Posts Tagged ‘City centre.’

Seasons Greetings to All!!

Well it’s Christmas time once again and the air in Swansea is filled with the ringing of shop tills and jingling with excitement as people go about their Christmas shopping.

Here at the Dragon Hotel we are in full swing with parties and festive food on the menu….as office workers embrace the spirit of the season by consuming vast quantities of well the spirits of the season (and beer)

The accounts office is full of festive fun as they argue over whose turn it is to open the advent calendar and they sing along at their desks to the old Christmas classics! The Conference staff are busy making sure all the parties and events go with a bang and by the time the festive functions are over they will be all Christmased out!! From the Kitchen and the Brasserie drift the lovely smells of Christmas dinner and pudding interspersed with the dulcet tones of Chef Steve shouting instructions to his team!

On behalf of all the Management Team and Staff here at the Dragon Hotel, I would like to thank you for your valued custom and services and wish you a very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year!!

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the Dragon Hotel delighful! The Brasserie is the place to go…please don’t snow, please don’t snow, please don’t snow!

With the Christmas party season now in full swing, the hotel is buzzing with activity.. the trees are trimmed, the lights are flashing and the kitchen is place of oganised chaos and beautiful aromas!

Head Chef Steve is doing his best Gordon Ramsey impersonation as he barks orders out to his ’little helpers’ and Pastry chef Hayley is concocting the most delicious desserts you could imagine, from your traditional Christmas pud to Orange Parfait with Clementine Compote with Chestnut shortbread! Mouthwateringly good!

So if you fancy some festive fun, or just a traditional Christmas dinner, come along to the hotel and sample the delights we have to offer!

Black Friday in The Pembrey Suite

Festive Greetings avid readers!!

We are once again honouring a team member..the one person that has stood out as contributing that little bit extra, and I am delighted to announce that the winner of this pretegious accolade is once again the lovely Tanisha Williams – Conference & Banqueting Supervisor!

Tanisha is one of our long serving employees and works tirelessly along side the Conference & Banqueting Manager Antonio, making sure that everyone attending functions, be it Birthday party, wedding reception, hen night etc has the very best of service.  Her attention to detail is seconf to none!  Her favourite time of the year at the hotel is trimming up ready for Christmas and it’s fair to say that there is never a bauble out of place or a piece of tinsel trailing!  So once again join me in a celebratory toast to Tanisha…may your Christmas lights glow brightly and your festive functions go with a bang!

T’was the night before Monday and all through the house,a creature was stirring, and it wasn’t a mouse.

His treat stick was finished and hung up with care, and he hoped that she’d notice and more would appear,

but mummy was nestled all snug in her bed, while visions of Starbucks did dance in her head.

Cwtched in her duvet, alarm stuck on snooze,

she tried to fend off the old Monday blues.

In a house in Bridgend another was waking, and three little children had just started shaking,

A glare from her eyes and a shake of her head, was enough to fill them with horror and dread,

She shouted instructions and gripes from the kitchen,

Oh come on, get moving your bedrooms need blitzen,

So up to the house tops in fear they flew, to tidy and dress and be ready for school.

From a house set in Swansea, another did stir, still half asleep and eyes all a blur,

She sipped on a cuppa and then pulled a face, to the bus stop she legged it at quite a fast pace,

Her thoughts filled with figures and numbers to crunch and dreading the milkshake for breakfast and lunch,

the pressure was on to process the wages, her PC was poorly and loading took ages,

her brow was all furrowed from the effort she made, but proudly announced that we all would be paid!!

So you readers I give you this gift of insight, into the lives of us workers on site,

As we forge ever onward to finish each task, in the shadow of this mighty building we bask, with figures and paperwork bravely we fight, happy Monday to all and to all a goodnight!!

The late great Audrey Hepburn once wrote….

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness…
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone…
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Now, that’s all well and good and may indeed make you more beautiful on the inside but sometimes we need a little more help with the outside…and that’s something we can happily take care of here at The Dragon Hotel Healthclub and Spa.

Introducing our fabulous new full time Beauty Therapist Sandra Halfpenny, who is ready and waiting with fantastic facials, marvellous manicures or a mind chilling massage.

Sandra hasn’t been with us for very long but I have to say that her eyebrow shape and tint powers are amazing and age defying facial treatments, wonderfully relaxing.  Her favourite colour is black although she is an extremely colourful and bubbly character, and she would most love to snog George Clooney (wouldn’t we all ladies?).

I’m sure you will all join me in welcoming Sandra to our team at The Dragon Hotel.

Maria the Magnificent!

