Food and Beverage Manager | Illinois | Jun 9, 2013
Challenging and Rewarding
The Hyatt Hotel Corporation has provided me with many opportunities to advance my career in the hospitality industry.
I started as a Corporate Management Trainee in early 2011. In this position, I learned every aspect of each department within a 500 room hotel. By gaining an understanding of every area, I feel that I am able to understand and empathize with guests and associates in difficult situations as well as celebrate their successes.
I was quickly promoted to an Assistant Food & Beverage manager with a concentration in the outlets. I managed the 3-meal restaurant, room service, and the bar/lounge. As with other smaller properties, I was also able to assist in C.S. floor, stewarding, culinary, and banquets during peak business needs. Most importantly, working at a medium-sized property, my associates and managers felt like family.
I was promoted to the Assistant Bar Manager and relocated completely. Now working at a large convention hotel with over 2,000 rooms, I was challenged with extreme demand from transient as well as group business in a late-night bar atmosphere. This position was grueling as we would see upwards of 300 guests at a time. I managed 25 associates including servers, bartenders, and bar porters. These associates are represented by a local union organization which posed new challenges. One of the most difficult parts of the job was scheduling and understanding my basic rights as a manager. I really enjoyed listening to their st
Prosability to relocate, career growth and development, vacation time, free hotel nights
my typical day
3.Schedules the front office staff.
4.Supervises workload during shifts.
5.Evaluates the job performance if each front office employee.
6.Maintains working relationships and communicates with all departments.
7.Maintains master key control.
8.Verifies that accurate room status information is maintained and properly communicated.
9.Resolves guest problems quickly, efficiently, and courteously.
10.Updates group information. Maintains, monitors, and prepares group requirements. Relays information to appropriate personnel.
11.Reviews and completes credit limit report.
12.Works within the allocated budget for the front office.
13.Receives information from the previous shift manger and passes on pertinent details to the oncoming manager.
14.Checks cashiers in and out and verifies banks and deposits at the end of each shift.
15.Enforces all cash-handling, check-cashing, and credit policies.
16.Conducts regularly scheduled meetings of front office personnel.
17.Wears the proper uniform at all times. Requires all front office employees to wear proper uniforms at all times.
18.Upholds the hotel's commitment to hospitality.
19.Prepare performance reports related to front office.
20.Maximize room revenue and occupancy by reviewing status daily. Analyze rate variance, monitor credit report and maintain close observation of daily house count. Monitor selling status of house daily. Ie f
This Review of my time at Smith Hyatt Architects is a testament to my high regard for our office staff and the firm principal architect.
Working at Smith Hyatt Architects was an experience that I have always been proud of.
A typical day at my office consisted of reviewing the drawings from the previous days drafting and redlining any parts of the drawings that would have to change to meet building codes and standards.
Everyday was a learning experience. Every project is different, So I would consult with Tom on almost every project that came into our office.
Our staff at Smith Hyatt was always pleasant. I worked very closely with our draftsmen and our support staff. Some of our people are still close friends that I have maintained a friendship with a few have even visited and stayed in our home here in Oregon.
Tom trusted us to represent our office as he promoted us to management positions. He eventually made me the Office Project Coordinator. which meant that I was involved in every project that came into our office.
I would visit our construction sites and the clients associated with that particular site.Some days required that I visit with City and County building and zoning officials to review and discuss the criteria required to get zoning and building permits for our projects.
I don't think that there were really any hard parts of the job at Smith Hyatt. There were some difficult times that involved dealing with a couple of project General Contractor representatives or their sub-contractors, but overall I just always stressed that we were all part of the same team and that we needed
ProsEveryday was a learning experience that we learned from, and retained that knowledge to apply on future projects.
ConsClients who did not understand the need for maintaining Uniform Building Codes.
Great Company, but not everything is to their standard.
This has been one of the best companies I've worked for, but I've had a lot of problems with how the standards set in the manual not being followed. I had major issues with my training being almost completely skipped and having to learn by constant trial and error. My managers also seemed uninterested or too busy to fully answer questions. They absolutely work harder rather than smarter.
