front desk agent

housekeeper

night auditor

guest service agent

hotel housekeeper

Candlewood Suites

My day usually starts off with a front desk meeting with co managers, followed by office work to coordinate my day as to how I will gain new business for the hotel.  I then do research to gather info about new prospected clients.  I make several phone calls, send out numerous emails, and visit different local locations to discuss how my hotel can help their business with all their lodging needs.  I wrap up my day by interacting with the guest service attendants and management staff to see how the overall productivity of the hotel is going.  I try to offer any help I can that I feel will aid in the front desk selling rooms each night. 
I have learned several things at my current job but the thing that stands out the most would be, how to work as a team.  Team work is essential in any job but a hotel depends on it every second of every day.  We have found that if we don't communicate and work well together that we end up missing critical areas of a guest's experience.  This can lead to a guest not wanting to stay with us again and we have now lost future revenue that our hotel will have to worker harder for to regain.  
My co-workers and the management staff are great people to work with.  We are basically a small close knit family that would do just about anything for each other.  With being so close we can sometimes get frustrated with each other but that is something that we have been able to over come very well.  We enjoy coming to work and seeing each other and that makes for a positive place to work.
The hardest part of my job is dealing with the rejection that most sales people experience.  It's not guaranteed that you are going to go out and knock it out of the park on every sales call.  You have to accept the fact that you are going to get shut down from time to time.  A good sales person is able to take that in stride and continue to push forward.  I never let the job get me down because I know there is going to be another opportunity around every corner.
One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is helping all the new guests that I get to meet.  I deal with various types of people every day and all come from different walks of life.  When those guests that I'm trying to help realize that I'm truly trying to help them, and they give me a heart felt thank you, it really makes me feel good.

Let me start by saying I have over 10 years of experience in housekeeping and when I walked into that place I thought this might work I could be able to help them because I seen a lot of things that were out of place but within three days I noticed that the reason why everything is out of place is because of the managers the lack of help the lack of communication all they do is just sit down and stare at the cameras all day and do not help and they expect so much from the housekeeper's when they don't even have the proper equipment or the proper things that they need to be able to work and complete their task for the day the housekeeping supervisor which was the position that I went in for they expect you to strip rooms work in the laundry inspect the rooms clean the public areas you pretty much have to do everything that Intel's in the housekeeping Department which I find very unfair I've never worked somewhere where the managers or the assistant manager wouldn't help out there is no teamwork in that place I know the manager is fairly new but just speaking with her you can tell that she has no experience in housekeeping and she since she doesn't have that experience she's not able to help the housekeepers in the proper way and I thought that I would be able to do it because I've done it before but working with them was very difficult so the best thing for me to do was to leave before I ended up telling them about themselves because they were very mean and rude to the housekeepers they are running a show over there in that place and I'm pretty sure with better management they would do really good

This was my first GIG on the IHG brand in ten years and  out of the millions hotels I have worked at through out the USA and Germany and England. I have been in the Hospitality business 20 years .
Computer Training is great as long its on the ... ..computer virtual training & I felt it was on time.
The Audit is two clicks and extremely simple.
Pay isn't something a single parent can live on but I am only 5 minutes from my home and use public transportation & I improvise. Thats another thing BUS routes come directly to the hotels. easy access to public transportation. 
The "brand" is great the ...rooms are great. I do not have to set breakfast up because we have a little store for self service so thats a WIN WIN for a Auditor. 
Hours- I never had a issue with not getting enough hours they been pretty fair about my hours.
Payroll-I like the payroll and how its set up.
this definitely is not a career job unless you take a management position or your a Mom (looking for a good shift to take care of kids during the day)  or College student. Depends on your goals in life honestly.
we are close to Chesapeake MALL and the demographic in this area can be tough at times.
I like the fact we are always learning and no matter who or how old you are theres always something new to learn and they dont mind showing us the correct way. Most companies dont wanna take the time to invest in their staff. Most companies dont wanna see their employees grow because they are afraid of letting go of the good ones which to me is selfish. SO far its been Okay we are still learning and growing. 


 

I only worked there for 4 days until I was let go after a new manager was hired and took over the housekeeping department. The upper management of the hotel seemed to act very irritable and cold towards anyone who questions them. Also, they were not supportive of any of their staff. The original housekeeping manager was demoted to "housekeeping assistant," but they still had the same amount of responsibilities. They let me go on the basis of "moving in a different direction" and that they "did not need as much hired help as they thought". I do not know if these are the real reasons why, but there was nothing I could do about it. The housekeeping employees were nice and supportive. The front desk employees were polite, but tended to gossip in front of guests. I never received any actual training for the housekeeping position I was originally hired for. I ended up being stuck in laundry for 3 out of the 4 days before being let go. The previous housekeeping manager was strict, but she truly cared about her job. Unfortunately, she did not have time to properly train me due to it being understaffed during the "busy season." I was told by the previous housekeeping manager and several co-workers that after business slows down, hours become limited. The pay was pretty good. I am sad that I never got a chance to prove my skills as a housekeeper. 

