Elizabeth Avila
Brighton,United Kingdom
Summary
Dynamic and highly committed hospitality professional with with eight years in FOH and BOH operations, strong leadership experience as Food & Beverage Manager and Head of Department at the prestigious Amberley Castle Hotel. Known for operational excellence, team leadership, and exceptional guest service standards.
Regularly acting as Duty Manager three times per week, gaining full exposure to hotel-wide operations, including Reception, Housekeeping, Guest Relations, Safety & Security, and Emergency Response.
A proactive problem-solver with strong communication skills, calm under pressure, and dedicated to delivering a seamless luxury guest experience.
Overview
1
1
Certification
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Food & Beverage Manager /Duty Manager
Amberley Castle Hotel
Amberly, Arundel, England
10.2025 - Current
- Lead the full F&B department, ensuring flawless restaurant, bar, dining room, and event service, aligned with luxury standards.
- Act as Duty Manager three times per week, taking full operational control of the hotel.
- Coordinate with Reception and Housekeeping to guarantee smooth arrivals, departures, room readiness, and guest satisfaction.
- Lead recruitment, onboarding, rota planning, and performance development.
- Uphold Relais & Châteaux service expectations through coaching and continuous improvement.
- Oversee daily financial procedures: cashing up, stock control, and revenue reporting.
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, health and safety, and fire regulations.
- Resolve guest issues with diplomacy, empathy, and a solution-driven approach.
Assistant Restaurant Manager
The Grand York Hotel
York, United Kingdom
12.2023 - 10.2025
- Supported the restaurant manager Dan, to implement health and safety policies across business reducing the incidence of on-the-job accidents by 92%.
- Responsible for creating and implementing a new breakfast service, which reduced %87 of guest complaints.
Employee of the month of January 2024 for successfully creating and implementing this service. - Established positive relationships with guests and employees, creating positive, energetic environment.
- Worked closely with Restaurant Manager, chef and cooks to determine menu plans for special events or occasions.
- Guaranteed compliance with food safety procedures and quality control guidelines.
- Championed 100% guest satisfaction by providing excellent dining experience.
- Minimised loss and misuse of equipment through proper supervision and staff training.
- Generated summaries to produce reports detailing progress and developments.
- Performed restaurant walk-through to gauge timeliness and excellent service quality.
Retaurant & Breakfast Supervisor
Principal York Hotel
York, United Kingdom
06.2022 - 11.2023
- Handled escalated customer complaints to provide full resolutions and promote loyalty.
- Performed restaurant walk-through to gauge timeliness and excellent service quality.
- Exhibited thorough knowledge of foods, beverages, supervisory duties, service techniques and guest interactions.
- Developed and implemented strategies to enhance team performance, improve processes and increase efficiency.
- Maintained high levels of cleanliness, organisation, storage and sanitation of food and beverage products to ensure quality.
Conference and Events Supervisor
Principal York
York, United Kingdom
10.2021 - 06.2022
- Provide strong leadership while ensuring the smooth running and executive of all events, conferences, dinners, weddings at an operational level.
- Ensuring all event organisers & clients receive a warm welcome and excellent customer service throughout the event.
- Working and managing a team to ensure the highest level of service at all times.
- Prepare and conduct briefings with staff and managing training and development programme of the Conference & Events team in line with Hazlewood's company policy.
- Set up, run and finalise the events.
- Provided lifecycle support throughout event planning, delivery and completion.
- Consistently maintained thorough knowledge of menus and wine selections available to ensure first-class customer service.
- Suggested menu items and related beverages matching guest preferences.
- Maintained exceptionally clean cellar and bar areas to minimise potential risks to health and safety.
Education
Diploma of Higher Education - Business Management
University Catholic
Lisbon01-2017
Skills
- Hotel Operations Management
- Leadership and Team Development
- Guest Relations and Complaint Resolution
- Reception and Housekeeping Coordination
- Health, Safety, and Compliance
- Emergency Response and Fire Safety
- Luxury Services Standards
- Rota planning and staff training
- Communication and Multitasking
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
Additional Information
. Star of the Month, January 2024 The Grand York
. Celebrity of the week from June 15th to June 21st, with 8 guest nominations in a single week
· Managing and running VIP dinner for actor Jonny Depp, Principal York.
· Managing and running VIP Gala for 200 Lloyds Bank executives, Principal York.
· In the years of 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005 Award Employee of the year Deloitte Lisbon.
· Manager and Organiser of the Deloitte Summit 2000 and 2002.
· Manager and Organiser of Ted Talks and TEDx in Portugal for Deloitte Academy.
Hobbies and interests
- Reading: I love immersing my in books that inspire growth, creativity, and calm focus.
- Running: A regular part of my routine that keeps me energised, disciplined, and mentally clear.
- Ballet: I still enjoy taking ballet classes - once a dancer, always a dancer. It keeps my posture, grace and resilience alive.
- Quality Time: I truly value moments of fun, laughter, and connection with friends and family - they keep life balanced and joyful.
- Meditation: A daily practice that helps me stay centred, calm, and grounded, especially in fast-paced hospitality environments.
Certification
- WSET Level 2 Award in Wine.
- Level 3 Food Safety & Allergens
- Level 3 Health & Safety
- Fire Marshal Certification
- First AID (First Aider) Certification
Timeline
Food & Beverage Manager /Duty Manager
Amberley Castle Hotel
10.2025 - Current
Assistant Restaurant Manager
The Grand York Hotel
12.2023 - 10.2025
Retaurant & Breakfast Supervisor
Principal York Hotel
06.2022 - 11.2023
Conference and Events Supervisor
Principal York
10.2021 - 06.2022
Diploma of Higher Education - Business Management
University Catholic