Makeready

Pros: I liked working on projects for boutique hotels; it was interesting creative work. The team in the Austin office is solid, and there's good collaboration when you're onsite. Some managers try to be understanding if you have appointments.
Cons: Work flexibility is a real challenge here. They really push for everyone to be in the office, so remote work options are super limited for most roles. As a Digital Marketing Specialist, it felt like I spent more time commuting than focusing on campaigns. It's tough to manage personal life around the strict in-office policy.
Advice to Management: Seriously consider offering more hybrid work or remote options for roles that can support it. It would really help retain talent, especially for marketing roles in the hospitality industry.

Pros: My immediate team, especially in the Los Angeles office, is really solid. We support each other through the busy periods. There's a genuine push for collaboration across different departments for new projects.
Cons: Upper management really needs to walk the talk on work-life balance for Hotel Operations Managers. It's easy to get burned out with the long hours. There's an expectation of being available around the clock.
Advice to Management: Senior leadership needs to actively promote healthier boundaries. Encourage managers to disconnect and truly take time off. It would really improve morale and reduce turnover in the hospitality sector.

Pros: The team here is really tight-knit. As a Marketing Coordinator, I felt supported by my direct peers, and there's a cool energy working for a boutique hotel group. You get to work on some unique projects, which is neat.
Cons: Work-life balance can be a real struggle, especially for onsite roles. It's not uncommon to put in long hours, and sometimes the expectations feel a bit too high. The company culture is generally positive, but the pressure definitely builds.
Advice to Management: Try to better manage workloads to prevent burnout. More flexibility, even for onsite staff, would really help with work-life balance and boost morale across the hospitality industry roles.

Pros: You get to work on cool hospitality development projects, which is great exposure. As a Project Manager, I learned a lot about the Texas market and day-to-day operations. The team in the Austin office is generally supportive and helpful.
Cons: Career growth is pretty slow here at this mid-sized company. There aren't many clear paths to move up; internal promotions are rare. It feels like you hit a ceiling quickly, making long-term career progression tough for development roles.
Advice to Management: Focus on creating clearer paths for internal promotions and leadership development. Help employees see a future here, beyond just the current Project Manager level.

Pros: As a Marketing Coordinator, the hybrid model with 2 days WFH was a solid perk. It helped me avoid the worst of downtown Nashville traffic. It's good to have some flexibility for certain corporate roles.
Cons: Full remote work is pretty much off the table, even for roles that could easily do it. Onsite expectations for some hospitality roles feel a bit rigid. It makes it hard to manage personal appointments sometimes.
Advice to Management: Consider offering more remote flexibility, especially for support staff who don't need to be onsite daily. It would really help with retention in the competitive Nashville job market for the hospitality industry.

Pros: Some of the direct managers are genuinely great, especially for us in hotel operations. They really try to support their teams on the ground at our Austin property. The team spirit among peers is also pretty strong.
Cons: Upper leadership feels pretty disconnected from the daily grind. There isn't much clear direction, and decisions can sometimes seem inconsistent. It makes it tough to plan long-term as a manager.
Advice to Management: Try to be more present at the properties and communicate decisions more clearly. Listen to the managers who are actually running the show.

Pros: The actual work in boutique hotel management is really engaging. I love working with my direct team; everyone's super supportive in the Los Angeles office. They do offer a pretty solid hybrid work schedule, which is nice for flexibility.
Cons: It feels like some leaders don't fully grasp the day-to-day for an Operations Coordinator. Decisions often come down without much context or input from lower levels. Communication from the top isn't always clear, especially on big real estate development projects.
Advice to Management: Focus on improving internal communication channels, especially for teams working on boutique hotel projects. Try to involve operations staff more in early planning stages to get that ground-level perspective.

Pros: I liked the team at our Nashville property; everyone pulls their weight. For some admin tasks, I could get a little work from home done, which was rare for a Hotel Operations Manager. You're part of a boutique hotel group that really values guest experience.
Cons: Work flexibility is tough for hospitality management roles. You're usually on-call, and weekend shifts are common. It's hard to get true work-life balance when you have to be onsite so much, especially with staffing shortages.
Advice to Management: Try to find more ways to offer true work flexibility, even for onsite roles. Maybe more consistent rotation for weekend managers or better cross-training so managers can take proper time off without feeling guilty. Investing in technology to streamline hotel operations could also help reduce manager workload.

Pros: I've learned a ton here as a Project Manager. The creative work on boutique hotels is genuinely engaging, and the team in the Nashville, TN office is super supportive. It's a growing company, so there's always something new.
Cons: Work-life balance can be a real struggle, honestly. It's common to work more than 50-hour weeks, especially when nearing project deadlines for real estate projects. WFH isn't really an option for my role, it's mostly onsite.
Advice to Management: Management needs to really look at staffing levels and project timelines. We can't keep pushing for aggressive deadlines without burning people out, especially for key hospitality roles.

Pros: The team is great, and there's a strong focus on design in their properties. For anyone in hotel management, you get to work on unique projects. The Austin, TX market is strong for hospitality.
Cons: Job security for management roles can be tough. There's not a lot of transparency on long-term plans or if positions are truly stable. This often leads to stress for us, especially after a project wraps up.
Advice to Management: Focus on clearer communication regarding job roles and long-term company direction to help ease employee anxieties about stability. Invest more in retaining key talent.