Master Innholders Community Spotlight - Kai Sinkevicius
We've recently been speaking with members of the Master Innholders community to find out more about their hospitality careers, what working in hospitality means to them, as well as what they are doing currently to give back to the industry as part of their work.
This week, we spoke to Kai Sinkevicius, Assistant Operations Manager at The Headland Cornwall and current student on the Aspiring Leaders Diploma, who talked to us about his time on the programme so far, as well as his work at The Headland Cornwall.
As someone currently studying the Aspiring Leaders Diploma, what made you apply for the programme in the first place?
I first heard about the programme when my line manager at the time, Brigitta Kovacs, told me about the opportunity, as she was currently undertaking the diploma herself at the time. With the mentorship of Innholder Graduate Joshua Jay-Bates (MIALD Cohort 8) and some encouraging words from Veryan Palmer (IS MI), I felt inspired to take the leap and apply.
I wasn’t successful in my first application, but I took it as a learning experience, reflecting on where I was in my career and dedicating the next two years learning about hotel operations, people management and personal development before reapplying again in 2025. After being shortlisted and undertaking the interview process, I was thrilled to then be announced as part of this year’s cohort.
You are now several months into the Aspiring Leaders programme - what has been your biggest takeaway from your studies so far?
I have learnt so much in a short time about myself, people management, personal development and finance management specifically. I have also grown in confidence massively in my role as a result of this.
The diploma’s content has provided me with a strong academic foundation that complements the hands-on experience I’ve gained over the past two years. At this stage in my career, I’m learning something new every day, and I’m incredibly grateful not only for the position I hold but also for the opportunity to be part of Cohort 2025-26. My main reasoning for applying was to strengthen my understanding and knowledge of aspects of my role. However, my experience so far has also shown me about the value and importance of the conversations I’m having, with the hoteliers I meet, with my tutors and with my fellow cohort members.
For those looking to apply for the Aspiring Leaders Diploma next year, what advice would you give them?
The advice I received from those who had completed the diploma was invaluable during the application stages. I would advise potential applicants to really think about the reason they are applying, what they want to get from the diploma and to evaluate if they are at the right point in their career to apply. If you aren’t successful, take on the feedback, focus on where you can continue to grow, and don’t be afraid to try again next time!
You are currently the Assistant Operations Manager at The Headland Cornwall. What are some of the opportunities and challenges that come with managing a hotel in such a historic seaside town?
Recruitment continues to be a challenge for all of us in our industry. While there are many reasons for this, a big thing I see as someone still early in their career is the perception of hospitality as a stop-gap career.
We have opportunities and a responsibility to shout about the wonderful careers in hospitality and to develop young talent. Here at The Headland, we spend a large proportion of our paid volunteering time supporting initiatives for hospitality careers. This includes us visiting local schools and colleges to showcase hospitality and career opportunities. We do six-week summer placements for 14 and 15-year-olds, as well as offering work experience to those who are interested in hospitality. We hope our work plays a small part in inspiring and bringing in new talent to our industry.
The Headland Cornwall also recently celebrated its 125th anniversary. How did you celebrate this milestone and showcase this journey and history to guests?
This year has been a special one as we celebrate our 125th anniversary of the hotel. It’s been a lot of work crafting our year-long campaign, complete with themed events, stays, tours, memorabilia and a display of the hotel’s archive. A highlight of the campaign for me was going through the Armstrongs’ archives and constructing a display with the team for all of the guests to see.