My Front Desk Staffers Do Not Get Along

"Two of my front desk staffers do not get along...do I have to let one of them go?" Thomas Principale, GM at Crowne Plaza HY36, shares his advice.

Front desk staffers not getting along

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What do I do if my front desk staffers do not get along?

“Two of my front desk staffers do not get along. It’s gotten to the point that they’ve (separately) asked to never be scheduled at the same time. This isn’t possible. How do I ensure they act professionally around each other? Or do I have to let one of them go?”

Having a team that works well together is critical in the hotel industry, particularly at the front desk. Hotels aren’t just selling rooms—they’re selling an experience. The first chance to make a good impression is at the front desk. Guests feed off the staff’s energy and can sense tension between team members.

In any hotel or workplace setting, you have to prepare for personality conflicts to arise. It’s important as a manager to set clear expectations and stress that team members should always be professional while dealing not only with our paying guests, but with colleagues as well.

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It isn’t realistic to schedule the agents on separate shifts, but termination should only be considered as a last resort. I would first arrange a meeting for the employees to air out their differences and figure out how to move forward and work better together. It is important to reiterate the expectations of the position and how we as a team need to work professionally towards the same goals.

To avoid situations like this, it is imperative to hire the right people and consider how candidates will get along with the current team during the interview process. To help ensure candidates will uphold the culture already in place, managers should ask about their values in both in a business setting and in their personal life while trying to assess how they can be an asset to the team. In doing so, there’s a better chance of hiring someone who will work well with the current staff.

 

Answered by Thomas Principale, general manager at Crowne Plaza HY36

 


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Thomas Principale, general manager at Crowne Plaza HY36, has worked in the NYC area in operations for the past ten years for various properties. Prior to joining the Crowne Plaza HY36 team, Principale helped open the Cambria Hotel and Suites Time Square, the flagship property of the Cambria Brand for Choice Hotels. Before that he has worked at the Dream Hotel Group, where he spearheaded a multimillion dollar renovation and brand change of the TRYP New York Times Square hotel. Principale’s first job in the hospitality industry was a dishwasher at the banquet kitchen inside of the Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island. Principale received his BA in Hospitality Management as well as his MBA in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.