catching up

Lots to catch up on I guess- sorry I've been slacking with the updates!

So if ya'll (had to throw it in there...) didn't already know, the ominous Tropical Storm Faye managed to COMPLETELY miss Tampa, even though there was all kinds of hype and panic and preparation on everyone's part up to Monday night, yet Tuesday the only thing we got was some wind and a drizzle around 8pm. It was windier there than usual for about 2 days but that was all... at least I got a taste of the hurricane season!

Bad thing about it though was that evvveryone who was supposed to be coming into the hotel for a big event they were having and other meetings CANCELLED, so I was bored out of my mind the first 2 days I was rotating through Banquets. It picked up though because over the weekend the Jacksonville Jaguars football team stayed with us! We'll be hosting every team that plays the Tampa Bucs (except when the Patriots were here, much to my dismay!!). Those guys were HUUUGE. It was hysterical to walk past a group of them- I've never felt so small in my life. Most were very polite but we weren't allowed to initiate any conversation or anything since they were "focusing and prepping for the game". We had the 2nd floor meetings rooms sectioned off and they held all their meetings and meals up there, so I was able to be on the front lines helping out with all that, which was cool. Looking forward to the other teams coming, although being in Banquets definitely got me the most interaction with them!

I was in Engineering (maintenance/electricians/painters/carpenters/all that jazz) and Accounting this week. Engineering wasn't bad- I was able to follow around different people and see what they do and help with guest requests and the supervisor even showed me the roof!! THAT was really cool- although I was nervous getting close to the edge, thanks for minor fear adopted from Dad... the views of the bay and the city were absolutely amazing though.

Long weekend coming up and I'm SO excited to get out of town for a little, although now that I've been hanging out with more people around here, I'm a little sad I'll be missing out on the activities they're planning. I'll be up at Lake Cherokee again with Josh and his family and I'm excited to be in a cooler place where it actually cold at nights!! Packed a sweatshirt and I'm excited about it!!! :-)

Hope everyone has a good long weekend!
-signing out-
TravelBug

A+ Student

This morning Monica, Melissa and I (the 3 CMTs) had breakfast with Mr. Steele, the GM.  I had no idea what to expect, but it went really well!  He asked us how we thought the program was going, if departments were actually prepared for us/how they treated us, what got us into the field, and all that stuff- if there was anything they could do better next time around.  We definitely all appreciated him asking and has some things to suggest, like my biggest concern: instead of having a basics-review at the conference, some type of "how to transition into being a manager" especially after having to manage people who just trained you weeks before.  Mr.  Steele was actually originally a dishwasher in Hyatt and has worked his way allll the up so he had some good advice and told us it's really easier than we'd think.

When I was saying I had a really good experience in Rooms and felt I could go to Jonathan (the Rooms division head) and chat with him anything at anytime, Mr Steele actually told me that he's repeatedly been hearing really good things about me and that everyone knows I'm going to go far with this and how that makes it easy for them to available and open for me.  I was so flattered!!!  What a compliment for the GENERAL MANAGER to tell me that!  It definitely re-enforced me faith in this program because it's allowed the person with the most influence in the entire property to actually get to know me!  I definitely don't think that'd be case, or at least not this early, if I had just come into a hotel in a regular position.  So that was exciting!

In other news, I was in the kitchen today and our friend Walker showed me how to correctly chop things!  I helped with plating in the different sections for this big banquet and pastry was definitely my favorite spot.  I also learned that chefs are kind of crazy and strong-headed and theres some power struggle between back-of-house mgmt (kitchen) and front-of-house (restaurant managers).  For example, I spent the end of the day with the 2 head chefs attempting to set up what the new breakfast buffet will look like, but the rest. mgr didn't like everything and they were going back and forth about it forever....   the things I'm learning!!  I'm just getting antsy to get into Rooms and actually be doing what I'm gonna be doing! 

Needed mini vacation

Last week the 3 of us CMTs, Monica Melissa and I, went to the Hyatt in Bonita Springs (between Ft Myers and Naples) Coconut Point for a regional CMT conference.  All the CMTs in Florida and the Caribbean (right now just Key West) got together on Tues night for a reception and then the day of the conference Wed.  

It was fun to meet everyone else and compare how things were going/see how far everyone moved and all that.  I loved seeing the 2 women who hired me too, and the 3rd college recruiter I had heard so much of.  They remembered me well and said they still talk about how I weaseled my way into UMass's career fair and was known as the girl that drove all the way there just for the info session and interviews.  Glad I created a name for myself and was remembered!

The property was beautiful and all 3 of us definitely needed and liked the escape from Tampa for the night.  All the CMTs even went out for a few drinks after so we joined a few of them. (we made sure to get a pic of us cheers-ing to show our HR director we represented the hotel well!)  The only downfall was once we really got into the conference, most of the stuff was basically a review of our 1-day orientation we had to do at our properties when we started working.  We did at least get to talk with them about the recruiting/moving/getting started process so they can keep notes for next time, spoke with the Senior President of the Florida Hyatt region, and were able to split into groups by our divisions and talk with a divisions head.  Thankfully they're sending a survey to us about it and we all plan to recommend more useful information, like how to be a good manager, or transitioning from being a trainee into a manager.  

...oh well, like I said I really liked the mini vacation!  It was just what I needed because I was actually excited to go home to my empty and quiet apartment! 

SCHEDULE

Just in case any of you wanted to know where I'd be and when, since Mom requested it and I thought I'd share: 

FOOD&BEVERAGE-

8/3-8/12: Hotel Restaurants/Room Service  (Tues&Wed off for a conference for local CMTs in Florida/SC/Georgia at our resort property in Naples -yay!) 

8/13-8/16: Kitchen, Stewarding (fancy name for dishwashing...nice attempt at glorifying it, Hyatt...), and Storeroom/Purchasing

8/17-8/23: Banquets and Convention Services

8/25-8/26: Engineering (they fix everything and keep the hotel in working order)

8/27-8/28: Accounting

8/29&9/02: Sales (excited to scope that out because it may be an option for a back-up job down the road when I'm burned out from the Rooms hours)

9/03-9/04: Catering

Then for 11 weeks, starting September 7th until November 22nd.  That's more or less though because if a position opens up for me in the hotel or another one sooner, they'll move things along quicker.  Also, within 60-45 days before my end date (11/22) I should know if this Hyatt will have a position for me, or if I'll have to be relocated.