’s a stepping stone, the support is there. If it’s a long-term career, the pathway is there. But either way, bring work ethic. Bring discipline. Bring yourself.
I came here as a new arrival in a new country. Today, I’m building something long term in one of the most exciting Premier Inn hotels in the UK.