restaurant manager

night auditor

front desk agent

front desk manager

server

White Lodging

When I was first hired, the management at *that* time had some quirks, but they gave a darn about their staff:  They bought lunch & dinner for staffers, they worked around everyone's home/life schedules, they would even work some holidays so everyone had a chance to spend at least one or 2 major holidays a year away from the office.

All of a sudden, the managers left 1-2-3, and for several months, those who were left tried to keep chugging along with the help of "Managers Of The Week" from other out-of-town hotels.  

Once a new management staff was established (one came from out of town, another person became assistant mgr. after being promoted 3 times in less than 6 months -- although they had the least experience and seniority of at least 5 better-qualified staffers.

Instead of the new management taking the time to understand what the previous management did for their employees and finding out why they liked working there, the GM eliminated all prior incentive programs and anything that was owed or promised to employees was never paid off.  No more free meals, except *maybe* a few snacks for mandatory staff meetings.

Those with the most seniority wound up working most, if not all of the holidays, while the managers ant "pet" staffers got to stay home, and there was more attention placed on having everything labeled and organized "The White Lodging Way", (just in case a corporate manager would visit 4 months from now) instead of the immediate needs of the staffers (supplies, change, rooms,...)

Paychecks were often off, and the new management would dictate when and how they would correct the mistake.  Never had that problem under the old guard, because they *cared* for their staff back then.

This disregard to the housekeepers and front desk staff put turnover in high gear, and once the revolving door spun right off of it's axis, management was let go.  Too little, too late, White Lodging.  If you would only hire management based on performance and not looks, and seriously take the the local staff into consideration first for viable candidates, you wouldn't be wasting so much money on having to find, hire and train new employees every few weeks, which is another reason why at least the front desk staffers should be paid much more than the two bits you currently throw their way!

I've heard of successful hotels operated under White Lodging with a management that take a personal interest in their employees and their personal lives (career goals, personal endeavors, etc.). I unfortunately have not had the luck of working at a property with this type of management. With guest satisfaction scores at an all time low and a very switched off management team, a day at work feels like a month of labor intensive overload. There are a lot of places where management lack. Where to begin? Let's start with them never being there. Simply put, once 5 o'clock hits, they are out the door and complain about how overworked they are. Employees are unappreciated. We feel exploited. We are talked down to. We are worked to our core. We have been short staffed since the beginning of my employment and are finding it harder and harder to understand how difficult it is to hire people. I speak for myself as well as my team. Seldom are we ever praised for our work. They reap the benefits of our hard work with their quarterly bonuses. Not a thank you heard. This is the first I've ever heard of a management NOT trained in all of the departments. This is the first I've ever heard of keeping one person on duty on busy nights with no thought to schedule a second because "it is not in the budget." Might I ask where the budget goes? I'm just not sure about this specific property. Definitely something to be reported to Human Resources.

The most enjoyable part of work is the opportunity to meet many people of many backgrounds and having exposure to many walks of life. A good conversation can last a lifetime. There are sellout incentives. SXSW is the busiest time of year and we sold out every night of it. It was a nice bonus added to our check. This is definitely a job that makes you more self aware. You develop patience, empathy, and an ability to plan and take charge. Things that were not learned from management, but on your own. When you are stuck by yourself, you become your own backbone.

First of all, I am speaking from the experience of working Food & Beverage - I can't speak for other departments. But since you are still reading, you'll want to know that they are pretty strict about keeping hours down (they dont like paying overtime), so you won't generally go over 40 hours. So the work/life balance is OK. 

However, it definitely helps if you are male, or a young, attractive female. It seems as though those are the folks that get promoted, get raises, etc. You can be the best employee they have ever seen (never late, always going above and beyond your normal duties, never had a complaint or issue against you, never called out sick, etc, etc) and one day you will find out that the 22 year old girl who you thought was days away from being fired for multiple write ups, and being lazy and defiant, got a perfect score on her employee review and got a higher raise than you. Or the guy who had no experience, training, or schooling in your area promoted over you. 

You are pretty disposable which is hilarious since the hiring process is so strict and takes forever - most people fail the drug test or get another job in the meantime. 

I mean, I guess if you approached employment here with a serious IDGAF attitude, you probably will be General Manager in six months. If you care AT ALL you will never get anywhere and will slog through entry level purgatory for the rest of your days.

Oh and forget the perk of "free hotel rooms" that are heavily promoted. I worked there for many years and was never able to get one. You basically have to be going to the worst place White Lodging has a property during the worst time of year to get it, and maybe not even then. Healthcare benefits are good though.

A typical day at work is fast-paced and team-oriented. Our associates stay engaged and work together to achieve our daily goals while providing excellent guest service. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to create positive experiences for our guests and support one another as a team.
I have grown tremendously both as a person and as a leader during my time with White Lodging. I have learned how to  communicate more effectively, problem-solve under pressure, and build a  stronger team. 