I honestly loved working here for the reasons that I was always winning the monthly contests of most IHG enrollments and the fact that I was able to use my unique organization skills. The challenging part about the job was some times being over booked or having a challenging guest who had preferences that we may not have been  able to fulfill due to the hotel already being booked. The management could have been a little more strict and cold have been more structured. Overall the workplace itself was very diverse it was  also very fun and enjoyable due to the interaction with guests and the involvement of being able to apply my skills towards everything that I did. For example a typical day for me going into work was communicating with guests, answering phone calls, booking rooms, as well as checking guests out of rooms, helping house keeping with folding linens such as sheets and towels, stocking the cupboard with drinks, snacks, laundry supplies, and hygiene products for the guests to purchase and accommodating guests with their needs or requests to help make their stay more hospitable.In the end of my time working at Candle Wood I was able to learn that I am capable of showing others as well as myself that I can break out of my shell when it comes to being shy and that I fit well in that type of work environment due to my precise ways of always doing things through life.

My time at Candlewood Suites Hotel was enjoyable and informative. A typical shift: Arrive at work approximately 10:45 pm, get a report and update from co-worker on activities, etc; count/reconcile the money drawer, relieve the co-worker and start my shift at 11:00pm.
Main duties for the shift were: Run night audit on OPERA software; Manage administrative, check in/check out services for hotel guests. Conduct room reservations in person and thru phone requests. Monetary transactions for Cupboard food items and other goods. Counted and reconciled money drawer at end of shift, 700am. Also, my responsibility to manage guests for fire, weather and all other emergencies.Side duties for that shift inculded taking out the trash to the dumpster abt a half block away; washing, drying, folding all dirty laundry left from previous shift and mopping the floor, aprox a 1200 sq. ft. area. Learned to work, alone, on the night shift, and be responsible and manage whatever occured on that shift. Co-workers, for the most part, were easy to work with/had to adjust to those who were not. Hardest part of the job was the physical labor of mopping the floors. Most enjoyable part of the job was meeting new people and succesfully keeping everyone happy. During the 15 months of my employment at the hotel; I was never late for a shift, never missed a shift and my money drawer was never short.

A typical day working began with clocking in,  reading and understanding maids assigned rooms, accommodating to work schedules, needs as well as attention to maintenance department needs, issues per a room,  or supplies needed as well.  I would give housekeepers their rooms assigned per day, as well as any special attention requirements per room, or attention given to special request given to us by guest per their stay or purchased rooms.  I also was a laundry aid, as to my request, as well as back up person if a housekeeper maid was running late, or unable to show up for work.  I  was also in charge of room inspections, overseeing the proper or corrections needed per room, having to periodically have the assigned housekeeper correct or fix overlooked or incorrect room policy procedures.  I did not enjoy having to act as a counselor with insecure housekeepers afraid of maintenance men also need to work in rooms on a hard-pressed schedule as well. working in the room.  I enjoyed the friendly staff or friendly customers day today, as well as being room inspector and overseeing to a beautiful, warm and inviting room for persons to stay in.  This gave me a sense of pride in knowing how I would feel if it were me.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The support I get from my team members, especially my operations manager the hotel is gone through a major transition, but everybody’s there to help

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Well really it’s not stress we just went through a total renovation so that was a little stressful but the hotel runs pretty smoothly. It’s only 126 rooms so there’s not a lot of stress at all.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It’s supportive we get training we get nudged about making sure that we fulfill our turning modules which is through Aimbridge  hospitality, Inc.,  Our flag is Candelwood suites IHG and they have trainings. Also, there is some roof for improvement but it’s a small hotel so it’s not a big chain, but within Aimbridge  hospitality, is huge and you can move up and be part of the average family. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Well I’m a night  auditor so I don’t have a typical day. I worked the third shift of the hotel so mine is pretty consistent. I do the same thing bring the hotel is zero balance so it starts off the next day was zero. Do basic check in check out wash laundry, dry little laundry, and greet guest.

I’m a formal housekeeper when I first got hired there it was drama they didn’t train me right. Management is very unprofessional. They favor some employees over others. They say that it’s a open door policy but it’s a lie . They are all fake and they talk about each behind each backs. They worked me day in and day out most times I’ve would only have one day off. The are very short staffed. Every time someone gets hired the end up quitting not shortly after. I quit and they didn’t even reached out to me. When I would have family emergency and I would call 3 hours before my shift I was told that I would get wrote up if I did not come in. They told me work was more important then my family. But when other employees had family issues and called out 30 minutes before they shift they never made a fuss about it I had to just deal with the extra work that was placed on me. I was over worked under paid and never They gave me the wrong number to corporate it was a  Real estate company. I worked there 4 years they made me a inspector but I never went to full time I never had the opportunity to inspector or anything. I would recommend no one and I mean no to work here. They lie to your face!

Front Office Manager
Managing schedules, clerical duties included billing for guests, hotel billing and the hotel in house store, 
Trained front desk employees, trained housekeeping staff
Assisted maintenance required throughout the hotel

Weekly Billing Packet
Assisted hotel sales, stood in for Sales Manager when requested
Filled in for the General Manager position during the transistions of management over several years. Provided quality assurance for billing and other issues throughout the hotel
Stood in for both the Sales Manager and Front Office Manager during the transition
Provided a functional detailed cleaning list for oil crews and work crews that stayed long term

Direct Bill Accounts
Assisted with reservations, credit card billing, and key cards
Assisted with hotel upkeep and also hotel laundry
Provided services for the hotel cupboard, provided inventory required for the hotel
Directed the IHG Rewards Program, awarding points with guests, account creation for both guests and staff 
Provided user names for new staff members, along with many other day to day duties

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Front desk agent 296 salaries reported	$13.58 per hour
Housekeeper 158 salaries reported	$12.78 per hour
Night auditor 93 salaries reported	$15.08 per hour
Guest service agent 55 salaries reported	$14.48 per hour
Hotel housekeeper 81 salaries reported	$14.25 per hour

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