I have been working in New York City in a heavily unionized environment for over six years, and while I always appreciated how much I learned because of it along the way, having transferred to Asia recently, I only understand now how much I really got out of this experience.

When conducting orientation days for new-hires in New York, I was always talking about the challenges that come with working in a five stars & five diamonds property in New York. The high expectations towards service excellence and product quality from your guests, the financial expectations from your management company or ownership, the stressful dynamics that we love so much about New York, and the limitations of working in unionized settings. I used to quote Frank Sinatra in saying ‘if you can make it as a manager at a hotel in New York, you probably can make it anywhere’… and I really meant it. I have worked with so many talented and skilled managers that did not make it New York, lost their passion and enthusiasm, and eventually gave up – they either didn’t try to change anything anymore and tried their best to hold on to the status quo, or resigned their assignment and left without a success story.

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