Meet Deborah Rafferty
Director of Revenue Management
// Philadelphia, PA
Deborah first discovered Starwood magic at Disney. Seven years later, she’s
as passionate about her career as when she started. More
Q: When and how did you come to Starwood?
I moved to Orlando in 1999 and interviewed for the Sales Reporting Systems
Analyst (SRSA) position at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and was
hired within a week of the interview.
Q: What has been your progression through Starwood?
I stayed with the Swan and Dolphin for three years; all my moments there
stand out. I still say to this moment that it was my favorite place to
work. . .it was indeed magical. The reason I left? I wanted to return
home to Philadelphia. I made my way back north through a series of
opportunities which included being part of the SRSA Taskforce focused on the
Princeville Resort, Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, Sheraton Arlington Park,
and the Diplomat Club & Spa. Then I assumed the same role with Westin Times
Square before becoming Director of Revenue Management for Sheraton Atlantic
City, later transitioning to the position of Director of Revenue Management
Sheraton Society Hill in Philadelphia in 2004.
Q: Can you describe your position?
The simple answer is that my focus is on maximizing overall hotel revenue,
but it’s really a daily and weekly check-in of several factors: My team needs
to understand the local market, what the pricing is of area hotels, where we
fit in that scale, what our forecasted occupancy is for a given period, and
then pooling that information to determine pricing. Because of these daily and
weekly meetings, we have made 2006 the best year in the history of Sheraton
Society Hill.
Q: What is your favorite thing about your job?
It is constantly evolving…new technology…brand culture…the cheese
constantly moves and I love it.
Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job?
Making sound decisions that benefit the owners, like Brand Culture Training,
and realizing we make the difference. It doesn’t matter how many times we
renovate our hotel…it is the people that really matter. It is the
experience that our guests go home with that keeps the memory lingering. It’s
important to the guest, and it’s also important to us, creating repeat business
and a cycle that benefits everyone involved—the guest, the staff, and the
company.
Career Paths
Security & Loss Prevention
Ensuring the security of Starwood’s properties, Security and Loss Prevention
plays a crucial role within Starwood. It is a function that affects not only
the physical resorts, hotels, and operations centers, but the security of our
associates and our guests as well.
Security and Loss Prevention candidates have a genuine concern for the
safety and well being of others around them. Keys to success within this role:
the ability to spot situations or surroundings that are out of the ordinary and
the ability to interact in a friendly and courteous manner with both internal
and external clients.
Building both on experience and fundamentals, Security and Loss Prevention
associates begin as security guards at either a resort or business center.
After this introduction, associates progress, moving into supervisory or
managerial roles in Facilities, Loss Prevention and Security. An
opportunity that affords more than flexible schedules as well as the ability to
contribute to the security of guests and fellow associates, Security and Loss
Prevention has ample opportunity within Starwood’s properties. With 825+
locations worldwide, the world is open.
