server

culinary

host/hostess

line cook

front desk agent

The Umstead Hotel and Spa

Overall this is an amazing place to work. The benefits are fantastic the experience and the connections with people are unmatched to any job I’ve ever held. Coming in as someone with very little restaurant experience was incredibly intimidating and the environment especially in Herons PM is very intense. I feel like you need to give yourself at least 6 months before you really know the job.  While there are many many good things about the job there are some things that are not very good. Management for the most part is supportive of teaching and learning curves however there were many times during my employment I did not feel comfortable bringing up an issue with management for fear of being berated or made to feel stupid for not knowing something. Also very often I was subjected to “gossip” about my fellow employees from management that left me feeling uncomfortable. In addition I was told multiple times by my peers that hurtful things were said to them about me from management but never said to me directly. Very little, especially the longer I stayed , would I hear about any of the good things I did more about the bad things. I think feedback negative or positive is always a good thing but hearing only negative things sometimes diminished my spirit especially when I knew I took on a lot of work and to my knowledge followed the standards set by the hotel. I think if you are willing to learn and work hard this is the place for you. Im grateful for my time here they teach you standards that you will take with you beyond the Umstead. 

Loved the job at first, but it definitely is an adjustment. You’re expected to use certain verbiage which after a while comes naturally with practice. This establishment doesn’t allow you to make mistakes which I guess I get seeing that they’re suppose to be so elegant and luxurious, but we’re all human. Humans make mistakes, luxurious or not. You grow from your mistakes by bringing attention to them and discussing them. Explaining what should’ve been done and moving forward. I worked at this establishment in my role as a Spa Front Desk receptionist for 5 weeks. I was told Spa front desk training last  for 6 weeks during orientation, but I didn’t even make it to week 6 before I was let go due to me not meeting “expections”. I liked that I was assigned one person who worked with me for maybe two weeks straight by my side, guiding me and helping me to get acquainted with their system but after those two weeks my trainer and I worked different shifts often. I was expected to be 5 Star near the end of my training but my training wasn’t actually 6 weeks long, more like two and I figured out what it was I struggled with by simply asking questions to whoever I could when the time came. You can’t expect anyone at any job at be perfect. You can’t expext anymore to know they aren’t doing well if it’s not brought to their attention that they need to improve. Disappointed by their way of going about things but honestly not surprised nor upset.

In the beginning it seemed like such a great place to work because it was a fancy nice hotel but after just a few months I realized I was working with a bunch of people who get ahead and get certain privileges because they're best friends with management and get a long with all the right people who are in charge and not because they're great workers or are hard working. There is a lot of favoritism and deciding whether to keep an employee depends on are they full Time or part time, are they one of he favorites, and all the shallow reasons you could think of. I went from loving this place to hating coming to work every day. The girls there cause the most drama that I have ever experienced in any work place. Don't be fooled by the 4 star hotel and the umstead name, there is nothing professional about the spa at the umstead. As far as the rest of the hotel I cannot comment about but as far as working in the spa, your better off working else where unless your a massage therapist or esthetician. Those are the only positions worth working at that place.

From the beginning to the end of the shift, my job was about guest satisfaction.  A typical day included checking in travelers, informing them about the surrounding area, and making them feel at home.  Since I grew up in the area, I had a working knowledge of the great restaurants and attractions within 20 minutes driving distance.  Working with my co-workers was easily the best part of my job.  Getting to know each individual through my eight hour shift was rewarding because of the amount of personality differences among the employees.  The hardest part of my job was meeting all guests' needs.  The wide variety of complaints I received kept me on my toes in terms of how to please everybody.  The first year I was employed, I was offered a promotion to Assistant Front Office Manager.  Due to the fact that I was still full-time at North Carolina State University, I politely declined because of time restraints.  Even though I turned the promotion down once, I was offered it once again each following summer.

