Hotwire Reviews

Pros

Sounds weird to say, but I really do feel smarter since I started working at Hotwire. My colleagues are incredibly bright and creative -- they challenge my brain every single day. Sharp cookies, all of them.

At the same time, they take their jobs very seriously, but they don't take themselves too seriously. It’s not an ego-driven culture. People just focus on executing well, and it does get acknowledged. Things get crunched sometimes, but generally we are given the resources -- and are expected to make the effort -- to build it right the first time.

People are genuinely enthusiastic about the company and the products. Colleagues are supportive and encouraging of each other. It's true what everyone else said about the quality-of-life culture, the parties, and so on. It feels good to work here, and senior management seems to be sincerely interested in keeping it that way.

Cons

Hotwire wouldn't be the best place for a hyperactive/novelty-seeking kind of personality. Because of its size and focus, there aren't endless opportunities to do vastly different things. The products are pretty mature, so it’s right now it’s mostly about evolution and incremental innovation.

With all these smart people around, things can get a bit wonkish. That's only a con if it's not really your style. For most people here, that's actually a pro.

The whole place is open-plan cubicle (upper management, too) which makes it social and accessible, but sometimes a bit distracting. Noise-canceling headphones are common. Luckily, Hotwire gave them out as holiday gifts last year!

Advice to Senior Management

Keep it up!

Pros

Free soda
generous bonuses
fun parties and companywide picnics/outings
Tuition reimbursement

Cons

I think it's a great place to work as long as you don't work in the department i was in.

One member of the senior management team has revealed themselves to be shockingly unprofessional. Oh, it's shocking.

I went to a department outing where two of the employees jokingly told everyone they were "loved working together so much" and announced "kiss" at the table. And then they leaned over and airkissed each other. Charming.

Advice to Senior Management

Can we please get it together?

Pros

Great benefits, 3-4 weeks PTO, travel discounts, fun work culture, casual dress, fitness reimbursement
A ton of social events: picnics, bowling, indian independence day...if you can name it, Hotwire is probably already planning a party for it
Smart, inspiring coworkers
Approachable executive management, who are also smart and inspiring

Cons

Long hours and poor employee moral in certain departments
Painfully slow process to get anything accomplished
Overly strategic, so much time is wasted on endless analysis, projections and planning
Lack of innovation and risk taking can be frustrating at times

Advice to Senior Management

Promote within, give competitive raises, hire internally, cross-train. Provide career growth opportunities to your existing employees and they will feel less inclined to look elsewhere to grow their careers.

Pros

The benefits package is awesome. They have Health, vision, Dental, pet insurance, wellness benefits, plus travel benefits by being associated to the travel industry. Plus you get insider deals on travel, and most times there will be extras and giveaways at company events like two round trip tickets wherever a supplier partner travels or extra coupons for hotels.

Cons

The work ethic is unsustainable. They expect a 60 hour work week from even the indigent, pregnant, or those who are on medical leave. Travel is irregular, but if you do have to travel it has to come out of your pocket, and they are slow to reimburse. The company is not diverse, spouting primarily type A personalities of like kinds only. They struggle from uncharted growth, and are without a strong HR team to manage cultural issues, that pop-up frequently. Executive management is good at keeping everyone informed, but middle management is poor at execution and lacks long term focus.

Advice to Senior Management

take a look at your managers to make sure that they know what they need to execute, have the support and the staffing to execute, and most importantly have the know-how and the ability to guide a team towards the same goal... and have the ability to be present to support the successful execution of a project.

Lastly, make sure that there is more opportunities for cross-functional team stuff, possibly more Agile project or other Hack-day opportunities to allow for people to work without the rigid project structure. Either that or incorporate IRD development/presentation into the new-hire process so that each person can feel like they are in a position to participate in the outcome of the day to day workings of the company

Pros

hours are flexible,
people are nice
management team is stable

Cons

Company is a little small, no stocks from this year

Advice to Senior Management

management is stable and know what they are doing

Pros

Collaborative, energizing environment. Sound management. Solid business plan. There are no slackers, or if so, they don't last long. The expectation is that everyone contributes, and everyone does. It’s a great place to work if you like to be surrounded by smart, hardworking, fun folks. Monetary and organizational recognition for contributions is ample.

Cons

Don't expect lavish, boom-era swag; Hotwire provides discount products and manages it's finances like wise. Relatively small size limits promotion opportunities.

Advice to Senior Management

Rock on.

Pros

a very stable company with strong product team

Cons

very few career advance opportunity.

Advice to Senior Management

take more risk

Pros

Open environment; plenty of opportunities to engage in all aspects of the comany's business unites. Approachable management. There is a true concern on behalf of EVERYONE to get the job done while still having a life and furthering a career.

Cons

Ah....GD wants SOMETHING in this field. Tried to submit without it because I truly couldn't think of anything I personally dislike. There are things I know people don't like but it's third party and so, therefore, not germaine to MY comments.

Advice to Senior Management

Make you-know-who plan more parties, more events, more meals, more EVERYTHING. He's great. I mean great. Great. There. Twenty words.

Pros

nice people, good environment to work

Cons

company has peaked, nothing really exciting going on

Advice to Senior Management

need need ideas to make company to next level

Pros

Hotwire does a great job hiring top talent.

Cons

A little far from bart transportation.

Advice to Senior Management

None at all - they are doing a great job and I think they are the main reason why Hotwire is doing so well in a rough economic climate.