guest service agent

cook

grill cook

front desk agent

general manager

Guest Services, Inc.

I worked at Big Sur Lodge for one year. The management is not that great: The front desk manager also does groups so she is overworked and she has a poor relationship with the general manager which she tells you about. (He makes her cry).I needed her at the front desk once to see why a certain screen on the reservation system wasn't telling me what I needed for a guest and when I asked her she just sat at her desk staring at the computer in the back office; she mumbled something but never got out of her seat. I figured out my issue a different way for the guest.

After 6 months I was supposed to get benefits, but because it was winter my hours were less than 30 so I didn't qualify. 

The rooms are very small there (like duplex cabins up a hill away from the lodge building) and there were constant complaints at the front desk by guests. Maintenance only did so much and left certain things undone. Guests would complain about having smelly pillows and hair and mold left in the restrooms due to poor housekeeping management. There were also constant complaints about the restaurant.

There were groups there (weddings) who partied into the night and ruined the peace and tranquility for the non-wedding guests, and who destroyed property. I had to give discounts often for the guests who complained.
 

One of the front desk workers speaks Spanish so we used her to help communicate with the housekeeping staff. One time a guest called because she had left her wallet and wanted to come back to get it. I asked the coworker to ask the housekeeper if she had found it, and how they wanted to handle having the guest return for her wallet. She spoke in Spanish back and forth because they were all eating lunch together; I asked her what they wanted to do and she replied "How many times do I have to tell you?" (she had never answered me). This coworker has some of the worst communication skills with coworkers and guests I have ever seen, but she has worked there 12 years. She is local, Hispanic, and has a special needs daughter so they accommodate her schedule and keep her.

When I started there the phones were constant and there were no answering machines. You are the reservations department as well, so if you are in the middle of taking a credit card for a reservation and the phone rings you have to put the person on hold and get the other call. They did eventually get an answering system put in so you can retrieve the messages and call people back. But they have secret shopper callers who rate your behavior on the phone with certain questions they answer about you. If you get 100% they give you 250.00.

It is common practice these days for hotels to have workers from other countries work the various jobs for very little pay--they are like slaves to the company for an experience to work in America. So they are taking jobs away from us Americans. The one I worked with at the Big Sur Lodge front desk was from China and guests were very frustrated with her speech/dialect because they couldn't understand her. They would often say "I want to speak with someone else". So we would come to them and assist.

I left for one month to go work at another hotel in an office type situation rather than front desk because it paid more; it didn't work out for me as I felt like I was in a San Jose office job which was all phone work and I was being trained by a very strange girl. I did everything they asked me to do, but they terminated me. Which was fine because I didn't like it. I went back to Big Sur Lodge and he didn't have a front desk opening so I worked in the retail store. The manager there told me everyone there says she is a b----. So I sold candy to campers, and souvenirs to travelers, restocked the groceries, and folded t shirts until I got a job in Carmel.

First, let me say, I had a great experience working this summer at Mt. Rainier. I made amazing friends from around the country and world, and got to live and work in one of the most beautiful places. It’s a 2-hr drive to Seattle and Portland, so if you’re friends with someone with a car and can arrange the same days off, you can make great trips around the PNW. The job was really just a job and my coworkers are what made it great. A really close-knit community developed. everyone has a shared love of the outdoors. You live, work, eat, and explore with the other employees there. I’m so happy to have gotten to be a part of that community. However, I do have some problems with the company. 
There are two main dorms that hourly employees live in. There is no cell service, poor WiFi, 2+ people/room, a dated VCR collection + TV and a game room. Everybody knew that before they start working there. Everybody at Paradise works at the Hotel/Restaurant or the Visitors Center. Also keep in mind that the hotel doesn’t open until May 18, so you might be working several other jobs until the hotel and restaurant opens, and then help get the place open (lots of cleaning!). A typical day at work as a cook started around noon and ended at 9. The restaurant closes for a few hours in the middle of the day, so it leaves cooks/servers/dishwashers with not much to do during that period. Management changed several times when I was there. Because most everybody, even our head chef, is seasonal and new, it seemed like we were all “winging it” to try to get the restaurant set up. There are no kitchens or stores nearby, so everyone is required to pay for the employee dining room, which is sometimes hit-or-miss, because they don’t have a set menu or food supplies specifically for the EDR, it’s just what they feel like cooking each day. Also, if you say until the very end of the season, all of the J1 workers go home, people go back to college in August, and that leaves the remaining workers doing overtime and with no days off. It gets very very busy during the peak summer months and sometimes you don’t get days off, even when your friends do- it just depends on your department. Something I noticed was that they tend to segregate J1 (international) workers into the worst dorms, with many more people per room, and give them least priority for their job choices. This is because they know that the international workers can’t easily leave, and this is one of my main issues with the company.
As far as the climate, it’s very cold on the mountain until late June. You’ll get to see all of the snow melt and flowers come up, which is lovely. There is a shuttle which can take you up and down the main road, for hiking. Despite my grievances with the company, it’s an amazing location to work with great people, so it was still a great summer.