Management  has been supportive and encourages professional growth.  My Leaders are approachable and invested in developing associates through training, coaching.
The workplace culture is collaborative, diverse, and guest-focused. Teamwork is highly valued, and associates are encouraged to contribute ideas .
The hardest part of the job can be balancing operational challenges while ensuring both guests and associates feel supported, especially during busy periods. However, those moments  help build  leadership skills.

The most enjoyable part of the job is engaging with associates / guests, and being part of a team that works hard together and celebrates success together.

A typical while working for white lodging Inc. at the Hyatt hotel for a night auditor is to clock-in, greet guest and notify them about the current events that going on in the area, review all check ins and check outs for the present day, call various hotels in  the area to find out what were their rates for the night, check and correct any mistakes that employees may have made that day.

What I learned while working for White Lodging is to communicate for various from different parts of the world and of different ethnic backgrounds. I enjoyed working with my managers because although they firm they provided great advice and leadership to help employee's better ways to fulfill job obligations. Outside of meeting a wide range of diverse people, the most enjoyable part was working with my co-workers. We all helped each other when needed and made sure that each guest had a great experience at the hotel. The hardest part of working for white lodging was handling the rate of work I was given. By the hotel being so short on staff, whatever wasn't done during the day I had to complete that night in addition to my normal job duties

What is the best part of working at the company?
The fact that they care about their employees and want to help them succeed.  The company motto is "To create a company that lasts forever and have fun while doing it."  They check in with you every few months to make sure you are understanding your job expectations and the reality of working for them, and they pay a performance bonus every three months.  And the break room has a cappuccino machine!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I wasn't very stressed at this job, but it can be fast-paced, especially during the FFA convention.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It depends on your department.  I worked in the kitchen, and enjoyed my job.  Knowing Spanish is a plus at this company, especially if you are in housekeeping or the kitchen.  It's a job that demands hard work but also wants you to have fun while doing it.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I washed dishes in the kitchen most of the time.  Other duties included claiming the dishes from room service and returning dishes that weren't ours to the hotel restaurant.  I had adequate breaks, and part of my duties included managing the free food and drinks in the break room.

Hospitality is an industry that calls for an ability to think on your toes, balancing multiple elements at once. A normal day consist of checking guest in and out with different needs and backgrounds. Depending upon the events that are scheduled in house, it maybe necessary to collect additional information, like tax forms or credit card authorizations. Once guest are checked in, satisfaction needs to be maintained. 

Customer satisfaction is more than just smiles and head nods. There is a need for attention to detail, problem solving, and remaining consistent. As front desk agent communication and team work are essential. 

If there are problems that are out of the control of the front desk agent, the managers are set in place to provide mediation and solutions that promote healthy business practices.

The most memorable part of hospitality involves the guest themselves. On any given day the front desk agent comes in contact with hundreds of people. This opens up so many different opportunities to make an impression on the guest as well as for them to make one on you.

White Lodging, the epitome of a corporate kitchen nightmare, is undeniably one of the worst employers in the industry. Working for this soul-sucking conglomerate feels like being trapped in a never-ending cycle of exploitation and disappointment. The so-called chefs they employ are nothing more than glorified line cooks who lack any real culinary expertise or passion for their craft.

From day one, it becomes painfully obvious that you are merely an expendable cog in White Lodging's profit-driven machine. They make empty promises about career growth and development, but all they truly care about is squeezing every last drop of productivity out of you while offering little to no support or recognition in return. It's infuriating to witness how easily they threaten to cut your benefits or even worse - lay off hardworking employees at the slightest sign of financial distress.

At one time, this company was truly invested in developing their workforce as an aspect of systemic growth along side the growth of the portfolio of hotels owned.  They promoted from within, which was easy because so many people stayed in that pipeline.  New hires were developed for their next position and employees stayed because the environment was all about growth and development while providing a great guest experience.  That abruptly changed as the company began major expansions after the great recession in 2010.  Majority of the company cultural anchors were no longer employed by the company. Focus shifted to noticeably less investment in employee development  as they were deemed easily replaceable due to a pipeline of new employees that could be brought in on work visas.  Employees became interchangeable commodities.  The feel (vibe/energy) of theses hotels changed and was noticeable upon entering the lobby.  End of an era.

As an employee that has been hoping for a career development with this company after being with White Lodging for over 5 years. Management does not seem to care about their employees who work hard on the job to build their skills and to gain a career advancement within the company.This is the only downside to the organization. Each management team needs to be a mentor for those who really want to get in a new place in their career goals. Managers rarely show their appreciation for these talented and hard team members. The staff encountered are the best staff to work for to make your work day enjoyable and fun that motivates you. The challenges and learning experiences as a culinary cook have added more knowledge to my culinary experience. I do wish they would be a true mentor and help the ones who are looking for growth.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Restaurant manager 3 salaries reported	$67,739 per year
Night auditor 6 salaries reported	$18.15 per hour
Front desk agent 6 salaries reported	$19.40 per hour
Front desk manager 2 salaries reported	$23.01 per hour
Server 2 salaries reported	$25.63 per hour

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