Meet the General Manager of Sopwell House

With over 25 years of experience within the hospitality sector, we had the opportunity to interview our General Manager Angelina Chua to speak with her and learn more about her journey.

What does your job role involve?

A little bit of everything! My main objective is to ensure that both our guests and staff are happy. I aim to make sure that guests have a great experience at Sopwell House every day and that our staff are enthusiastic and prepared to be a part of the guest journey.

What is your advice for someone wanting to join the hospitality industry?

Firstly, you need to be crazy enough!

For young people, my advice is to embrace life. I always say that hotels or the hospitality industry, in general, are the universities of life. You get to see a range of people, cultures, and situations that you may never have thought you would find yourself in. If we look past the mundane tasks like serving coffee or food and instead engage with the guests and learn about them, we can gain so much. I have received so much wisdom from guests and learned about their outlook on life as well. Some of the best conversations I have had were with guests who took the time to talk to me. Overall, take little moments with someone to understand what makes them happy. We can learn so much from each other and broaden our horizons.

It is an industry where kindness makes a significant difference, and I believe the world needs more of it.

What inspired you to start in the hospitality industry?

When I was 16, I went on a holiday with my father and enjoyed the experience so much that I turned to him and said, "Dad, this is what I want to do! Explore the world, experience different cultures and people as well as being paid for it." And what other industry allows one to do that?

What was your journey like?

I studied business and law at school but ended up working in an IT company for a few years, which I didn't enjoy. At 24, I decided to take the leap and pursue what I always wanted to do. I have been fortunate enough to work in different countries such as Australia, Asia the Middle East, the USA, and now the UK. In my first real hotel job, the Director of Food and Beverage who interviewed me asked where I saw myself in 10 years. I answered, 'In your shoes,' and exactly ten years later, I met him again and I could say that I achieved that goal.