Swapping an office for an apron

WHILE cleaning hotel rooms, shlepping luggage, serving food and running a busy hotel reception might not be everyone’s idea of a dream job, for Rachel Argaman, they proved to be completely motivating.

Swapping the Sydney offices of the Toga Group — established by businessman Erwin Vidor — for a day job at the Vibe, Medina Apartment and Travelodge hotels, the chief executive donned a pair of glasses, dyed her hair and pinned back her signature fringe to spend nine days undercover within her business for popular television program Undercover Boss.

“I had a ball,” she told The AJN this week. “It was an incredible experience. We had been talking about doing it for years but you get so busy you don’t get to the front line. I learnt so much about the business.”

The Jewish mother-of-three had only just watched her first episode of the hit show’s US version when she was approached by Undercover Boss’ Australian producers.

“I really wanted to be a part.”

But it was no easy feat.

The Australian Hotelier of the Year spent two weekends and five business days undercover, and was filmed from 4.45am until midnight each day.
In addition to the busy work schedule and filming, she also spent hours working with the show’s two producers to analyse the day’s events.

Couple the lack of sleep and training for her new “job”, and it’s no surprise the experienced boss found herself making some amusing mistakes along the way.

“I screwed up seriously in the food and beverage area,” she admitted. “I had three breakfast orders and I couldn’t get the toast on.”

After Argaman burnt the last piece of white bread in the kitchen, she was left to send up breakfast without the ordered toast.

She also got a kick up the backside from one of the chefs when she individually washed every mushroom in the kitchen, wasting valuable cooking time.

“At home I wash all my mushrooms individually,” she laughed.

So will the experience influence processes within the busy hotel chain moving forward? “We go out to our hotels regularly, but we always have an active agenda. What is really important is to go out with no agenda, to work with the team members and listen to what they have to say. That is how you learn,” she said.

And while Argaman will only see the episode next week at the same time as the rest of the country, she has no doubts about the reactions of her staff members. “I’m sure they will be laughing very hard as they sit watching in their lounge rooms.”

Rachel Argaman’s episode of Undercover Boss will screen on Monday, November 15, 9.30pm on Channel 10.

DALIA SABLE