Abdul Shuib is slight-built and breaks into a smile at the drop of a hat. But behind that friendly demeanour lies a man with a resolve to not just get the job done but to do it well—with precision.

Abdul joined the Club as Banquet Manager in 2020 and within the four years here, he has earned the Employee of the Year for 2023. He has also received recognition for kindness—also awarded by the Singapore Hotel Association—and another for honesty, among others. He also comes with a lifetime of experience in the hospitality industry, most of them in the banquet department.

TURNING POINT

Abdul entered the hospitality industry in 1995, right after his National Service (NS). But it wasn’t to fulfil a lifelong dream, but because “I couldn’t remember whatever I studied”, he says, laughing.

“I was never very good in studies, but my mother used to tell me that it was okay to not excel in studies. What really matters in life is doing things the right way, regardless of whatever profession I chose.”

Although his entry into hospitality was more out of a necessity—he was looking for a job and the industry was hiring—Abdul took his mother’s advice to heart right from his first job.

“I am very precise, and detail- and result-oriented,” he says, matter-of-factly. This has held him in good stead in an industry that especially demands those qualities.

Abdul took marine training for his NS, so he had hoped to get a job as a lifeguard, but there was a vacancy only in the banquet division. With no long-term plans of a career in the hotel industry, Abdul joined the banquet division of Sheraton Towers Singapore.

Nevertheless, he took his role seriously and learnt on the job. He climbed up the ranks quickly from houseman to captain before moving on to the InterContinental Singapore as part of its preopening team. There, he built his career to become Senior Assistant Manager and earned himself the 2017 SICO Asia Mice & Banquet Manager of the year award.

A brief stint at the fast food sector of the F&B industry made him realise that it was the former that suited him best. “I learnt a lot in the hospitality industry; I got to do a lot of different events and different setups. It has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of different people—I even got to serve the Prime Minister once at a VIP event.”

NEW DIRECTION

Moving from there to a Club environment, Abdul admits, was a big change of scene, but it seemed meant to be in some ways. “Usually in the five-star hotel, I just delegate work to the team. I assist them with the operations once in a while, but more from the back of house. Since I joined here, I have been more recognised by guests because I am involved more in the front end of things.”

And compliments followed along with recognitions. The Employee of the Year award followed a Standard Chartered event, where Abdul proved his resourcefulness in quickly turning over a coffee event to a cocktail reception in one hour at the request of the client. There have been many other instances where last-minute changes had to be made, but “I will try my best—especially if it is within my power to and if they can grant me the time”, he stresses. On occasions when he is unable to deliver specific requests, he has always suggested alternatives that have left client equally pleased.

But rewards didn’t come easy—long hours and a tough work schedule, included. As someone who values precision and commitment, Abdul admits that he can be a taskmaster, but he also pushes his team to give their best so they can realise their career dreams as he did.

“You have to take ownership and responsibility if you want to pursue a career in this kind of industry. This is my advice to my team; to be prepared to make certain sacrifices,” he says. “There’s a lot of opportunity for learning, and you get to meet a lot of people. Sometimes, guests can be difficult, too.”

Abdul has managed to sort his own work-life balance throughout his career. His wife, whom he met while she was a part-time banquet staff at InterContinental Singapore, and his two sons, do not take a backseat. “When I plan my schedule, I try to do so around any plans they may have made. At times, my schedule can get erratic, but I will still join them in their outings after my shift, no matter how tired I am,” says Abdul.

We caught up with Abdul in mid-December 2024, and he was scheduled to fly off the same night to Paris—and then to London—with his family. “My eldest son will go away to poly [polytechnic] next year and my younger son, to secondary school, so coordinating holidays may get a bit difficult. Also, I really want them to experience Christmas in Europe,” he says.

Abdul has come a long way since he was a boy of 22 without a plan in his life. Today, after almost two decades in the hospitality industry, he has found his calling and that’s where he sees his future—whether at the Club or elsewhere.

The original article was published on the January/ February 25 issue of Longitude, ONE°15 Marina’s Club magazine. Read it here.