Hotel Maya's Customer Service with Greg Guthrie!

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM | Greg Guthrie

Q&A With

General

Manager at Hotel Maya, Greg Guthrie

By John Grossi

What does being the General Manager at a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel entail?

I oversee the operation of the 199-room hotel / resort that includes Fuego, the 226-seat Latin infused indoor-outdoor restaurant and lounge; and 30,000 square-feet of indoor-outdoor meetings and events space that includes the Lagunita waterfront pavilion and Vista Del Mar pre-function, outdoor area.

What sort of purpose do you feel in your job and/or why do you believe your line of work is important and meaningful?

As a 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry and General Manager at Hotel Maya, I truly understand the importance of the guest experience. It’s important to exceed the guests’ expectations, which results in customer loyalty and a return on investment for the property. This also allows our team members to work and make a living to provide for their families. Mentoring our management team to become successful at their jobs and leaders is personally meaningful too.

What is the most exciting part of your day-to-day work?

The most exciting part of my work is having the opportunity to interact with the guests and work with our team members. There’s never a dull moment. Hotels are structurally set up to be the same each day but every day is so different. Plus, we have a beautiful waterfront location with amazing views of Downtown Long Beach, Queen Mary and the Pacific Ocean.

For any student, age 12-18 who thinks your job sounds interesting, what advice would you give them to help them learn/train/explore your field?

I would suggest they look into the hospitality and tour and travel programs at their local colleges and universities and begin taking classes to see if this is the right career field for them. There are also opportunities to work at hotels and resorts, as an intern, part time or full time positions that will provide great experience.