Pros

Great Health Benefits
Good Retirement Plans
PTO Vacation
Flexible Work Hours
Excellent place to work for college students

Cons

Horrible clientele
Aging Bar staff makes it highly difficult to remain competitive in the industry
There seems to be an army of Managers, however, it is highly unlikely they'll be available when actually needed in a busy shift. There is no Bar Manager position
Work is seasonal, on "regular" shifts there is not much money to be made

Advice to Senior Management

There needs to be a Bar Manager position. Someone that understands bar promotions and bar culture.

Pros

Discounts on hotel stays were one of only a few pros for working for Starwood, however, good luck trying to get some time off even to "stay" at one of the properties.

Cons

From the top management down... this company is SO confusing and constantly changing their mind for strategies and how they mange things. They truly treat their reservationists, both at home and in-house like scum. Sure they hire a lot of "youngsters" that come and go, but even with those of us that are middle-age and have a good work ethic, they treat us ALL the same... TERRIBLE.
You start at a LOUSY $9.00 an hour and they make getting a bonus UN-obtainable. After working there a year... you get a raise... a lousy nickel... that's right 5 cents... and they tell you that you should pretty much bow down and thank them for that nickel, even though you have made them hundreds of thousands of dollars in reservations with your kind words to customers.

Advice to Senior Management

Go talk to the At Home Reservationists about their TRUE thoughts, without the fear of backlash from superiors.

Pros

I really like the Cultural Services Director--she is a sweet & knowledgeable woman who works very hard and is good at what she does. Everyone in the office is very friendly. You are allowed free meals at the employee cafeteria while working. Parking is validated. The work (when given) is engaging and interesting.

Cons

I personally have not seen my supervisor for about a month. This is not a good thing, because I have not been given tasks in about a month. It is an unpaid position, and I go in for my own benefit but I am not given tasks and feel that it is a waste of everyone's time for me to be there.

Advice to Senior Management

Give your interns something to do. Even if it involves making coffee, shredding papers, and filing folders, I'd much rather have something to do than nothing at all.

Pros

Starwood is great place to build your career, many positions have career paths, and if you are mobile, the oppotunities are endless. However, it can be a who's who and it is important not to burn any bridges.

Cons

If you are at well run property you might have to leanr best practices and be willing to go to another hotel chain for your next step and then come back after you have gained that experience.

Advice to Senior Management

Implement skip level reviews

Pros

They have a formal training and development program for associates who would like to advance within Starwood. Flexibility to manage family and work.

Cons

In St. Regis Houston, some of the members of the Executive Committee are hard to trust because it seems they pretend to care about their associates but actions prove otherwise.

Advice to Senior Management

To be genuine caring people.

Pros

Senior management does care
You are dealing with good clientele for the most part
For the most part everything works like its suppose too
Your upper level management is behind you

Cons

The pay is horrible!!!
I make $10.25 and hour and work 45 hours a week and manage 15 employees and I am expected to work under high pressure and extreme conditions while not being compensated.
Not much room for advancement since most employees have been with company for years

Advice to Senior Management

pay your supervisors more and we will bend over backwards for you much longer instead of leaving a good company because it doesn't pay the bills

Pros

Well regarded hotel brands. Youthful and progressive culture relative to competitors. Broad selection of desirable locations to work. Opportunities for promotion if willing to move,

Cons

Constant management upheaval creating uncertain work environment and a culture of fear and disunity. Quick to layoff or restructure. Loyalty not rewarded....company comes first.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus more on long term outlook for the company, as most attention is on quarterly earnings. Take care of employees and guests.....deep cost cuts and layoffs are a short-term ineffectual approach.

Pros

Competitive pay, good advancement opportunities, and I just plain like the work.

Cons

Sometimes they're too "idea" and "brand" motivated...which wouldn't in itself be a bad thing, but this "brand vision" is constantly changing.

Advice to Senior Management

none

Pros

At the time it was a fun work atmosphere with young workers and good energy. There was not a lot of turnover in the department. I enjoyed the time I was there and I think its a great part time job. Especially for a student in high school or college.

Cons

The pay was average. The manager of the department did not even know my name after years of working there and would walk by you without saying a word. Took nearly two years to get my first performance appraisal done.

Advice to Senior Management

Do a better job of incorporating other departments into a better overall service package. Departments were basically rivals with one another and would not go out of there way to help each other out. Improve communication through all levels of the corporation.

Pros

Starwood Salary was very good and the corporate office building was very nice.

Cons

I have never worked in such a toxic environment such as I did at Starwood. Management was disrespectful, arrogant, and did not understand the value of breathing room. Inter-office instant messaging? What a nightmare! My biggest issue outside of the the management style was the play with numbers. You can make them say anything by omitting important facts and only reporting the positive!

Advice to Senior Management

Let you employees do their job and lose the IM!