The management seems to have taken a serious downturn — communication is inconsistent, and it’s clear there’s a lack of leadership and accountability across departments. It often feels like the staff is not properly trained or supported, which is frustrating for guests who expect professionalism at this price point.
There's also an undeniable sense of favoritism among the team, which creates an uncomfortable dynamic. Some staff appear overwhelmed while others are given special treatment, which affects service quality and guest experience.
The property has consistently failed to meet the full criteria for a five-star hotel during inspections. Based on what I experienced, I’m not shocked. In my honest opinion they need to clean HOUSE!! 

I appreciate diversity in the workplace, but I do expect a hotel of this caliber to ensure all staff are trained to communicate effectively with guests. When you’re paying premium prices, communication should never be a barrier. I hope management takes steps to improve language training so the service can match the level of the property itself.

Had the short pleasure of working for a Forbes 5 star hotel doing In room dining. I haves worked this position in other Marriott properties and this was by far the worst ran department I’ve worked for. Management is so focused on the restaurant it lacks in in room dining. Everyone was always so busy. Morning team is just a bunch of gossiping like school. PM has it together just was stressed from intensity of herons and the kitchen and chefs. Everyone is always yelling for no reason. I get there’s an operation but it’s just a big toy competition. If management was CURRENTLY different things would be much much better. I never felt appreciated for my hard work there. It was always “your name tag is crooked” or “polish your shoes” never just a good job. Made that hotel money and guests happy and got let go for being over worked and being late. Get it together.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Being able to interact with the guest. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
There is a lot of favoritism and management is not held accountable for their poor actions. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
If you are non-white do not apply! 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You are constantly being rushed while other people just walk around and do nothing! Management says nothing! If you are highly spoken and if they see you as a threat they will give you a hard time. They want immigrants there that don’t speak English. You can’t communicate with them and that’s a huge problem for the guest as well. This is not a 5 star property in my opinion, I have had better experiences with other local hotels and this place is not one of them.

I was a server, the job isn't that bad it is just the standards are so high. You have these insane menu test and oh! don't you dare think about failing they will take you off the schedule. The pay is alright you get 7.25 plus tips so each check with 80 hours would be 900-1100 however, I sometimes felt like the money was not worth it. You get insurance after 2 months of working they take it out of your check. BUT you can't get operations or anything until you turn a year with the hotel. Most guests are great and then there's always that one that makes you want to lose your job. Meals are provided for us with a 30 min break also uniforms are provided and they have a laundromat where they wash the uniforms.
It isn't that bad of a place to work, just so many rules. ALTHOUGH IT IS A 5 STAR HOTEL.

A complete toxic work area where everyone has to fake nice with each other in order not to get written up. The management is a joke among the employees. They act like a bunch of teenagers that refuse to focus on anything other than the latest gossip. They will tell you it is hard to get fired but that is a complete lie. People get fired left and right over the littlest thing and HR is no help at all. Once they realize you aren't what they want, they will cut you off with no regards of what happens to you next. Forget about climbing the latter; I have seen hard working employees get overlooked for the new person with a nice smile. If you are not a robot who can produce food perfectly every time with a "great attitude" then this is not the place for you.

I would not recommend serving at this hotel. The managers do not have your back and treat you worse than trash if you are new or aren’t perfect. Staff acts like children even though they are all adults and are always having a game of who can send who to HR. Completely petty and toxic environment. Only good thing about the place is the benefits and staff meal. Lunch is short and parking is beyond terrible. If you have friends or a family good luck fitting in time to see or spend time with them! That’s why majority of the staff does not have kids or spouses. All they want to do is gossip or find ways to talk badly about others. I would not recommend if you would like to work in a professional and positive environment. If you like highschool drama and bullies please work here. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Server 15 salaries reported	$26.30 per hour
Culinary 27 salaries reported	$19.67 per hour
Host/hostess 12 salaries reported	$18.00 per hour
Line cook 14 salaries reported	$19.86 per hour
Front desk agent 7 salaries reported	$17.43 per hour

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