Alumni Video Series: Meet Sammie Lucey

Last year, Sammie Lucey graduated from a Bachelor of Business in International Hotel Management. The Adelaide alumna, who now works as a supervisor at luxury Adelaide Hills lodge Sequoia, hasn't looked back.

When most Year 12s were still deciding where to take their careers once finishing school, Sammie Lucey already had her sights set on the hotel industry.

“I got into hospitality from a young age, working in cafes and pubs,” the 22-year-old says. “I had a huge love for working with people, so I wanted a career I could fit that into, and hospitality was that for me.”

Deciding where to study was an easy choice, and when she discovered Le Cordon Bleu’s Bachelor of Business in International Hotel Management, the then 19-year-old didn’t hesitate to enrol.

Fast-forward just three years post-graduation and Sammie is flourishing in a supervisor role at luxury lodge Sequoia – part of the famed Mount Lofty House estate.

The Adelaide Hills destination boasts 14 suites with unparalleled views of Piccadilly Valley, but don’t be fooled – her days aren’t spent by steamy pools overlooking the rolling hills. Sammie is in demand from breakfast right through to dinner service, but thrives on the rush of hospitality and being in a guest-orientated environment.

“We curate the whole Sequoia experience for our guests,” she says. “If we have international guests, we pick them up from the airport and plan their whole trip around South Australia.

“I love being able to provide an amazing experience for somebody, whether it’s their honeymoon or babymoon. We deal with so many special occasions and the fact that they choose to celebrate with us is phenomenal.”

While she has always had a knack for guest services, Sammie says Le Cordon Bleu provided her with the confidence to work across any department within the industry.

“Anybody can go and study at university and get a business degree, but the biggest benefit studying at Le Cordon Bleu is the fact that they offer so many diverse subjects,” she says.

“You learn everything from culinary to housekeeping and bar skills, and then dive into reservations, marketing, management and the accounting side of things as well.”

The endless industry placement opportunities were also a drawcard to Le Cordon Bleu’s Australian arm.

“Being able to live on Hamilton Island for six months is not necessarily an experience that most people get out of their studies, so that was a real highlight for me,” she says.

“Above all, I chose to study with Le Cordon Bleu because I was eager to succeed in hospitality. The name ‘Le Cordon Bleu’ speaks for itself, it’s an internationally-renowned company.”