As a professional Property Manager with plenty of experience and nearing retirement I feel qualified to say that this company is one of the best there is in our industry. 
 
The level of mandatory reporting is minimal and I find very little requirements that are a waste of time, as is the case in most other companies.  

Upper management, at the very top, seem to be genuinely engaged in all aspects of running a successful company.  Their loyalty and dedication to employees is the best that I have ever worked with, and I have been around a bit.  Their dedication to exceeding client needs is evident in the culture of hospitality that they have created throughout the company. 
 
The middle managers, District and Regional, are focused and display the same amount of dedication and loyalty to their employees and clients that is shown by upper management.
  
Since I have been on board I have noticed a distinct effort to bring in the right type of managers for their properties. They know what they are looking for in successful candidates to manage their exceptional properties and I am proud to call each of them my colleagues. 
 
This is a great company. I am not a high level employee and have been on board for just about a year and a half.  I had no idea of what to expect when I was hired, but I was very pleasantly surprised to have landed with such a wonderful company. 
 
I feel welcome and it is a good fit for me.  I strive each day to earn my very generous salary and it makes me very proud and gives me a great sense of accomplishment by believing in and working with some of the best people in the industry.  

This is an excellent company that is a good fit for those that understand what it means to put in a fair days work.  Notice I did not say a HARD days work, because we are not forced to work HARD, we simply want to do our best to give back to an already great organization...and it hardly feels like work!  

A typical day at Flamingo Adventures can vary by department but is frequently undermined by poor management and subpar coworkers. My experience here confirmed that I would never return to Guest Services. The management team was shockingly ineffective, often seen gossiping and disrespecting staff, creating a pervasive atmosphere of disorganization and neglect.

The workplace culture was overwhelmingly negative, contributing to a toxic environment where professionalism was scarce. The hardest part of the job included dealing with unprofessionalism at every level, but it was further compounded by the onsite living situation. Staff accommodations were far from peaceful, with many staff members getting drunk every night. The dorms themselves were infamous for mold and termites, adding to the overall discomfort.

Despite these challenges, the highlight of the job was the relief of leaving for days off and enjoying time in the Keys—a brief escape from a poorly managed and distressing work environment.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working at the company is the people! Giving folks from all around the world a moment in time where it’s back to basics. The company loves to share their knowledge of the river and people eat it up was great working there! I loved it! The team had issues but we seemed to talk them out. Close bonds were formed and we all had each others back. It takes a lot to run The Willow and I got to see it bloom! 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
No cell service for emergencies 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment was layed out to where everybody knew what was expected of them and we did it. We were a diverse group but shared the love of the river! It was fun!

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Well a typical day at The Willow would be early morning glass on the river with an even temperature in the air. Folks coming alive with a good morning greeting was always warm and welcoming. I was in the store and created contracts for the boat rentals. Aligning the contracts and counting the drawers and making sure the store was clean and stocked and making sure everyone had a fresh cup of coffee before opening the doors  was great! The phrase we use to answer the phone,”Always a better day at Willow Beach, this is Lehua , how can I help you!”  Says it all! When the grill is up and running everyone felt loved and happy. Like mom made a fresh apple pie just for you! I really enjoyed working there!

