For Alex Amey, hospitality runs in the family.
His father’s a bartender in Kingston, and his grandfather, a legendary hotelier, was once the general manager of the luxurious Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, as well as the second general manager of the CN Tower in Toronto.
Not surprisingly, Alex has made a career in the hospitality industry, too. But it didn’t start out that way.
After high school, Alex studied Chemistry at Brock University in St. Catharines. While there, he found a part-time job at a local bar to help pay the bills. In 2017, however, he had a revelation: while his studies were stressful, he loved his job.
“You go in and talk with people all day,” he says. “You get to have a conversation. It was a release and a break that I found I really needed.”
It was also a turning point. Alex returned home and enrolled in the Tourism and Hospitality Management Program at St. Lawrence College. He was all in – but he didn’t stop there. He wanted to focus his expertise, so he completed additional courses to specialize in wine.
“The unpredictability is the most enjoyable part.”
“I think there’s going to be a big shift. People in hospitality are going to be driven and educated. There are many facets you can go into and carve out a niche”
Today, Alex is the general manager of food and beverage at the Frontenac Club, one of Kingson’s most prestigious hotels. It’s a leadership role that keeps him on his toes – literally – with duties ranging from managing staff to curating wines to serving guests, planning events, and more.
“No two days are the same. The unpredictability is the most enjoyable part.”
At just 26 years old, Alex has accomplished so much already, and he believes anyone can do the same; all it takes is a little passion, a thirst for learning, and the right footwear.