Typical work day for front office agent includes juggling telephone calls with office work and a large array of customer needs and special requests.
Job requires you to be very focused on impressing customers, which requires a lot of friendly banter and reading guests.
Management is often too stressed and overworked to provide adequate communication or training between those they supervise and with other departments. This is specific to the location as the company specifies that there should be daily pre-shift meetings.
My co-workers are all hard working professionals who don't slack off.
The hardest part of the job is the constant overwhelming pace of customers and special requests that make it almost impossible to resolve issues in a timely manner. Most issues take hours to resolve simply because there is no time between tasks to complete anything and the programs used to manage the property are extremely outdated, complex, and buggy. The schedule is also very horrendous in that it's made each week and given out a day before the next work week begins. It's impossible to ma
The company, Hyatt, is a great company to work for. However, at Hyatt Place, as a Gallery Host, be prepared to do EVERYTHING. When I say everything, I mean everything. The position lures you in, with the vision of working at the front desk, and occasionally serving a beverage here and there. However, realistically, you will be overworked and underpaid for all of your work. You will manage the front desk, checking in/out guests, handling complaints and special requests, while also cooking and preparing food for guests, serving as a barista, serving as a bartender, cleaning up after guests, cleaning the lobby (mopping, sweeping, cleaning tables, etc), clean rooms when housekeeping fails, serving as an on call maintenance person when maintenance is not there, (plunging toilets, repairing fridges, fixing things you should NOT be fixing...) serve as a waiter/waitress, be a personal taxi for guests who forget to call a taxi, set up, tear down, clean up breakfast, which is a free for all for guests when the hotel is sold out for the night, manage inventory, make food runs to GFS when neccessary, set up, manage, and tear down meeting rooms, and so on!!! And you are expected to do this all at one time. Guests do not understand that you are a combination of over 5 positions in one, and will grow impatient with you while you bartend, bake cookies, check in guests, deal with noise complaints, and not handle their extra pillow requests in a timely matter...
The coworkers are great. Its
ProsFree food, Room discounts, Vacation time off is usually accommodated.
A typical day as a Hyatt front desk host allows the ability to use skills that you have while gaining new application methods to ensure satisfaction of guests accommodations upon arrival/departure. Check-ins usually range at a high volume, fast paced environment, depending on the location of the hotel.
I've learned to increase the ability to handle and resolve guest’s confrontational situations. Along with improving my ability in solving customer complaints. Hyatt teaches you to be creative and giving when it comes to a special occasion. Cost is out the window, surprising the guest with a cake and balloons, or champagne and chocolates, or even something as simple as a hand written card.
Hyatt wants their guest to feel at home and know they are listened to and respected. I've learned to take my own initiative in providing the best service, which in return benefits everyone. The guest for one, the company, and yourself. When doing so, you then enjoy what you do, you're happy to come in and your guest see it. No one likes coming into a hotel where the employees seem miserable.
Over all that's how the work culture is at Hyatt, everyone works as a team, to ensure the best service for the guest. In doing so Hyatt rewards their employees with paid outings, gifts, extra pay, and more. It's a win, win for everyone.
However, the hardest part is when things are out of your control. Such as sold out nights, and you run out of room types that have been booked
As a reservations agent, my days are filled behind a computer, answering phones and handling a multitude of details regarding reservations and guest requests. At first, this work was very challenging and frustrating; being required to learn several new computer programs while being accurate with all reservation details. My coworkers and managers were very patient assisting me throughout this challenging time period.
This was a new world for me; most of my hospitality experience was fact to face, taking care of the guest. I worked very hard at becoming proficient with all aspects of this job. I learned the required computer programs and became accurate with the reservation checklist.
I would say this checklist and learning the many different programs was one of the most difficult aspects of the job.
Reservations agents are also required to work as PBX agents; answering all hotel calls and directing them to appropriate depts. Many days res. agents are required to perform both jobs which was easily another difficult part of this job.
One of the best things about this job, is now I have a feeling of confidence and self-assuredness I did not have when I started; especially in regard to the computer programs.
