From cleaner to hostess

A former hotel cleaner turned businesswoman is hosting a dinner for others still working in similar jobs in the hospitality industry on Saturday at Dolphin’s Leap conference centre.

Paying it forward, Francine Zana, 33, said she was inviting to the dinner, women who were doing the job she did when she started out as a cleaner.

“I’ve had this idea in my mind for a while now, and it’s aimed at the women working behind the scenes every day in the hospitality industry, who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend such evenings,” she said.

“I want them to sit, relax and be served for a change, be pampered and know for one night how it feels to be on the other side,” Zana said.

The owner of Exclusive Hospitality Concept, Zana said perseverance, hard work and dedication, had helped her open her own consulting company. Zana works from home and hotels, bed and breakfasts and private homes are among her clients.

“Most of my business has come from Johannesburg and I’m slowly tapping into the PE market. I consult by training staff at different businesses based on what the owner has identified. Maybe the reception area needs attention, or housekeeping needs a tighter finish. So I’ll come in train the staff with either purchasing, implementing or operating and advise on what to do, what chemicals to use and even do private homes for people who enjoy hotel living,” Zana said.

The Motherwell cleaner turned business woman always harboured dreams of doing well for herself, but had to drop out of Eastcape Midlands College in Uitenhage due to a lack of funds.

“My dad worked but had five children to take care of and funds were a bit tight. So I dropped out of school while studying business management and worked as a cleaner at a bed and breakfast for four days a week,” Zana said.

The decision to go from student to cleaner was not the easiest as she had hopes of being “someone” and felt she might have “thrown her life away”, but she did not want to be at home not doing anything.

“You find a lot of graduates today who are sitting at home with degrees or diplomas but aren’t willing to work as cleaners, because they believe the job is beneath them. I couldn’t afford to think like that and thank God I didn’t,” Zana said.

Zana seized an opportunity to work at the Kelway Hotel, working her way up from cleaner, to house cleaning supervisor and, eventually, office manager.

“A new manager had come to the Kelway and I suppose she saw my potential because she eventually promoted me as a receptionist and that was the first time I got to use a computer,” Zana said.

The mother of three said what she did next shocked her friends and family. She left that position to move to the new No 5 Boutique Hotel, owned by the Mantis Collection, in Summerstrand.

“I took a R3500 salary cut because I was looking at the bigger picture. “In my mind I knew the position of cleaner supervisor would open even bigger doors for me within the hospitality industry but people questioned and doubted my decision,” Zana said.

Zana said it was while working for the Mantis Collection company that she learnt the most.

“I drafted my company profile while training staff and was able to arrange a meeting with Mantis Group owner, Adrian Gardiner, and told him about my business ideas.

“As someone of his stature, I was humbled by the fact that he took the time to sit with me, hear my proposal and advise me on what I should do and how not to be hasty and managed to start my company two years ago,” Zana said.

Zana said she would be rolling out the red carpet for the guests and said she would ensure the women knew they “are more than just servants”.

The Women in Hospitality Gala Dinner starts at 6pm and tickets are R200 per person.

• For information on how to get tickets, contact 079-145-9080 or send an e-mail to francine.zana@gmail.com.