Meet Kelly Sanders

General Manager

// Waikiki, HI

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.

 

 

Who We Are: Philosophy

Each Sheraton has its own unique personality and style, which shines through every time a guest comes through our doors. A sense of personal connection and the promise of understanding puts our guests at ease instantly. Guests can forget about the stresses and strain of travel and start feeling like themselves again. Sheraton makes people feel like they belong.

Just the way you are
From the first hello to the final goodbye, Sheraton makes a personal and emotional connection with guests so they feel understood and cared for. At Sheraton, you’re more than a guest. You’re a movie buff, a parent, an executive and someone who gets their best ideas in the middle of the night. We care about that and have developed a comprehensive set of amenities and services to make sure that people have what they need to be at their best and stay connected to the things that matter most to them.

A great night’s sleep
Nothing beats a great night’s sleep for feeling refreshed, revitalized and more like yourself. At Sheraton, guests’ comfort is our mission, and every aspect of the hotel experience has been designed to ensure that guests leave feeling energized and refreshed. From the innovative design of our plush Sweet Sleeper(sm) beds, to the cool, refreshing colors of our guest rooms, to the iconic shapes, details and textures of our soft linens and fabrics, Sheraton surrounds guests in warmth, comfort and style. 

Personal touches
It’s the little things we do for our guests that ultimately win their loyalty. We are responsive because we care and go out of our way to understand each of our guests’ individual needs. Our associates are gifted, patient and truly love working with people. It shows in how we answer questions, respond to requests and proactively seek out ways to make guests feel more comfortable and connected. This deep, personal connection is what Sheraton is known for and why our guests return to stay with us again and again.

Respectful and thoughtful
Bringing Sheraton’s promise of belonging to life begins with learning to treat one another with dignity and respect. How we treat each other ultimately affects our effectiveness in providing world-class service to our guests. We focus on the right kind of attitude when attracting and retaining the best and brightest people to our growing team. By doing so, we continually cultivate a thriving and dynamic service culture that is both inclusive and respectful, while promoting accountability and trust among associates. 

Forward thinking
Learning is essential for achieving our fullest potential, and at Sheraton we never pass up an opportunity to reflect upon our successes and grow from our mistakes. We seek out the really big ideas from across the company, at every level of the organization, and especially from our guests. We welcome them all. Whether it’s opening a new hotel or resort, or coming up with a new product or service to engage our guests and elevate the service experience, Sheraton seeks to continually grow, innovate, transform and thrive.

If you’re interested in making a difference and joining the Sheraton family search for current job openings.