Saarah Tennakoon
General manager, Oretta Hospitality Inc., Toronto
Saarah Tennakoon found the hospitality industry — or rather, it found her — completely by accident when a friend hired her to work at Flock Rotisserie & Greens by Chef Cory Vitiello in the Harbord Village in Toronto.
She quickly rose to a supervisor position, and when the opportunity presented itself, was promoted to assistant general manager.
Now she was hooked, taking on progressively more senior roles with Moxie’s and O&B before joining Oretta Hospitality Inc. in 2021 as general manager of its King West location.
“Since the day she was hired, she has consistently showed professionalism, dedication to her job and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” says Jan Stoeckmann, director of Operations, Oretta Hospitality Inc. “After approximately two-and-a-half years with the company, Saarah is one of the most important pillars in our operations.”
“Saarah’s leadership style serves as an inspiration to young professionals, showcasing a rare combination of unwavering work ethic, innovative thinking and a profound commitment to driving positive change in our restaurant operations,” says Kimberly Crabtree, director of Events at Oretta. “Through her leadership, Saarah has cultivated a dedicated management and service team, fostering a culture of inspiration and excellence that resonates throughout the organization.”
