Career progression at Inntel

Ellen’s story: from events to ESG

I joined Inntel in 2022 as a Meetings and Events Consultant, eager to bring people together and create meaningful experiences. Just six months in, I was thrilled to be promoted to Strategic Events Consultant, where I worked on high-value bookings and built stronger client relationships.

My passion for sustainability has been with me for as long as I can remember. My dad used to call me his little eco-warrior, and that drive never faded. When Inntel launched its Green Team – now the ECOLOGiCAL team – I jumped at the chance to get involved.

Inntel has always encouraged growth, so when the business recognised the need for a full-time ESG-focused role, I knew I had to apply. I didn’t have direct experience, but I was eager to learn – and Inntel backed me. Initially, I balanced ESG responsibilities alongside my events role before transitioning into the role full-time in May 2024.

Since then, I have successfully completed my Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability apprenticeship, gaining a bucketload of knowledge and confidence in a field I have a genuine passion for. The apprenticeship has supported both my professional development while equipping me with the skills to help drive meaningful change across the business.

Some of my proudest achievements to date have been supporting Inntel’s journey to B Corp certification, contributing to our first two published Impact Reports and developing initiatives such as the Sustainable Venue Programme and carbon consultancy services for clients.

Building a career at Inntel means being part of a company that champions its people, supports their ambitions and creates opportunities to make a real impact. I’m excited to continue building on what I’ve learnt, supporting our clients and colleagues and helping drive positive change across the business and the wider industry.

Mary’s story: a journey of growth, resilience, and new challenges

I joined Inntel in July 2016, after what felt like a million interviews! My initial application for a Business Travel Consultant role wasn’t successful, but I didn’t give up. After a few back-and-forth emails, I secured a role as a Business Travel Administrator. Just one month later, I was promoted to Business Travel Consultant.

Over the next year, I progressed to Senior Business Travel Consultant, which later evolved into Business Travel Team Leader. Leading multiple teams across Inntel, including both administration and consultancy teams, gave me invaluable leadership experience.

In February 2020, I took on a new challenge in the Meetings & Events team – then, just two weeks into training, the world went into lockdown. COVID-19 changed everything, but I was grateful to return to Business Travel and support the team through an unprecedented time.

Post-pandemic, my career took another turn. With the arrival of my niece, Hermione, I needed more flexibility. Inntel listened and supported my request to return to Business Travel, even if it meant stepping back into a consultant role temporarily.

By December 2021, I was ready to lead again and successfully applied for the Business Travel Team Leader role. It felt incredible to be back at the helm!

In 2024, I was ready for a fresh challenge. I stepped into my current role as Customer Experience and Project Executive, a role I absolutely love. With Inntel’s support, I’m also completing an apprenticeship in project management, helping me develop new skills for the next stage of my career at Inntel.

My journey proves that career paths aren’t always straight lines – sometimes, they take unexpected turns. But at Inntel, every step has been an opportunity to learn, grow, and shape my future.

Jo’s story: finding her fit, then growing into it

My interest in the hotel industry began with a couple of weeks’ work experience at a local hotel while I was still at school. I liked it enough to stay on in a part-time job afterwards. After my GCSEs, I started A levels, but it just wasn’t for me. I dropped out after a few months, spent the rest of the year waitressing, and then went to college to study a BTEC Diploma in Hotel and Catering Operations.

After college, I joined a management training scheme with Mount Charlotte Thistle Hotels, with a particular interest in hotel reception. It was my first time living away from home and I was very homesick. When I found out I’d be spending Christmas working in the restaurant, I decided to pack it all in and come home – not exactly the best start to my career!

Thinking the hotel industry maybe wasn’t for me after all, I spent the next few years working in an office in client services, before taking the opportunity to spend a year in Australia.

When I came back, I came across Inntel and was really excited by what I saw. It felt like the perfect fit – combining my interest in the hotel industry with an office environment. I joined Inntel in 1996, aged 24, and 30 years later I think it’s fair to say it was the right decision.

I started as an Administrator in what was then the Conference Department (now Meetings and Events). This was back in the days of lots of paperwork and hours spent standing at the fax machine sending confirmations to hotels and clients. A few months later I became a Conference Consultant, then an Event Management Consultant. Managing events on site was a steep learning curve, but it also gave me some of my most fun and memorable experiences. From there, I moved into the role of Operations Manager for Reservations (now Business Travel) for a few years, before going on maternity leave.

When I returned, I worked part-time as a Learning and Development Executive and covered two periods of maternity leave for our HR Manager at the time. That gave me my first taste of HR, an area I really enjoyed! For the past five years, I’ve been part of the People team, starting as People, Talent and Compliance Executive before progressing to Team Leader and now Manager. It’s my favourite role so far; no two days are ever the same, and I don’t think there are many days that go by when I don’t learn something new.

Looking back, I’m thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had to learn, develop and progress during my career at Inntel – but that’s only part of it. Over 30 years, Inntel has become part and parcel of my life.

Along the way there have been milestones away from work too: becoming a mum, losing loved ones, the uncertainty of the pandemic and furlough, and more recently, going through menopause. Through every stage, Inntel has always been supportive, flexible and understanding, and I’m forever grateful for that.