Continuing the upward trend in hospitality, Kelly Sanders has connected with staff and customers to rise from busboy at a hotel in Idaho to General Manager of the Sheraton Waikiki Resort.  More

Q: What made you become interested in the hospitality industry?

I began my hospitality career as a busboy – who also did room service at a hotel in Pocatello, Idaho. As you can imagine, the 151 room hotel was, as they say, the only game in town. Soon I found myself at the front desk and then moved to the night audit.

After high school I moved to the big city – Salt Lake City. Of course, for me, any city was the big city. I worked as an auditor while I put myself through college. As any person just out of college I was looking to begin my career. The sideline was an assistant front office manager job at the hotel where I was currently working. Not long after that I was transferred to California as the Front Office Manager for a golf resort — this is where I learned that golf was truly not my game! Then I moved into the Director of Rooms position for three hotels, and then became General Manager (GM) of the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, working with a team that was incredible in every aspect. I’ve also had the opportunity to stretch even further, becoming a member of the Sheraton General Managers Advisory Council, and most recently, being promoted to GM of the Sheraton Waikiki Resort.

Q: What characteristics do you think are most important for a GM?

The ability to connect with people at all levels and to inspire passion and greatness within others. When you combine these two characteristics, you will be unstoppable.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a GM?

Work hard, listen to your team, inspire them to excellence and drive your results – becoming a GM is more than just a title, it truly is a way of life and it comes through knowledge and experience. Don’t rush into the job to get the title — you will be doing yourself and your team a disservice.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working in a hotel?

The interactions that take place with my team, our customers and potential clients. I love my daily walks in the hotel where I can stop and talk to associates about how things are going or to customers regarding their stay. But most of all I love to interact with potential customers — I feel like a proud papa bragging about my kids.