Name: Amanda Abla
Position: Food & Beverage Supervisor
Hotel: Four Points by Sheraton Perth
Dream destination: I have been fortunate to check several adventurous destinations off my travel list, but one place I would really love to explore is Greece. I’ve always told my friends and family that someday I want to enjoy Greek food and culture while taking in the beautiful sights.
Drink or treat of choice: I am a true Pepsi Fan! Fun fact: in the Midwest, where I’m from, we call soda “pop.”

From police department to F&B, Amanda never imagined she would find a community inside her hotel. A working mother who moved from Minnesota, USA to Perth, Australia, Amanda utilizes Marriott International Australia’s FlexiFutures program, including a flexible working schedule and other associate benefits, to achieve work-life balance – truly living Life With The Works.

“I’ve never had a team before that was so understanding of the balance between personal life and work,” Amanda shared. With flexible work schedules, associates like Amanda are empowered to “be fully present”, both at work and in their personal commitments. Amanda is a Food & Beverage Supervisor at Four Points by Sheraton Perth, where she works the day shift part-time, and ends work just in time to pick up her daughter from school.

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Hear from Amanda on life as a working mother, and how Marriott International’s Total Rewards and benefits empower her to succeed.

Tell us about your Marriott career journey!

Hospitality has always been a part of my career. Having spent over 15 years in the industry, I have worked in various positions, from front of the house to back of the house, allowing me to gain knowledge in what truly makes a restaurant successful. I am from Minnesota, USA, and spent the last 10 years working for a police department in the Twin Cities, which provided the stability and benefits I needed for my family. I also spent several years bartending on and off on weekends for extra cash. The US is known for its tipping culture, and while I did enjoy the extra money, I really loved the upbeat environment in hospitality – it was really the best of both worlds.

About two years ago, my husband was offered a position that would relocate our family to Perth, and I found myself having to decide what would be next for my career. For the first time in 10 years, I was applying and interviewing without any luck, getting more frustrated with the process each week. My family had found their routine—my husband in his FIFO (fly in fly out) position and my daughter fitting right in at school – but I had nothing. I then decided to expand my search to include hospitality, hoping to find a position that would suit me. Marriott had an event for an International Open Day, and I was selected for an interview. Although I had never worked in a hotel before, I felt confident that my experience in service could be an asset to the team. I was offered a position with Four Points as a Food and Beverage Supervisor, and that began a new career with Marriott, full of new opportunities.

Describe a moment you felt supported at Marriott.

When I accepted the position with Four Points, I agreed to a full-time role with the flexibility to work nights and weekends. I was eager to get back into the workforce in Perth and thought I could manage the demands of a full-time schedule. However, a few months into the job, I realized that with my husband away for half the month due to his FIFO schedule, I needed a position that allowed me to work solely during the hours my daughter was at school. While it wasn’t an easy decision, I knew I couldn’t commit to a full-time schedule. When I spoke to my manager about the situation, he was incredibly understanding, and to my surprise, the HR team was equally supportive of my transition to part-time employment. I’ve never had a team before that was so understanding of the balance between personal life and work!

How would you describe your experience as a Marriott associate?

My experience with Marriott has been very enlightening. Not only am I new to the hotel business, but I’m also new to Australia, and there are many differences in daily living. In the beginning, I had a lot to learn about how a hotel functions day-to-day and what makes our service exceptional. I attribute my success thus far to my General Manager and Food and Beverage Manager – the daily support they provide to our associates makes being part of the Four Points team a really positive experience.

Describe a moment you felt like a part of a community at Marriott.

One thing that has stood out for me is the number of associate activities hosted outside of work hours. As someone new to the city, I didn’t have many people to socialize with outside of home, so it’s been really great to get together with coworkers and enjoy conversations that aren’t work-related.

How has Marriott’s flexibility helped you in your work?

My current schedule is Monday to Thursday, 6 am to 3 pm. I’m very grateful to my leaders at Marriott for allowing me the flexibility to be home at night and on weekends with my child. Being present as a parent is very important to me, but I also have a desire to be in the workforce. This schedule allows me to be present in both worlds.

Proudest moment of your career so far?

My proudest moment as a supervisor has been watching my breakfast team evolve into strong brand ambassadors. We’ve had many new team members join in the past year, and seeing how much our associates have been recognized for their hard work really makes my heart smile. At the end of the day, it takes a team to get the job done, and a strong team is a representation of the leadership they have.

Any advice for incoming Marriott associates?

Strive for success, recognize that every role is important, and take chances on new opportunities.

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