After 3 years, I am now able to move seamlessly from program to program, in and out of reservations, fixing errors, graciously answering a multitude of guest questions and putting the guest at ease. Our lengthy reservations checklist had to be accurately comp
ProsWorking at this location I was close to home. Working for the Hyatt Corporation, one can relocate to any corner of the world with a wide range of career opportunites.
ConsSalary low for requirements, responsibilities of job.
The Hyatt Place concept is flawed to a point where it cannot be redeemed. To have ONE person in charge of the hotel with one set of challenges (being present at the desk to handle guests, near the phone in case it rings, running the end of day and all the filing and other work that goes with that, etc), PLUS the bar and grab and go food (mixing drinks, ringing up food orders, prepping grab and go food, etc) PLUS 24/7 food on demand (making fresh hot food in another part of the building for as many people as ask for it as often as they ask for it, which of course puts the first priority, being present for the guests, completely out the window).
Because they converted most of their properties from other brands, they just weren't designed to function in this way. The kitchen was in another part of the property and the equipment made so much noise I could not hear or see the desk. Even to use an adding machine or the copier I had to leave the front desk area and go through two locked doors, where, again, I could not see or hear the desk.
Speaking of the desk, it is open to any psycho who wants to walk behind it. It's patently unsafe. It is also about 30" high, and flat. The screens are about 20" off the floor and to use them, your neck bends so that it's parallel to the floor. There's no adjusting anything, the monitor is inaccessible under glass (which glares all the light in the ceiling, which it's parallel with...). It's an ergonomic nightmare.
During my tenur
Finally I get to review this horrible place! This is not a professional place because as a former employee they do not care about the issues that you have with another co-workers and they always think that you are stealing from the hotel. Therefore, there is always a trusting issue and they do not warmly welcome new employees.The HR department is not helpful at all because they cannot help you if do not bring a problem to their attention, even if you do, they still cannot help you. Only if you have payroll issues, they will be obligated to help you because obviously if no one gets paid, they will get sued.
They do provide free lunch and breakfast which is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Most of the time, the lunch is bad. And you only have 30 minutes to eat and take your break. Not to mention, they complain about if you take your lunch break less than 30 minutes, they will come after you and that is so true because one time I sat in the cafeteria eating my lunch and it got so crowded and hearing the conversations that were being exchanged, made me sick. So I clocked out, and moment later they came after me and gave me a warning that I should clock in and clock out "exactly" when my 30 minutes are up.
The hardest part of the job, are NOT the guests at all. The guests that come into the hotel are wonderful. However, the hardest part of the job is dealing with the other co-workers that disrespects you in little ways that you cannot bring to HR because HR will not help you an
Prosfree lunch, discounto on wireless services, discount on roomrates
Consdisrespectul employees and managers, short breaks, carelessness, **unprofessional hr assistance
I worked night security. The Security Chief was promoted from an office position with zero experience. I had 100 times more experience than he. He has not a clue about anything security. He was better on the computer. I’ll give him that. Working for him turned to sheer disbelief after a week. He had no clue of anything that went on at night. I was confused having been shown the job by a very professional knowledgeable day shift security guard that was retired and has been there since the place opened. He was and older retired guy working there for the benefits. (Which actually are terrible and expensive) A rip off! It’s like working for free. The pay is horrible with no chance for advancement. Again, “The Security Chief was no Chief! Promoted from an office job as stated by he himself. The 3 months I was there I never once saw the so called “Security Chief” that hired me. Not once! He worked from 3pm-7pm with no supervision. “Certainly didn’t lead by example”! He had no clue what went on at night. Being confused as the only night security guard that actually worked. The rest were sleeping. Watching YouTube videos instead of the monitors when at the desk and stealing from the food pantry. They all had their hiding places. I t was a dirty disgusting working environment. Nobody cleaned anything except me. It was disgusting because nobody cleaned anything in the security area. I resigned thinking I would never want my family staying at this hotel because there is zero actual se
