Simon Boden has travelled from Scottsdale, Arizona to Shanghai, China, all in the name of work.

It’s one of the perks that got the 41-year-old Bermudian interested in the hospitality industry as a teenager.

In the years since, his various posts with Fairmont Hotels and Resorts have allowed him to explore Hawaii, the UK and the Caribbean.

He and his wife Andreanne and their twin daughters Victoria and Emma embarked on a new adventure last year when he became sales and marketing director at Fairmont Pittsburgh.

“The travel perks that come with working in the hospitality industry are phenomenal,” he said. “My family and I have had the opportunity to travel the world through my career.

My wife and I lived in Hawaii for three years when I worked at the Fairmont Orchid and we’ve travelled for leisure to countless destinations that we never would have had the opportunity to go otherwise.

“I’m excited to give my children this same opportunity and the life experiences that go along with travelling and living in new locations.”

Mr Boden leads a team of 12 at the Pennsylvania hotel where he’s responsible for the sales, catering and marketing departments.

“Each day is very different, which is something I enjoy about the job,” he said.

“I might be working on budgets in the morning and meeting with a potential client in the afternoon. Another day might be meetings with the local partners to discuss the outlook for the city, followed by developing marketing initiatives for our restaurant. I also attend lots of events so that I’m familiarising myself with the goings-on in the city. Pittsburgh is a relatively small market and it’s important to get to know the key players at fundraisers, networking events and other social gatherings.”

It all started at 13 when he got a summer job working in the tennis shop at the former Castle Harbour Hotel.

“I couldn’t believe you got paid to help around the courts and play tennis with guests,” he said. “When I took that job, I certainly never thought I’d be living in Pittsburgh one day, but I did imagine myself travelling.”

Mr Boden received his bachelor’s degree in business studies and hotel management at the University of Gloucestershire.

He joined the management trainee programme at Fairmont Southampton in 1994 and worked with hotels in the UK before returning to Bermuda to join Ariel Sands.

He rejoined Fairmont in 1999 and worked in various capacities at its two Bermuda properties until he was offered the spot at Fairmont Pittsburgh last year.

He jumped at the chance.

“Fairmont Pittsburgh is one of the top-performing hotels in the brand, and I knew it would be an excellent learning opportunity for me,” he said.

“I also wanted to give my family the opportunity to experience a new place. Our goal is to eventually come back to Bermuda, as it will always be home, but we are grateful for this opportunity.”

He has grown to love the city’s parks and riverfront trails.

“Our neighbourhood, Mt Lebanon, has been wonderful, and I feel very lucky to have found a home where we did,” Mr Boden said.

“My family and I were welcomed into the community, and my daughters developed a group of friends on our street immediately, and love playing from house to house for hours on end, without need to drive them anywhere.”

The Mt Lebanon area is known for beautiful nature trails and gardens; there’s a swim centre, golf course, tennis centre and ice rink. “Almost every day there is an opportunity for my family to learn or taste something new,” he said. “I love that I’m able to provide these experiences and life lessons to my family. It’s taught them how to be open and adaptable — to enjoy and be grateful of everything to the fullest.

“Bermuda is an amazing place to live, but to know there is a whole other world out there and know how lucky we are to be Bermudian, is an important perspective. Aside from life lessons there are all the activities they can experience here, like building a snowman, ice skating and skiing to name a few.”

He recommends a career in hospitality to anyone keen to learn, grow and travel the world, but says the field is best for those who are committed and have an open mind.

“You never know what will come from these experiences so work hard and the rewards will come,” he said.