When Estefania Solache Alvarez joined NCG Hospitality as a housekeeper, she acknowledged, “It definitely was for me … just a job in the beginning.” But the family-owned company that develops and operates hotel properties is known for developing employees, too.
Rather than being only about bricks and mortar, employees say leadership actively invests in workers at all levels of the company. Employees are encouraged to try different roles, and if they’re able, shown a path to progress through the ranks. Over time Solache Alvarez began learning more about the hospitality business, she said, and at each NCG property where she worked, supervisors and managers took her under their wing, expediting her learning and growth.
“I would say that’s definitely been one of the biggest reasons I’m still here almost 14 years later,” said Solache Alvarez, who is now a brand and talent manager in NCG’s corporate office. “Every manager that I’ve ever worked with really took the time to invest in me and helped me see … you could basically do almost anything you want within the hospitality industry.”
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In addition to being a Top Workplace, NCG’s president and CEO Jeff Lenz won a special award for leadership, a reflection of the confidence employees have in their top executive.
Employees like Jeff Reese, a property accountant, said Lenz — who holds regular town hall-style meetings at NCG properties and its corporate office — does a great job of keeping everyone informed about what’s going on at the company and within the industry. “He shows genuine care and interest in all of us as a person as well as our career performance and growth,” Reese said. He describes a culture of transparency, honest straightforward communication and mutual respect.
It’s not just the business of the day that’s communicated, either, but celebratory shoutouts for everything from birthdays to anniversaries to babies born. “Those little things go a long way,” said Kari Kruchten, executive administrative manager at NCG Hospitality.
Along with traditional benefits, like insurance, NCG also offers employees major travel perks. “It’s been really nice to be able to travel and stay at places at a super low discount or even free from time to time,” Solache Alvarez said. And when the company goes the extra mile in taking care of its team, it’s certainly not lost on employees like Kruchten.
“We’re in the hospitality business — the people business,” she said. “So taking care of our people and helping people feel good about all the things we’re doing … I think they do a really good job with that.”
