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5 Minutes With ...: Home Away From Home
Ruth Benjamin's career in hospitality is centered on helping others feel right at home.
July 11, 2008
Atlanta Woman
: Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Ruth Benjamin: I am from upstate New York,and my family still lives in the area. I
have been with Hyatt for 19 years.
AW
: How did you become interested in the hospitality industry?
Benjamin: At the age of 14, I baked and decorated cakes to sell and fell in love
with it. I attended Paul Smith College that specializes in culinary, restaurant and hospitality.The
rest is history.
AW
: There are still not a lot of female general managers of hotels. Why?
Benjamin: It is a huge time commitment for any individual,male or female.
AW
: Do you have to live in the hotel?
Benjamin: No, but I recommend living close by to the hotel, because you never know
when you may be called to come in for some reason.
AW
: What's the best part of your job?
Benjamin: It's definitely the people that I come in contact with every day, from
the associates that work at the hotel to the many guests that visit the hotel. No two days are
alike.
AW
: What's the most challenging part of your job?
Benjamin: It's always changing, and no two days are alike.
AW
: What should a guest expect from a hotel?
Benjamin: A guest should expect the highest level of service possible from every
hotel.
AW:
With all the new hotels going up in Buckhead, how will the Grand Hyatt Atlanta position
itself to stand out in the marketplace?
Benjamin: Grand Hyatt Atlanta already has an excellent reputation within the city
and the overall marketplace as one of Atlanta's most luxurious hotels.We will continue to provide
the highest level of service to all of our guests.
AW
: There seems to be a trend for boutique hotels. How does a chain, such as the Hyatt,
compete?
Benjamin: Global Hyatt is always researching and looking for new niches within the
marketplace. Grand Hyatt Atlanta is a luxury hotel that offers something for many different
audiences. This hotel does fantastic business not only with the group and business segment, but we
also are a leader within the special occasion arena. We host many of the city's most prestigious
fundraisers. Also, we receive great business from weddings, and we have the largest kosher kitchen
in Atlanta.
AW
: Many chains, including Hyatt, are also offering condos or timeshares. Why? Doesn't that cut
into hotel occupancy?
Benjamin: There are many consumers that are loyal to a brand like Hyatt that would
be interested in condos or timeshares that Hyatt would oversee. However,this audience,while the
same demographic,is different from guests traveling for overnight stays,so it would not cut into
the occupancy.
AW
: What are some trends or new services business travelers can expect to see soon?
Benjamin: Being able to know as much about a guest as before they arrive continues
to be high on the list.We are able to do this through e-concierge that helps us contact the
traveler before their visit and find out specific needs for their stay. Paperless check-in
continues to be on the rise so that guests can visit a kiosk at the hotel,check-in and receive
their key.
AW
: How would you describe the hotel market in Atlanta overall, and Buckhead in particular?
Benjamin: The hotel market in Buckhead is a robust market. We have a lot of
different hotels and brands between Piedmont and Lenox Roads. Grand Hyatt Atlanta continues to
differentiate itself with great levels of service, wonderful food and beverage options and
attention to every detail.
AW
: When you go to a hotel room, do you do anything special to make it feel more like home?
Benjamin: My iPod relaxes me and makes me feel at home.
AW
: What is your pet peeve about hotels, such as anything that drives you crazy or that you
dislike (bad mattresses, for instance)?
Benjamin: Definitely bad service.
AW
: Do you have any tips for women travelers in terms of safety?
Benjamin: Request rooms that are close to elevators. Also,make sure the hotel is
well staffed and has a concierge or front desk close to the entrance; stick with a name-brand
hotel.And make sure it's well lit around the hotel - that includes parking decks and valet parking.
AW
: Grand Hyatt just launched yatt'it. What is it?
Benjamin: yatt'it is an online travel source for hotel information. It allows
Hyatt concierge and Hyatt Gold Passport members to post information on the site about a particular
city. So if someone is coming to Atlanta, you can access yatt'it and find out the best
restaurants,shopping,entertainment that the city has to offer from the city's experts and Hyatt
experts.
AW
: In the hotel business, part of the job is moving. Does that make it difficult having a
family?
Benjamin: Yes, that's why I am single.
