Cruise on the English Riviera – musings of a Sales Manager

A few years ago I was sitting in the Victoria Hotel Bar waiting to greet a coach operator from Wales and started chatting to a guest. Always one with a snappy opening line I asked ‘Have you just arrived?’ ‘Yes’ he said ‘have you?’ Amused (and vowing to look into L’Oreal products as a priority)I responded ‘No, actually I work here – I’m the Sales Manager’

‘Oh are you – well you’ve got an easy job then, haven’t you!’

A little non-plussed I asked ’Well, sometimes! But why do you say that?’

‘Well’ he said,’ people only have to come here once to know that you can’t find anywhere better in the South West !’

How lovely! And Yes, I have got a great job, but easy ? Not so sure!!

For a start, how do you make sure that everyone knows that there really is something for everyone here at TLH. Firstly there’s the amazing Arena for bowlers – whether they come in a group or as a couple or even as individuals to make new friends . Then there’s the nationally-renowned dance floors for keen dancers as well as those Strictly fans who want to take to the floor!
And all the family facilities, whether staying in the hotels or the self catering apartments, need to be seen to be believed. Aztec Falls, the Toby Club, Teenzone, Arena Games as well as all the entertainment in the evenings – the list is endless.

Our local Mayor once described us as a ‘cruise ship that doesn’t move’ – but then why move on when we are ‘moored’ in Torquay, the heart of the English Riviera, with palm trees, beaches, moors and heritage all on our doorstep!

On days like today I can look out of my office window and see children having their face painted, playing tennis or just hurling themselves in to the pool, whilst their parents plan their next Spa treatment and celebrate the fact there is washing up to be done and no eternal cry of ‘I’m bored’ Talking to the guests is actually one of my favourite pastimes as teenagers and grandparents alike all sing the praises of TLH – and I am always amazed to hear that so many of them have been coming for years and years.

Re-unions are a really big thing at TLH with whole families and large groups of friends getting together in the summer or pre-Christmas to just have a catch-up without any stress and we love seeing the old faces returning year after year. One guest called the other day to say that they are coming back after a 10 year enforced year gap – and sent photos of the old days showing at least 10 members of staff who are still here – some since the seventies!

So – it’s a hard job but someone’s got to do it, and there are few places I would rather be on such a glorious day. And before long we’ll be putting up the decorations for the Turkey and Tinsel and Winter Wonderland themed breaks, and rocking and rolling once more with our Rock Bottoms regulars. It’s a great life if you don’t weaken, as my Grannie used to say! See you soon!