Couples search for balance in 24/7 hospitality industry
By Cindy Krischer Goodman
balancegal@gmail.com
Over at The Shelborne South Beach, Jared Galbut is meeting with his department heads and walking through the properties to talk with guests. As the managing principal of Menin Hotels, Galbut oversees daily operations of five hotels and four restaurants in Miami Beach and Chicago.
Stacey, his wife, works as style director for Menin Hotels, designing employee uniforms and running the Shelborne’s Guy and Girl boutique.
The Galbuts have been married almost a year and are still working out the kinks of a complicated home and work relationship in a seasonal business that requires long work hours and staying power. They call their quest for work-life balance, “a work in progress.”
“We’ve been trying to draw the line between work and home for the last couple of months saying we are not going to bring work home,” explains Jared Galbut.
“I’ll think it’s working because we will sit at dinner in silence. But one glass of wine and it just starts pouring out.”
Nationally, the hotel and resort industry consists of about 40,000 companies that employ about 2 million people. Most of us have checked into hotels giving little thought to the lives of those who register us or make sure our stay is pleasant. But work in hotels can be demanding, hectic and rough on married life.
Because hotels are open around the clock, employees often work varying shifts and managers routinely work longer hours than scheduled, especially during peak travel times or when multiple events are scheduled. Even more, most hoteliers are called in to work on short notice in the event of an emergency or to cover a position. Regardless of any disruption to their personal lives, hotel managers and workers must be ready to provide guests with gracious customer service at any hour.
Recently, I listened in as four couples employed in the industry talked freely about their work-life challenges at a panel discussion on Couples in Hospitality hosted by The Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association.
I heard something from these couples that rings true in many occupations: It’s a lot easier to support a partner’s work demands when you are in the same industry and understand the pressures.
It's great for a couple to run together a business. It is sure difficult to be 24/7 together but it is interesting since they share the same goal. Besides, Miami what great surrounding to work and live in !
Posted by: DoubleTree Ocean Point Resort & Spa | September 17, 2012 at 10:17 AM
I can't imagine running a business with my hubby or even working in the same industry. More power to these couples!
Posted by: Cindy Goodman | October 03, 2012 at 01:31 PM