Yasmine Hammadache, General Manager, Hotel Indigo York
July 2025
Lately, I’ve seen a wave of negative posts on LinkedIn calling out ‘under-experienced’ young managers in hospitality.
Let’s be honest, what a damaging and short-sighted narrative. Especially in an industry like hospitality that’s crying out for passionate, driven people to join and stay.
Even more frustrating, after a bit of a deep dive, it seems that these opinions are often based solely on a LinkedIn profile. As if a job title or a bullet point can truly capture someone’s journey, capability, or ambition. Where’s the human connection? Where’s the real curiosity to understand who someone is before passing judgment?
Where’s the hospitality?!
So… here is what you won’t see on my LinkedIn (although maybe I should add it 😉) my hospitality journey started at Flares in York, an 80’s bar and a complete stop-gap at the time. I loved the people, the chaos, the fun but I’d never thought of it as a career. I remember at the time someone saying, when are you going to get a real grown-up job!?
Fast forward 10+ years (and a couple of more stop gaps) and here I am, still in hospitality. I wouldn’t be here if I’d listened to all those who told me I didn’t have what it takes. Too young. Too inexperienced. Too loud (sometimes probably right on that one 😉).
How glad I am that I ignored those voices, just as anyone else should.
Throughout my career, I’ve been incredibly lucky to be supported by people who believed in me. Not just in a CV. People who looked beyond “years of experience” and instead saw passion, commitment, and drive. They challenged me to be better and coached me to do better. That belief opened doors, built my confidence, and gave me room to grow and develop.
That’s also why I’m proud to be part of The Hospitality Junior Board C.I.C. Truly inspiring and helping young leaders to get where they want to be. Personally, it’s helped me find my voice, connect with some incredibly brilliant and talented people, and see even more clearly that in this industry, there is no limit if you have the heart for it.
Let’s stop gatekeeping ambition. Let’s cheer on those chasing their dreams and support them positively, whether they’ve got 2 years of experience or 20.
I know I won’t be the one telling someone they “aren’t ready.” I’ll be the one asking how I can support them to get there.
Let’s champion people in our industry and support them to grow! ⭐️
The Hospitality Junior Board is a community interest company, company number 16216532. Designed by Punch Hospitality
Let’s be honest, what a damaging and short-sighted narrative. Especially in an industry like hospitality that’s crying out for passionate, driven people to join and stay.
Even more frustrating, after a bit of a deep dive, it seems that these opinions are often based solely on a LinkedIn profile. As if a job title or a bullet point can truly capture someone’s journey, capability, or ambition. Where’s the human connection? Where’s the real curiosity to understand who someone is before passing judgment?
Where’s the hospitality?!
So… here is what you won’t see on my LinkedIn (although maybe I should add it 😉) my hospitality journey started at Flares in York, an 80’s bar and a complete stop-gap at the time. I loved the people, the chaos, the fun but I’d never thought of it as a career. I remember at the time someone saying, when are you going to get a real grown-up job!?
Fast forward 10+ years (and a couple of more stop gaps) and here I am, still in hospitality. I wouldn’t be here if I’d listened to all those who told me I didn’t have what it takes. Too young. Too inexperienced. Too loud (sometimes probably right on that one 😉).
How glad I am that I ignored those voices, just as anyone else should.
Throughout my career, I’ve been incredibly lucky to be supported by people who believed in me. Not just in a CV. People who looked beyond “years of experience” and instead saw passion, commitment, and drive. They challenged me to be better and coached me to do better. That belief opened doors, built my confidence, and gave me room to grow and develop.
That’s also why I’m proud to be part of The Hospitality Junior Board C.I.C. Truly inspiring and helping young leaders to get where they want to be. Personally, it’s helped me find my voice, connect with some incredibly brilliant and talented people, and see even more clearly that in this industry, there is no limit if you have the heart for it.
Let’s stop gatekeeping ambition. Let’s cheer on those chasing their dreams and support them positively, whether they’ve got 2 years of experience or 20.
I know I won’t be the one telling someone they “aren’t ready.” I’ll be the one asking how I can support them to get there.
Let’s champion people in our industry and support them to grow! ⭐️