Team Members Discuss First-Year Challenges and Rewards

Starting a new job can be scary. Will you get along with your new colleagues, not to mention your supervisor? Will you like the work? On paper, you are qualified for the position, but will your skill set really match the day-to-day requirements of the job?

Last month, three associates at the Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square South received certificates from General Manager David Ruas celebrating their first year of employment. To mark the occasion, M&R Team News sat down with Denise Pazmino, sales coordinator, and bellmen Ronal Timmer and Garfield Shakes to find out just how they fared in their first 12 months.

What do you like best about your job?

Denise: “After the slowdown during the pandemic, business is starting to come back, both individual and group bookings. It’s good to be busy.”

Ronal: “Being stationed at the front door, I’m the first one guests see when they arrive to check in. So I get to welcome them, which is great, and direct them right away to the front desk.”

Garfield: “Many of our guests are international and don’t necessarily speak English. As a result, over the months I’ve learned how to greet people in a couple of different languages. It’s pretty cool and, if they’re nervous, it helps them relax.”

What have been your job’s biggest challenge?

Ronal: “Guests arrive through the morning, while other guests come down to check out. Both may want to check luggage, arriving guests depending on how early they are before check-in time and departing guests depending on their travel plans. We do our best to make sure no one is left waiting.”

Garfield: “Guests often ask for directions and recommendations for restaurants, shopping and the subway, but also the Javits Convention Center, Empire State Building, the Broadway theaters. I didn’t know the neighborhood when I started, but I do now.”

Denise: “Rebuilding a lot of client relationships post-pandemic.”

Have your colleagues been friendly and helpful?

Garfield: “You hear it a lot, but we’re really like a family.”

Denise: “David sets the tone. He reminds us everyone’s contribution is important.”

Ronal: “We’re a team.”