Nov. 02–Marriott International is a staple in any major city, but the company's Renaissance Austin hotel stands out among the city's top employers.
Marriott ranked No. 3 among midsized employers in the American-Statesman's 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.
The company's Renaissance Austin, a luxury hotel near the Arboretum in Northwest Austin, has more than 240 employees. More than half of those employees have been with the hotel for more than 10 years, according to Jill O'Neal, human resources director for the hotel. O'Neal has been with Marriott for 12 years — and she attributes that to the company's culture of teamwork and fun.
"It's more than pay and benefits," O'Neal said. "I think that it is providing people opportunities to learn and advance every year."
Lots of companies offer medical insurance and other benefits, but workplaces must go above and beyond to keep employees around for the long term, O'Neal said. The Marriott management team organizes cookouts for employees, and also offers discounts at Marriott hotels around the world and an employee appreciation week each year.
"We want to attract people who love traveling, who get out and experience the world," O'Neal said.
Jeffery Luong, a lead cook at the hotel, has worked at the Renaissance for five years and said he appreciates Marriott's benefits.
But more importantly, Luong said, he appreciates that his employer trusts him to do what he loves.
"I'm not here to push frozen food," Luong said, adding that the hotel's executive chef encourages him to build menus and create dishes. "That's very satisfying to me."
Cruz Hernandez, food and beverage team lead and coffee shop barista, said she enjoys having the chance to meet people from all walks of life.
Hernandez previously worked in the cafeteria of the American-Statesman, where the same employees would show up at the kitchen each day. But at the Marriott, her customer base changes daily, and she meets people from different cultures, ethnicities and the occasional celebrity.
"It was different because over here you deal with different people," she said of the always changing customers. "You get to learn about their culture."
Hernandez started working for the company nine years ago at the Courtyard Marriott Austin hotel. She moved to the Renaissance Hotel six years ago, starting as a server before working her way up to food and beverage lead.
Hernandez said she's stuck around because of the hotel's management and staff.
"We're always helping each other," she said. "It can get hard sometimes — lines of people waiting for coffee or food — so I think the relationship we built in our departments is an awesome relationship."
And the perks — like the company's discounts at Marriott hotels worldwide — don't hurt, said Hernandez.
"Employees need to have that appreciation," Hernandez said. "I think for a lot of people, that's what they're looking for when they come to a company — the benefits, the way they take care of their employees."
