High-school, college jobs lead to full-time career

Hotel & Motel Management, Nov 1, 2004 by Heather Gunter

Along with a college degree, Lori Medford earned an education in the hotel world. Medford began working in a hotel's banquet department during high school, transferred to the Renaissance Suites Hotel in Charlotte, N.C., where she worked throughout college, and now is payroll administrator and human resources assistant there.

The hotel industry initially was not part of her career plan. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she studied Spanish and international studies, Medford wanted to join the Peace Corps.

"Then they approached me with this position and it sort of threw a wrench into all of my plans," Medford said. "The hotel industry was something I had just planned on doing through school and then moving on with my career. But this position made it possible for me to look at the hotel industry as a career."

Medford's former position as a front-desk attendant and her current position have allowed her to use her Spanish language skills. During college, she participated in a study-abroad program in Costa Rica.

"I had a little Spanish knowledge, I had taken classes in school, but I knew I wouldn't really obtain fluency in the language unless I immersed myself in the culture," she said. "By going there, it has been awesome to be able to come back and to be able to communicate with my associates here.

"It's especially key in this position because if someone has a problem or needs to communicate something, before they might have hesitated because they had to do it in their second tongue. Now they can come and speak in their native language," Medford said. "It's really important for our associates to feel comfortable."

As far as dealing with challenges, she said it helps to "step outside the box and make sure you're considering every angle. Every guest isn't the same and every problem doesn't have to be handled the same way." Working in different departments spurred Medford's interest in the hotel industry.

"I would like to see myself in management and I believe that the best way to do that is to have a lot of experience in a lot of different areas," she said.

What has kept Medford working at hotels?

"It's definitely the people," she said. "I believe that the people that you work with and the guests you come into contact with make your job."

Name: Lori Medford

Title: Payroll administrator and human resources assistant

Property: Renaissance Suites Hotel, Charlotte, N.C.

Years in lodging: 6

The most important thing learned while working at a hotel: "How to be an excellent listener."

hgunter@advanstar.com