It’s time again for us to honour and reward the hard work and effort of one of our team here at The Dragon Hotel!  Sweeping away the rest of the competition, it was a member of the housekeeping department that cleaned up the accolade for this month!! A big congratulations goes to Maria Morgan whose elbows are always greased and ready for action as she diligently dusts and selflessly scrubs away all signs of the night before.. With never a moan or word of complaint she tackles toilets and labours over lobbies, she valiantly vacuums and bravely buffs banisters; it’s all in a days work for the marvellous Maria!

Maria hails from Fforestfach, where she lives with her daughter Lia and 2 dogs.  Her favourite colour is black.  Given the choice she would snog and marry David Beckham (wouldn’t we all ladies?) and avoid at all costs Russell Brand – claiming that he looks like he needs a good wash and hair brush!!

I’m sure you will all join me is saying “Well done Maria” for all your hard work and effort! You would certainly give Kim and Aggie a run for their money!!

All Hail Gethyn the Great!

Once again, it’s time for us to honour a Team Member whose actions and efforts have impressed and inspired us.

Gethyn Flying Solo!

There was no hesitation or debate within the team that the very special and deserving person to take the title Team Member of the Month for July was the lovely Gethyn John – Events Co-ordinator!!

During the month of July, Gethyn has been flying solo in the Conference office due to his partner in crime Sian Jones (formerly Owen) getting married and enjoying her honeymoon.

Sampling the delights in Aruba

Throughout the month, Gethyn has kept the office and events running smoothly without any hitches or complaints (well he may have grumbled a little bit!) Well done Gethyn!

G-reat attention to detail as he plans his task with ease,

E-ver the professional he always aims to please

T-aking charge of your requirements, no request is too extreme

H-elpful, always busy, a Hotel employer’s dream

Y-our birthday bash or wedding, all your plans served up on a plate

N-ever a job too big or small, just call on Gethyn the Great!

The Dragon Hotel hosted a table at Ffos Las on Thursday 28^th July where we soaked up the atmosphere in the Bridals Restaurant.

We had a wonderful 3 course lunch with some of the best views over the racecourse, such a great way to spend the afternoon.

When it came time to place the bets on I have no knowledge on the favourites so I just go for the best looking  jockey but unfortunately that didn’t work in my favour!  However I did come up trumps on Race 2 when I won £25.00. But this was beaten by Helen from Unilever and she placed a £5.00 bet on her lucky number…………No 3 in Race 3 and it came in 1^st where she collected her winnings of £100.00.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the day and I can recommend it to anyone who is thinking of taking a corporate trip there.

Photos of the event will be uploaded  to our facebook page, but here’s a sneak preview:

Ffos Las Racecourse

Our Table at Bridles Restaurant

Helen with her winning slip

Baby Beautiful!!

 Well it’s all happening in the Healthclub this month……!! Not only are we giving you the opportunity to get your Beach Bodies ready with our June offer of 3 Free Personal Training Sessions or 3 month Summer Body Membership, we are now able to offer you the support to lose the pounds and get into that bikini by joining our fantastic weight loss club!! So get motivated and get ready to strut your stuff this summer!

 Motivation speech over with…time for the news!!

 We are due to say a temporary farewell to our fantastic Beauty Therapist Michelle, who is going off on Maternity Leave (her bump has officially out grown the treatment room!) She will be missed by us all (her Dermalogica facials are to die for!)  We wish her all the very best for the imminent arrival of Baby Domenic (Sparkle as named by the rest of the team) and hope she enjoys her baby holiday!

 So with the lovely Michelle out of action, the Beauty treatments will be placed in the very capable hands of Harley, who many of you are familiar with (another facial and massage goddess) and a new Beauty Therapist Karen Young who we offer a very warm Dragon Hotel welcome! So don’t worry girls and boys…our team of pamper experts are here to make you beautiful!

We will keep you updated with all the latest offers and baby news!! Until then – think beautiful thought!

Louise Howells, Tim Priestland and Cath Garcia

It was a pleasure to see so many enjoying afternoon tea on Monday, 11th April 2011 when The Dragon Memories Exhibition was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Swansea, Councillor Richard Lewis.  With a trip down memory lane conducted by historian Professor Peter Stead, memories were flowing as swiftly as the tea and coffee!

With a delightful mixture of those who used to work at the hotel, those who celebrated their weddings here and those who simply came to enjoy the afternoon teas of a Saturday, there were plenty of tales captured live on air as Shanny broadcasted live for The Wave.

Ex Dragon staff take a trip down memory lane

The exhibition runs throughout the public areas of the hotel until May 12th 2011 and all are welcome to visit at their leisure to view the memorabilia on display.