Raven Naicker has been recently appointed as the Food and Beverage Manager for the Royal Palm Hotel. With the hotel having recently undergone an overhaul of its identity as an independent organisation, Naicker was the perfect fit to start moving forward in all aspects of the offering.

The Umhlanga Ridge-based hotel offers up 94 luxury apartments, which include 14 penthouses, 60 Junior Suites and 10 luxurious studio apartments, as well as an onsite restaurant – DISH.

Naicker completed his matric at Seatides Secondary School in Tongaat. He holds a Management Diploma through the University of Stellenbosch. Apart from this, Naicker is also a qualified Health and Safety representative.

With a keen interest in the hospitality industry and 16 years’ experience, Naicker launched his career in 2001 where he filled the position as a Restaurant Manager at the Sugarmill Casino until 2004 before moving on to becoming the Food and Beverage Duty Manager at Sibaya Casino until 2007.

Naicker was then offered an opportunity to work at Suncoast Casino as their Food and Beverage Duty Manager, where he remained for 9 years, departing from his duties in August 2016 as he moved on to the hotel side of things, taking up the position as the Assistant Food and Beverage Manager for Suncoast Hotel and Towers until June this year.

Now, as he fulfils his role as Food and Beverage Manager for the Royal Palm Hotel he will be responsible for managing the department’s budgets and profits forecasts and capex requirements and budgets, as well as managing and rectifying all audit requirements and operating equipment. He will also control the food and beverage costs, manage the food and beverage staff, maintain adequate staffing based on operational requirements and ensure the service of all meals, snacks and beverages are prepared and presented to expected standards.