1     Debbie Grant wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after graduating from high school. She spent a few months at a community college but decided that higher education wasn’t for her. A friend told her about an opening for a sales position at a hotel. Grant decided to find out more.

2     She met with the director of sales and catering at the hotel and was told that the job involved booking meetings and banquets. “I can’t do that,” Grant said. But the director had noticed Grant’s outgoing personality and ambition and felt differently. Grant was asked if she’d ever had anybody over for dinner or to spend the night. She had. “There you go,” said the director. “That’s what you do. Take care of people like they are guests in your home and you will do fine in this business.”

3      Over the years, Grant has progressed steadily on her career path. In July 2007, she became hotel manager of the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, a four-star luxury hotel. Then in March 2008, she was promoted again, this time to regional director of sales and marketing. Her drive to succeed and hard work over the years have put her where she is today — all without a college degree.

Work Your Way Up

4     There will always be hotels, and people who work hard and enjoy their jobs in that field will always have a place to work.  Employment in the hotel industry is expected to increase by 13.9 percent from 2006 through 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of hotels being built in the U.S. continues to rise, and as a result, more jobs will become available.

5    A typical week at the hotel includes a staff meeting at which employees are recognized for a job well done. Promotions are announced, and there have been many — 70 in the three years that the InterContinental has been open. That includes employees who were promoted within the hotel, to a position at another InterContinental location, or to the corporate office.

6    What’s the best place to start? Grant suggests the front desk department because of the variety and number of positions there. The operator manages the switchboard, and the door attendants assist guests in and out of the building. Reception clerks register guests and give them their room keys. The concierge gives directions and answers questions about the city. Employees who work in guest  relations take care of the VIPs on the hotel’s Club Floor. The bell staff are the go-to people for help with luggage. “You don’t need a college degree to get into any of these areas. We’re looking for personalities, attention to detail, commitment, and friendliness,” says Grant. From those beginnings, opportunity abounds.

Follow These Leaders

7    Hard work is recognized in the hotel industry. This is apparent at the InterContinental Buckhead, where several employees have swiftly moved up in their careers.

8    Peter Infante was hired as a front desk agent and proved to be a superstar from the start. He took the initiative to do extra tasks and worked additional hours when needed. He was promoted to front desk supervisor and then to credit manager, because he works well with numbers and is thorough in everything he does. Part of his success can be attributed to his positive attitude, which his managers recognized.

9    In Chris Horton’s interview for a meeting concierge position, he impressed Grant as friendly, detail oriented, and ambitious. As a meeting concierge, Horton acted as the liaison between customers in the meeting area and the banquet department. He was promoted three times: to room service supervisor, then to assistant room service manager, and to his current job as assistant restaurant manager with responsibility for the bar.

10   A temporary position can also lead to a full-time, permanent position with benefits. Gwen Foster was a temporary administrative assistant. The hotel management recognized her talents and hired her permanently as a sales assistant. Foster rose through the ranks to become group sales manager. Her main duty is to seek out large groups that need hotel services in Atlanta. Foster is very happy with the opportunities she’s had at the InterContinental Buckhead. “The hotel is about people, and this makes me proud to be a part of this company,” says Foster. 

1）“There you go,” said the director. “That’s what you do. Take care of people like they are guests in your home and you will do fine in this business.” 

“你瞧，”那位经理说，“那就是你需要做的事。如果你照顾别人就像是你自己家里的客人，你就能把这份工作做好。” 

本句中的There you go 意为“你瞧，我说对了吧”。Take care of people like they are guests in your home and you will do fine in this business可以理解为If you take care of people like they are guests in your home, you will do fine in this business，这个句型值得注意。又如：

Arrive late for work again and you will lose your job. 

下次你若再上班迟到，你就被开除了。

2）Her drive to succeed and hard work over the years have put her where she is today — all without a college degree. 

她多年来对成功的渴望和辛勤的劳动把她推到今天的位置，所有这一切都是在没有大学文凭的情况下获得的。

本句的主语是Her drive to succeed and hard work over the years是She had a strong desire to become a success and worked hard over the years的名词化形式； where she is today意为in her current position；all without a college degree意为she received all these promotions without a college degree。

3）Employment in the hotel industry is expected to increase by 13.9 percent from 2006 through 2016… 

酒店业的就业率从2006年到2016年有望增加13.9%…… 

注意本句中的介词by，用以表示“增加的幅度”。又如：decrease by 20% 减少20%。

4）The number of hotels being built in the U.S. continues to rise…

美国在建的酒店数量持续增长…… 

本句中的being built是分词的被动态，作hotels的后置定语，意思是which are being built。

5）This is apparent at the InterContinental Buckhead, where several employees have swiftly moved up in their careers. 

这在巴克黑德洲际大饭店就很明显，好几位职员就在事业上提升很快。

本句中的where several employees have swiftly moved up in their careers是非限定性定语从句，修饰前面的the InterContinental Buckhead。后文中的which his managers recognized也是非限定性定语从句，修饰前面的positive attitude。