Are you working for a company that is invested in you?

In today's highly competitive Hospitality industry, you need to realize that everyone is fighting for a spot on that team. However, is that team working for you? Are you being provided the very best training that can be provided?
Many properties are starting to offer the same type of training, University. That's right, you read that correctly, University. They offer a site that you may visit 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week at your leisure. This gives the colleague the opportunity to do their own training. Is this right? Is this the proper way of training a colleague? Are they getting the information needed to properly do their job?

Hilton Hotels have started a developed site making each colleague responsible for his or her own development. Hilton University doesn't limit them only to being on property in a shift at the property. The courses were actually developed in partnership with Harvard & Cornell Universities.
Choice properties also have Choice University, able to visit the site 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week however I am unsure at post time exactly who is responsible for development.

We are told that many times colleagues are in the dark about promotions and advertising from their very own properties and this is a fantastic education opportunity for everyone to find information compiled in one location. In the University sites, the student gets to travel through modules at their very own pace, retracing steps not understood or in need of review when needed.

Disney Institute has also been created for more than just the Disney Cast Members, it was actually created for anyone willing to pay to receive Disney training. This program was created as many people in the past made inquiries to Disney in regards to the possibilities of learning the famed Disney MAGIC secrets.
These programs offered are actually hosted by former Disney CEO's, trainers and many.....many Disney Top Leaders. Disney has spared no expense to provide everything that makes Disney......well......Magical.
Learning how to accept guests, how to act, things to do to adjust your own business to create more revenue, more magic. Sounds silly to some I am sure but make no mistake, this is BIG BUSINESS. Disney Institute has been experiencing great demand for many many years. You are immersed in Disney Culture, and find out the Traditions and daily business practices that make Disney the Empire that it is today. I mean, it wasn't always that way but remember, Disney is only Disney because of the Cast Members it has and it has many.
Over 65,000 in Florida alone, Disney is the largest employer in the World. That means obviously they are doing something right.

I am so proud and honored that I am a Disney Cast Alumni. I spend much time training, offered the same training that each and every current Cast Members are offered. Traveling to Disney University for classes. Then, your not dropped into your location without more training, your actually offered at least another 2 weeks of hands on, personalized training and you are never left to feel alone. The knowledge I received it actually something I go back to for every position I have received since my contract completed.
I was taught the highest standards, the very best of the best.

Does your company provide you that? Do you have people that are available to provide one on one training? Are you left alone after a day of reading a manual and expected to know everything? Are you set up for success?

To the future of Hospitality, Hilton, Disney and even Choice properties have begun offering the opportunity for you the colleague to succeed. You can be reassured that learning from the past has offered a bright new future for the new and up and coming stars in the Hospitality Industry and I for one cannot wait to see the future.

Taking on a newer role in an old faithful

Beginning a new journey takes courage, bravery, strength and determination. When you have been out of work for a longer period of time that you anticipated, you are faced with different sets of challenges.
When you finally are successful in obtaining a position, hopefully in the career field your custom to being in, you have to remember how things are done. If your lucky, you will slide right back into the old ways, picking up where you left off.

I love the hospitality industry, in particular, the Hotel World. The guests are magical to me. They provide such joy and inspiration and I know that I have arrived at my perfect career choice. I have many friends from around the world, folks I have had the PRIVILEGE and HONOR of spending quality time with and with whom have taught me more than they could ever imagine.

When I left the Hotel industry to try my hand in the Casino World again, I was perplexed. I thought that I would loose my talents I so proudly offered many times prior. However, once thrown into that exciting and scary world of Casino's once more, made me realize more and more how much I LOVE Hotels and shall not stray again so help me God.

1365 rooms at the grand dame of Hotels the Toronto Fairmont Royal York Hotel to the Casino Rama Hotel to the Vancouver Fairmont Waterfront, I have learnt how to accept guests graciously, openly and lovingly. I learnt that I can treat each and every guest with respect and although they all have different ranging needs, they all expect and deserve the very same treatment. No one is better than the next. As I love to tell people, "We all have to put our pants on in the morning, some of us may have someone to DO it for us but we all have to do it, one leg at a time".

Returning to a small, small town to work has brought it's own challenges. Not knowing a single solitary person in town other than your parents with whom you have begrudgingly moved in with and not many more has offered a different opportunity for me. I have taken the time to write. My feelings, my chapter, my life. I have included posts for my blogs, expanding my Social Media take over. ;) I have learnt to calm down. Take every single step slower. I learnt to appreciate things in my life, be grateful. Even accepting a part time position in a lower scaled property. Such a difference from 1300+ rooms and now, 60. WOW.
Being in a property with over 65,000 cast members at Disney to working alone....WOW indeed.
However, I know I can do it, I have proven myself time and time again. I have shown others that I excel in this wonderful world of Hospitality. It's a delicious career choice for me, offering the opportunity to travel, explore and do the things I enjoy most, getting out and investigating our world we have the opportunity to live in.
What do you love doing? Is the Concierge Desk what makes you crazy happy? Housekeeping give you a boost of happiness? Valet give you that thrill you have always dreamed about?
These are things that makes so many people happiness, filled with Bliss. Can you truly say that you are delighted with going to work daily? Do you spring out of bed in the morning and are raring to go in?
Yes, people do have off days, but on the whole, if your truly doing what you love, you will HONESTLY never work a day in your life.
So go out there, figure out YOUR bliss and enjoy, ever. last. Fantastic moment.