A veteran of the hospitality industry has died.

Michael Daniels, who worked at the Fairmont Southampton for more than three decades, was 74.

Mr Daniels, a maitre d’ at the hotel, also had a passion for the arts.

Murry Bartley recalled working his way up from bus boy to waiter to captain at the Fairmont Southampton under the tutelage of Mr Daniels.

He said: “I worked with Mr Daniels for 15 years of my life at the Southampton Princess. I started there when I was about 19 years old. It was the late Seventies or early Eighties.”

Mr Bartley added: “Either you loved him or you hated him. He was a disciplinarian. He was a no-nonsense type of fella but fair. He instilled standards in me.”

And while he may have shirked those lessons when he was younger, Mr Bartley said he gained a greater appreciation for them as he grew older.

He added: “You saw that what he was instilling in you were life skills that you needed when you were older.”

Mr Bartley said he passed these on to his own children and those who worked under him.

He also described Mr Daniels as a man of high standards, who expected a job to be done properly.

Mr Bartley said Mr Daniels was a man who believed that “if you are not going to do it right, don’t do it at all”.

He added that Mr Daniels was dedicated to a job that was demanding, with long hours, but that “meant a lot to him”.

Mr Bartley stayed on good terms with Mr Daniels even after he left the hotel and Mr Daniels stayed on.

He added that Mr Daniels worked at the Fairmont Southampton for “at least 40 years” and would often remark how times had changed.

The Fairmont Southampton added: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Daniels and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.

“He will be missed by all of us who knew him here at Fairmont Southampton.”

Mr Daniels was also a regular volunteer on the Bermuda National Gallery’s reception desk, where he would spend several hours every Monday.

The BNG said: “In addition, he would often offer to volunteer on a second day if needed. In fact, he once said BNG was ‘the best place to be two days in a row’.

“He was one of our finest docents, taking time to learn about the exhibitions as well as the gallery programming of activities and events.

“Michael’s love and great appreciation for the visual arts translated to meaningful interactions which enhanced the museum experience for any guest fortunate to visit the gallery when he was on duty.”

Mr Daniels was named volunteer of the year twice and the BNG described him as an “invaluable asset to our organisation” who “will be sadly missed”.