Lionel Chetty shines at Gold Reef City
The bright lights and excitement of planning and implementing promotions and events in a casino, is an environment where Lionel shines.
IT takes a certain kind of person to excel in the gaming industry, but Durban-born Lionel Chetty first cut his teeth in customer service as a telesales agent for a telemarketer in 2001.
He then pursued a job as a property steward at Sugar Mill Casino, ensuring the cleanliness of the kitchens and the restaurant areas. Later, Lionel was promoted to a waiter after his excellent hospitality skills shone through.
As fate would have it, Lionel has a winning personality, so it is apt that the gaming bug, where personality is needed in spades, hit early on in his career. From the start, Lionel’s early experience would benefit him well as he moved into positions where guest relations would prove to be the key to his success.
Lionel has also been known to perform master of ceremony duties from time to time, a task that he says brings out the best in him. “I love this industry. Promotions and events are at the heart of the casino and it demands a great deal of creativity, hard work and professionalism,” he said.
In 2009, Lionel made the move from KZN to Gauteng where he joined The Carousel Casino and Entertainment World as a customer relationship manager and continued to gain experience in running direct marketing, database management and VIP events. It was here that his early experience came to the fore, with Lionel managing the telesales and data capture clerks as part of his portfolio.
In 2013, he brought his golden touch and 13 years of valuable experience to Gold Reef City as the promotions and events manager, a position that demands a great deal of planning and strategy.
Over the years, Lionel has completed courses in project management, management development, supervisory empowerment, industrial relations, operational finance, training techniques and targeted selection.
He is currently studying for his BBA Degree in Marketing Management through the IMM Graduate School of Marketing, which he is set to complete in early 2017.
“My passion for this role is fuelled by the happiness you see on a guest’s face when they have just won a car or a large sum of money. A promotion builds up anticipation until it eventually culminates in an explosion of joy and excitement for our lucky winners. We create memories and fulfil wishes and we do it on a daily basis,” he said.