Starting my day with the morning briefing then ensure all guests on their arrival receive a warm welcome and are assisted in a courteous, helpful manner with registration and when checking out of the hotel. To ensure room sales are maximized by dealing with all enquiries/chance guests/sales leads in accordance with procedures set in the Reception S.O.P. manual. To take reservations and other enquiries to the company standard during periods when the Reservation dpt. and the Front office are unmanned or busy, ensuring all information is correctly recorded. To be consistently aware of the hotel’s and local availability. To maximize all opportunities to sell rooms at the best possible rate. To ensure all guest accounts are monitored and posted with correct charges and have supporting documentation. To ensure the hotel switchboard is answered as per company standard, ensuring that all messages are correctly handled and processed to guest rooms immediately. To be fully aware of hotel facilities and activities and promote wherever possible. To ensure that guests throughout their stay are assisted in a friendly and professional manner and any guest complaints are recorded and reported to the Hotel Manager. To be fully aware of the hotel cash handling and credit procedures and to account for any discrepancies at the end of the shift. To ensure good working relationships with colleagues in the Reception area and other departments of the hotel. Solicits employee feedback, utilizes an "o
The job description of each GSO is to do the check-in, check-out, welcome the guest and be to the expectations of the guest. As far as my journey is concerned, it is more or less different. My day start normally with checking all the areas in the Spa & Health Club facilities. I have to ensure that everything is up to standard and if there is any engineering issue, i have to report it immediately. I do check-out & check-in of the guest. As well, ensuring that the guest had a good service and if there is anything extra we can do for the guest. There is a lot of guest engagement involved which actually makes my day much better everytime. End of the month, i was in charged of the inventory of the spa & health club. Spa products, retails items, guest amenities and health club products had to be counted and reported to finance. It was my weekly task as well to update the roster of the Spa staff and to ensure that we do not lack manning over the whole week. Above these, departmental trainings as well were part of my duties. I had to prepare a departmental training plan for each new comer in the department. It was my monthly task as well to give trainings to the staff on a time to time basis such grooming trainings, telephone standard, room set up standard. i also at times conducted the daily briefing. Throughout these 2 years, i have learned a lot in terms of management position. i was involved in many projects in the spa such as the manicure & pedicure and lot more.
The hardest p
Prosaccomodation, transportation, meals
Conspoor salary, no opportunity for promotion or transfers, lack of communication between superiors and lower staff, too much pride from management, no service charge
Questions And Answers about Hyatt
What is the best part of working at Hyatt?
Asked Nov 22, 2019
Will edit your time sheet with out your knowledge. Take hrs away when if you worked those hours.
Answered Jun 29, 2022
The atmosphere and operation of the hotel
Answered Jun 28, 2022
How are the working hours at Hyatt?
Asked Jun 30, 2016
Hyatt House 14th Century Nashville, Tn 37214 Has An Great Staff And Just Needs 1 More Housekeeper. The Hospitality Is Great And In A Great Location Too.
Answered Mar 16, 2021
The hours are available for part time or full time. They hire from the community as well as the city. It is a very workable environment from the moment you park your car in the spacious parking lot.
Answered Apr 11, 2019
What advice would you give the CEO of Hyatt about how to improve it?
Asked Jan 12, 2017
Train better and make better choices with management. Also give members the opportunity to move forward with the company
Answered Jul 23, 2021
Train gallery staff completely and be open about the expectations for them to cover the bar, food service and clean the conference rooms. Also sales staff needs to more communicative with clients and not drop it on gallery hosts to figure it out. Security would be nice for hosts who are working the front desk alone especially during lock up in downtown areas.
Answered Mar 17, 2020
How do you feel about going to work each day at Hyatt?
Asked Oct 24, 2016
Only good thing about working at Hyatt is the guest. The staff members make it very difficult to enjoy due to people having attitudes for you asking them to do their job.
Answered Jul 23, 2021
I worked for 2 different Hyatt’s the first in Roseville I loved more work but management even the owner has your back. But I decided to leave for more money and transfer to Sacramento. Management there reported you to hr and she was buddy buddy with the managers, for any guest complaint. I felt like no one had my back and as long as Rocky looked good it was all good. Not sure if it was a race thing but if it was I hope they have changed that.
Answered Jul 20, 2020
How long does it take to get hired from start to finish at Hyatt? What are the steps along the way?
