Donaldson, cluster director of business development for Hilton Durban, Hilton Sandton and Hilton Windhoek, was bestowed the honour on 28 July at the Hilton Sandton Hotel.
Donaldson expressed his feelings about being nominated and then, ultimately, honoured with an award of this nature. “I was completely surprised by the nomination but nonetheless excited that I was being recognised for my work,” he said.
He also explained how the nomination came about, saying that regional management nominated him and two other employees as having potential talent and worthy of nomination.
Donaldson explained that once his nomination was successful, he had to go through a process which included an online evaluation and the submission of a case study on an industry-related situation to a panel. He said that this part of the process was also exciting, rather than challenging, as it was an experience for him.
Ultimately, Donaldson emerged victorious, taking the Rising Star award in the Tourism and Hospitality category at the ceremony.
“I was happy to be honoured and I feel fortunate to be tasked with managing three hotels, a job I am able to do with the amazing support of those I work with in sales,” he said.
Donaldson’s role as cluster director within Hilton includes driving the commercial aspect of the hotel, a position he has proudly held for just short of a year.
He started working for the group in 2005 when he joined Hilton Durban Hotel as an intern. Upon completing his internship, he moved to the reservations desk where he discovered his passion in revenue development.
The Standard Bank Rising Star Awards are run by Black Bark Productions and were launched in 2012. The aim of the awards is to feature and honour talent from 11 categories which include the Information and Communication Technology, Energy and Chemicals, Banking and Financial Services, Tourism and Hospitality, and Media sectors, amongst others.
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