The Cambridge Dictionary defines hospitality as… the act of being friendly and welcoming to guests and visitors. And to balance all things Oxbridge, the Oxford dictionary defines hospitality as … friendly and generous behaviour towards guests.
We all have our own definitions and to a greater or lesser extend live them out every day being part of the hospitality industry.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has already seen many hospitality heroes emerge. Through their actions they have demonstrated a true understanding of what being in the hospitality industry is all about, being hospitable.
As a publisher I don’t like publishing news that is negative, and as such unless it really is ‘important’ avoid doing so whenever possible. Yesterday, the actions of Tim Martin and JD Wetherspoons were so devoid of any hospitality I did. If you haven’t already seen it here it is.
I also posted it on twitter and Facebook, and Facebook has delivered back an amazing insight to what the word hospitality means in action.
Facebook and twitter also enabled people all over the world, literally, to read about the actions of Tim Martin and JD Wetherspoons as sharing was prolific. Thankfully that sharing led to a woman called Sam Cooper who works in McDonald’s in Snetterton, Norfolk posting the following comment on our Facebook post:
“My franchise manager at McDonald’s is amazing. He bought us all chocolates, kept us updated daily via video feed, and is paying us our wages based on our previous 12 weeks hours. He gave us food today, before taking supplies to the homeless shelters and equipment to the NHS care staff. More bosses need to be like him. He’s absolutely amazing. And its McDonald’s.”
A few comments later a clearer picture started building and that led to email, where we started to get even more details of this amazing guy. His name is Kevin Foley.
In an email we received the following: “Hi there. His name is Kevin Foley. He owns several McDonald’s stores in Norfolk. Mine is Snetterton. He donated ppe equipment to the local care workers, food to the homeless and his staff. Spends nights out with the homeless sleeping rough, buys his staff hampers of chocolates. Kept us updated daily on what the situation is. We have team days out several times a year. And is genuinely a really nice man. He was visibly upset when telling us not to worry about money, and calls us all his family. We all feel proud to work for him. Not something I’d ever expect from just working in McDonald’s. He shows us how a boss should treat his staff. Honestly humbled by such a good man.
Kevin Foley, a hospitality heroWe are continuing to communicate with Sam Cooper and will update readers further as we receive further information.
Like Sam Cooper said in her email, honestly humbled by such a good man
