When my Executive Assistant met this young man, he was
waiting tables at a local casual restaurant. She and her husband noticed
something different immediately. It wasn’t just his engaging smile,
pleasant conversation or attention to the details of serving their meals, it
was his positive attitude.
She encouraged him to apply for a position at one of our
local hotels. The General Manager of the hotel hired him because of his
attitude and taught him to be a front desk associate. Two years later, he
was honored at the hotel brand’s national conference as an Associate of the
Year for the entire brand, which numbered some 500+ properties
nationwide. “Hire an attitude and teach them the business.” It’s
value statement #3 for Hotel Equities.
I’ve experienced similar stories time and again throughout
my career. Find a person with a positive attitude who has a servant
heart, enjoys working with people and wants to make a difference, and chances
are you have found someone who will be successful in our industry.
We can
teach that person to work the mechanics of the front desk, how to sell rooms,
or even manage a hotel. And we’ll gain an outstanding associate who will
take excellent care of our guests.
Attitude doesn’t register on a resume, but it shines in a
face-to-face interview.
A positive attitude is one of the most important keys to
success. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes, “Minds are like
parachutes; they only work when they are open”.
Hospitably,
Fred Cerrone
