Meet Declan C. Khan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Declan C. Khan.

Hi Declan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I originally transition into my adult life with clear plans of what I wanted to become having studied Biology at a local college in Trinidad where I had my upbringing. To be a marine ecologist was always an intended goal of mine and still is up to date. As we all know life is at many times an unpredictable journey and thus was mine. Due to some personal family disputes as similar as I had my academic and career goals I also had a goal of residing on my own which I eventually did.

Within this period of my life, I was not completed with my studies; however, I had to attain finances to support myself. I joined a government on-the-job training program with our ministry of works & transport division which was a drag for me and my adventurous mind. I eventually resigned after my first 6month contract and while hanging out with a friend of mine at a local bar he was checking out a waitress at, I saw a sign that bartenders were wanted.

I enquired and got the job. I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere of drinking, dancing, laughter, and meeting new people in its entirety. After a few weeks while looking into the craft of bartending I decided to purchase my first bartending book. A few months after this I started to look for more challenging positions at other establishments like the one I was at did not offer cocktails which I was immensely interested in. From the first move to my first cocktail bar, the rest became history.

For the next 5 years (2007 – 2012), I changed jobs like clothing searching for a stimulating operation that would aid me in my yearning for growth in the field. During this time I consistently accumulated academic materials, equipment, barware & knowledge from extensive research along with involving myself in various competitions, courses, and seminars in order to enhance my overall comprehension and skill in the craft.

I was then recommended to TGI Fridays where I found a home that would finally deliver the surge of electricity that my career and life had needed for that extra spark. Hereon, I achieved many awards and recognitions as one of the top local bartenders who was now appointed a bar coach position to train at various locations. Within the period I now yearned again for more opportunities where I decided to enroll in the field of management studies to be considered for even a higher position.

I started doing ad campaigns for external companies and pushed the limits of my training portfolio where I was then appointed a regional New Store Opener for Fridays Latin America, Region.

I did this for a couple more years having traveled to 15 different regions including the united states as a personal coach to the first Trinidadian competitor to have won Latin America’s regional championship to then reached TGI Fridays International Bar Championships. Such a milestone in my life. Seeing a world like this opened my eyes to a wider scope of operations within the beverage field which I transitioned more into the management part of the field.

I resigned to accept an offer to revamp operation at an Irish-themed pub where I entered a local Patron Tequila perfection competition, which I won and was invited to study the brand and ambassadorship for my country. While doing my training in Guadalajara Mexico I was then contacted by my previous V.P for TGI Fridays Trinidad & Jamaica for an offer to be the Brand Beverage Manager for two (2) restaurant chains (Zanzibar TT & Kaizan Sushi) which I saw as a definite growth opportunity for me to reach next level challenged.

After this period would have been C-19 knocking on the doors of operations as social as ours which cased the closure of the first-mentioned brand. While operating the Kaizan I was again recommended by a close colleague of mine to look into a Beverage Manager position at a re-opened resort in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. I did. Got an offer and I am currently on my second (2nd) month operating & residing at the Long Bay Beach Resort.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In my experience, it has never been entirely smooth and from my perspective, I do think the ever-challenging factor keeps you on top of your game if you master how to approach various situations and circumstances. Some personal challenges would definitely be the politics of the workplace, personal life challenges, finding the right remuneration package for what you can offer, and maintaining one’s personal focus and discipline to keep growing.

A major obstacle is dealing with so many different people both colleagues; superiors & subordinates alike along with clients to truly convey what you want an array of different people to see. Whether it be to communicate what effort it takes to create a perfect cocktail for a patron or to encourage a trainee to see our job as an art.

The people skills and vast characteristics of every different human is an ever-changing challenge that I, fortunately, have learned to master to some extent.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As mentioned prior I am a professional Bartender, Restaurant & Beverage Manager, and Business owner of a small bar services company. I specialize in all factors beverage- relating to the food & beverage industry.

• Facilitating training in various departments of Food & Beverage operations.
• Managing Ongoing Operations.
• Creating Recipes.
• Constructing Beverage Menus.
• Directing & Staging Digital Content Productions.
• Writing & Directing Ad Campaigns are some key examples of my skillset.

Amongst all this I am also transitioning into publishing books of my own, having created one manuscript thus far. I am proud of many achievements I have attained in my and I would definitely say that I am most proud of my steadfast loyalty to the beverage industry and my intent to touch as many lives as I can while doing so. The feeling of helping another human to be better than they were yesterday is a heartfelt feeling that no other can match.

This notion in itself is what I would say sets me apart from many others I have encountered in my field of work as I do not operate as a basic manager; I operate as an encourager of hope. This amongst many other characteristics such as my meticulous work productions, focus, my technical skills, my high spirits, and attire is what I would be best known for.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Favorite Books:

The Ultimate Book of Cocktails by Stuart Walton
Glamorous Cocktails by William Yeoward
The Art & Craft of Coffee Cocktails by Jason Clarke

In the earlier years of my career, I would of knowledge portfolio of cocktails from SpiritDrinks.com however, I think the website is decommissioned as I cannot access the resource anymore. This would have definitely been a favorite of mine.

Contact Info:

• Email: declanc_khan@hotmail.com
• Website: https://flairtechbarservicestt.godaddysites.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/declan_khan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/declan.khan.3/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/Bartendeco/_saved/

Image Credits
Sunny Studios and Elizabeth Bissessar