A BIT ABOUT – Wyboston Lakes Resort
Wyboston Lakes really is a resort with a difference! Dedicated meeting, training and event spaces are run by professionals right at the top of their game. A great choice of rooms are available, from interview assessment to large scale conference and exhibitions. Leisure facilities include spa and excellent fitness centre. There’s fantastic onsite teambuilding opportunities and for those looking for a golf course to hold a society or corporate golf day you need to look no further. Recently refurbished, the Woodlands Event Centre offers an oasis of carefully thought through event space, with future proof technology and an array of impressive eating options. Willows, a dedicated training centre provides exactly the right learning environment and great value for money pricing options are tailored to each event booked. But it is the staff that are the main reason why Wyboston should be at the top of your wish list as each member of the team working at this family owned business care and make every effort to exceed client expectations.
Bolton born Steve Jones was always a man on a mission! Leaving school at 15, Steve initially trained as a mechanic, but soon decided to swap oily overalls for shirt and tie by becoming a trainee hotel manager in Oxford. After a various General Management roles, he successfully ran his own hotel before joining the Cotswold/Oxford based Four Pillars Hotels ending up as Regional Director for the group. Moving ever forward, three and a half years ago Steve joined Wyboston Lakes Resort as Operations Director before proudly becoming Managing Director in November 2018. Always passionate about the customer and overcoming any obstacles put infront of him, meetingsclub spent Time With Steve Jones just before he chaired ‘Progress and Prospects’ an internal staff forum for exciting new ideas.
WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU MOST IN YOUR CAREER?
That has to be Charles Holmes, CEO of Four Pillars Hotels, a self-made man who was creative, a real visionary and a person who never accepted mediocrity “we can do a bit better” was his favourite phrase.
IF YOU COULD WORK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE?
I’d love to run a huge resort or Convention Centres in somewhere like Las Vegas. I just love the thought of thousands of people being onsite for a short period of time and personally getting involved in all the planning and logistics to make sure the event works.
WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR TEENAGE SELF?
Probably to start a business earlier. I owned my own hotel for a number of years and if I had started earlier, I could have grown it much quicker and made it even more special.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF BEING MD OF A MULTIFACETED RESORT SUCH AS WYBOSTON?
Because Wyboston Lakes Resort is a very successful business grown over many years it already had when I joined a great culture and great staff. You therefore have to be very mindful of making big changes as this could really affect what is already working well. I find it a big responsibility to nurture and grow the business over a long time frame through evolution rather than revolution.
WHAT THREE THINGS WOULD YOU TAKE TO A DESERT ISLAND?
- My family
- A laptop and connectivity to the internet so I could still run a business so I didn’t get bored
- A Porsche 911 as I love fast cars!
WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
To own another business one day. To travel more to places like Australia and Africa, plus I really want to go ice driving in Sweden one day!
IF YOU WERE THE NEW PM WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WOULD CHANGE?
I would create a cross-party group whose objective would be to plan for the longer term rather than the present political system which revolves around the 5 year election period. By looking ahead 20/25 years it would much be easier to plan major infra-structure projects, develop schools and hospitals that everybody buys into irrespective of which political party they support.
IF YOU WERE A GUEST OF WYBOSTON LAKES WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY?
Driving the speedboat all around the Lake dressed in a white tuxedo like James Bond.
WHAT’S BEEN THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
There’s two. To remember that there is always two sides to every story and to always shoot for the stars proving you can do anything if you really want to.
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT?
Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet – a brilliant leadership book which is all about building leaders by breaking the rules
