A Personal Note from Jessica on Starting Maternity Leave
Posted on 11th November 2024
Hello Reader! Welcome to a very special issue of our Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments Blog: A Special Note from Jessica as I Head Off on Maternity Leave! #HarrogateLifestyleBlog
Hello, friends, guests, and the wonderful Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments community,
I wanted to share some big news: I'll soon be heading off for a bit to start my maternity leave! This is a huge new chapter for me, and I couldn’t just slip away without sharing a little bit of my story with Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments—and what this place truly means to me.
My Journey from Booking Coordinator to Director (What a Ride!)
Back in 2011, I first dipped my toes into the world of hospitality. I joined a small independent company here in Harrogate as a booking coordinator, managing a cozy collection of 10 apartments in the town centre. Back then, I was full of energy, ready to soak up everything I could about the business, and dreaming about how far I could go. Over the years, with lots of hard work, I worked my way up to general manager, getting more involved in creating a warm, memorable experience for every guest who walked through our doors.
Fast forward to 2016, and I was thrilled when we got an invitation to move to a much bigger place—the brand new Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments right here on King’s Road. For anyone local, you might remember it as The Kings Club and Jimmy’s Night Club! But this location offered us so much more: a stunning building where we could expand to 32 beautifully designed apartments, ready to welcome both long-term residents and apart-hotel guests all under one roof.
A New Chapter with a Personal Touch
Moving over to our new site was a chance for me to get creative! I was lucky enough to help shape the look and feel of the apartments themselves, picking out interiors and furnishings that made our spaces warm and stylish for our guests. It wasn't all about mood boards and shoping though! I'm one for getting stuck in that's for sure!
It was a joy to see our ideas come to life and create a space that truly felt like “home” for our visitors. Here are some images and videos below of that process i found in the archives...
We opened our doors in 2017 and won award after award for our brand new apart hotel in Harrogate town centre...
Then came two big moments in 2022...
First, the Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments team were honoured with the "Outstanding Customer Service" award at the Yorkshire Tourism Awards, which was amazing! I truly felt so humbled by this acknowledgement of all our hard work and dedication to our guests enjoyment. It was a great moment to be recognised like this. I felt like I was representing Yorkshire hospitality at it's best on the red carpet. #YPtourism
Shortly after, the company ownership changed, and I was actually at risk of redundancy which was worrying and upsetting...
During the sale negotiations, though, I was approached by the new owner and asked if I’d be interested in stepping up to become Director and run the business for him.
It was bittersweet—I was sad to see my old boss move on but thrilled for the opportunity to keep growing here. It felt like the culmination of everything I’d worked toward, and I’m grateful every day to help lead Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments into its next chapter.
A Growing Team with a Shared Vision
With the promotion came a few team changes too! In January 2023, I welcomed Sarah as our Guest Relations Hostess. She took over my old role and has done an incredible job ensuring every guest’s experience is warm, smooth, and truly memorable. Sarah quickly proved she’s as dedicated as I am to creating a top-notch experience, and I know that while I’m away, she’ll keep up the high standards we set for ourselves. We may be a small team, but between Sarah, our wonderful cleaning and maintenance local contractors, I know I’m leaving everything in capable hands.
Looking Ahead
As I step away for a little while, I’m filled with a mix of the usual new parent nerves and excitement, but also comfort. Knowing our guests will be so well cared for in my absence means the world to me, and I’m looking forward to taking this time to welcome my first child and focus on my growing family. When I come back, I know I’ll have fresh energy (and probably a few new ideas!) to bring to Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments.
Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments - The perfect town centre hotel alternative in Harrogate North Yorkshire -
A huge thank you to all our regular clients who's been sending their best wishes to me. It's very humbling that you wish me well. Also thank you to everyone who has supported us, trusted us with your stay, and been a part of our story. I’ll miss seeing all of you during my leave, but I’m excited to return and keep building on what we’ve created here together.
Until then, take care, and I hope your experiences with us continue to be as memorable and enjoyable as ever.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Jessica
Director, Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments
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