First red flag was being told they didn't really look over my resume. I wasnt trained I was just thrown in. I loved my position, but I constantly felt like there was lack of communication, organization and direction which lead to alot of unsafe work situations both physically and emotionally.  However as a LGBT person I felt respected and when I formally listed my complaints and corporate HR did step in and address the issues I was facing. They made some improvements while I was there but I ultimately had to put in my two weeks. I felt the constant strain of HR and understaffed management the entire ride through. Luckily many of my coworkers supported each other with the stress. Most people were passionate, smart, young and talented individuals who just lacked guidence or were overwhelmed/unprepared of what they were walking into. and sadly, I watched alot of management leave because they were burnt out by the stress as well. I usually am pretty understanding with chaos unfolding during set up and cleanup pre season, but I have season other seasonal jobs handle it much better.

  My time working for GSI was a bit of a mixed bag. The company offered good benefits, and the compensation was decent. Compared to many other employers in Montauk, the employee housing GSI provided in Montauk was choice. Now the negative... What you were told you'd be doing, or the way you'd be doing it, and its reality could significantly differ. This also applied to the week's scheduling, which would change at the drop of a hat. Also, as seen in other reviews, management wasn't always the leading force it needed to be. However, in their defense, I will say that a lot is put on them so things can get hectic. From my experience, the paychecks were being sent as paper checks for the first month or so until they could get direct deposit straightened out. At the most, it was inconvenient, but nothing to worry about. They always paid out what you earned, but in case there was an issue, as should you anywhere you work, it was best practice to keep track of your hours. I would still recommend GSI as an employer if you like to travel and meet/work with a lot of different types of people. Still, before you go into it, know what you may be dealing with.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Flexibility of schedule and opportunity to work from home. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The leadership lacks vision for growth of the organization and the pay does not compensate fairly for the high costs of living in the area. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is more relaxed, and the culture is simply non-existent at least within the corporate office. There is no desire for people to know each other within the office, and if you like to keep your head down and not be known within the office this is the right place for you. It is difficult to go to the office as it seems pointless to just sit at a desk for 8 hours and have zero interaction with anyone. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day at the company was filled with confusion as to what the direction of the company may be heading towards, what the vision and mission of the company truly is, and how each role fits within that. There are not a lot of meetings, and most of your time will be focused on your work.

I worked during the 2024 winter season at Giants Ridge and it was astounding the number of workers they had at the start of the year compared to the end. I was apart of the Mountain Operations and be prepared to work every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Mondays, every holiday in the winter season and get treated poorly by upper management. Once the other employees quit that’s when it felt like exploitation. Reducing our pay, reducing our hours on certain weeks, and scheduling us on holidays and days we can’t work. I wish I realized the problem earlier when the others quit. This isn’t just one department, everyone I talk to says the same thing, it’s UPPER MANAGEMENT. Getting paid $15 an hour to be treated this way is a massive red flag. You should just find other work that also pays minimum wage during the winter. Multiple workers are in the same boat as me and we will not be returning in 2025. If changes aren’t made they will have problems in the future with staffing.

This company is a complete joke when it comes to training, meaning there is none whatsoever. Management as well as many hourlys are just thrown into their jobs with no clue what is expected of them. The bad part is, you usually learn something when you are getting in trouble for not doing it. Even though you were never told about it in the first place and had no way of knowing. Corporate in Naples decides how involved they wish to be. Can be very overbearing and micro-micromanaging, but offers little to no help or guidance on job expectations, until you don't do them of course. I was promised so many things before signing on that absolutely never happened. This is also true for many of the employees working both under me and along side me in management. I was told I would be given a complete job description, and asked about it several time; of course it never came. If corporate needs to be so involved that they will go through the files you have saved for your own reference and tell you that they need to be named differently, why can't they just train on something that actually matters?

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Guest service agent 186 salaries reported	$19.27 per hour
Cook 26 salaries reported	$17.65 per hour
Grill cook 8 salaries reported	$17.55 per hour
Front desk agent 13 salaries reported	$17.48 per hour
General manager 3 salaries reported	$71,667 per year

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