Tower Hotel's Dave Lacey prides himself on quality customer service
David Lacey, at an annual Toy Run for WUH. Photo: Joe Evans
A stalwart member of Waterford City's hospitality sector, David Lacey spoke last week, on his birthday, to the Waterford News & Star about his experience working his way up to the position of Head Porter over the years in the Tower Hotel.
Almost 30 years ago, on November 23, 1995, Dave decided to call into the Tower Hotel to see if there'd be any work available, although he had never worked in hospitality before. From working in the renowned Cartamundi to building sites, Dave had done "a bit of everything over the years" but was no stranger to a hard day's work.
"I was 30 years old when I started so I was a bit late coming into it, but I love the job.
"I just came in here on the off chance, looking for work and they interviewed me, started me the following day, but I didn't even know what a porter did until I started here," he said with a smile.
"But now, no two days are the same and it involves a bit of everything, from conferences, banqueting, meetings and parties etc.," said Dave.
Comparing what life was like to when he began his role in the hotel, he said, "Oh my God, it's just like chalk and cheese.
"The current owners, the Nevilles, have spent millions on the hotel," he said, adding proudly, "we've achieved the four-star status as well in the past couple of years."
Dave also said that it was "completely different times" when he first stepped into the Tower Hotel in the mid-90s.
"Now people want more value for money and we have to be very conscious of guest care and looking after people. I treat everyone the same. I do my job to the best of my ability, whether it's a function for 500 guests or five guests, I do my best on a daily basis to look after people," he said.
According to the Head Porter, who was also recently awarded Employee of the Month for June, Dave told the Waterford News & Star that the most rewarding thing about his role in the Tower Hotel is "you get to meet different people the whole time".
"You also have your regulars coming back every year" but he finds great enjoyment in "the local weddings, where you'd know nearly everyone at them."
Dave added that he's very excited for the extension and refurbishment of the ballroom, which will hold an even larger capacity... and more people for him to meet at the functions.
Dave, born and bred in Lisduggan, son of Mary and Jack, travels to work in his Nissan Note that he's had for 17 years now, which he says, "owes him nothing" at this stage, but outside of the Tower Hotel and looking after guests, Dave prides himself on his motors, particularly his two Vespa scooters.
One of Dave's hobbies is joining his friends a few times a week from the Kickstart Scooter Club Waterford as they "go off on spins and raise money for charity".
"We have a few events a year and it's a lot of fellas around my age that get together," said Dave, while he began to laugh and added, "it's probably a mid-life crisis kind of thing... but we enjoy the downtime."
"Back in the early 80s, I was only 16, and I got a brand new scooter. There was a motorcycle shop, Fred James' on the Quay. We got them on finance. I remember, it was £37 a month for two years, and I think I was earning about £45 at the time but we were all just teenagers, but we thought we were adults at the time.
"There was about 20 or 30 guys in Waterford then who all got new bikes and we were all part of a group. It was a nice bunch of people and we all had a common interest in music," Dave said, with the Jam, the Who and the Kinks to name but a few of the bands he mentioned having an interest in.
Dave's willingness to learn has no limit as he sits his driving test for his full bike licence on Wednesday, July 24 (wishing him all the best!)
During his time as porter, and Head Porter, Dave has worked under three different groups of owners at the Tower Hotel, but he said his colleagues are mostly long-timers, who have spent decades working together, contributing to the hotel's success, spread across different departments of the hotel.
"It's the type of industry where you know whether you're suited to it or not pretty quickly and anyone who's staying that long is dedicated to the job," said Dave.
"It can be extremely busy at times," he continued, "so you have to come to be able to take the rough with the smooth you know. Some days you really won't be as busy as others, but when you're busy, you're very busy.
"Anyone coming away for a weekend or for a holiday, especially with the kids, it's their big moment and they're after saving up and they're after planning everything and it's little things like saying hello to the guests and when they come back to visit again they remember who you are... And it's always nice to be recognised."
While he's renowned for treating all guests with the same courtesy and respect, Dave did mention he had a favourite, a band called Madness! Being a music lover, Dave particularly enjoys the functions with live musicians and shares a lot of enthusiasm for the development of the Tower Hotel with the opportunity leading to hosting bigger events and offering more to guests.
"I was very surprised to get Employee of the Month, and I got Employee of the Year a few years ago, but I'm just doing my job and I like doing a good job at that.
"No matter what job you're doing, you should have pride in your work," he concluded.
