Starwood Hotels to add 6,000 U.S. jobs in 2010

by Melanie Nayer on

Starwood Hotels, the operator of Sheraton, Westin and W brand hotels, gave the U.S. job market some much needed hope when it announced plans to add about 6,000 new U.S. jobs in 2010.

Starwood said the new jobs will be created in accordance with the 80 to 100 hotels it plans to open this year, including hotels in New York City, Los Angeles, Biloxi, Miss., Kalamazoo, Mich. and more popular cities nationwide. Positions available include everything from general managers and human resource workers to housekeeping and guest services.

Starwood said a number of upcoming hotels are hiring now or plan to do soon, including The Westin Austin at The Domain, Sheraton Brooklyn New York and the Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi Beach Boulevard. If you’re interested in the hospitality industry, check out the Starwood job board at www.starwood.jobs or new-hotels.starwoodpromos.com.

Odd Travel Job: Sleep Director

by Adrienne Wilson on

Question: What is the correct job title for a traveling man or woman that gets to romp around in bed all day and test hotel mattresses?

If your answer was a “Prostitute” then your mind needs cleansing and we will go no further with such raunchy talk in the workplace, even if they fit the bill. However, if you said “Sleep Director” then you probably heard the alarms sound because that is the correct answer, my friends. Sleep Directors have the fabulous and odd job of testing out all those cozy hotel beds before you do. According to Ted’s List, which includes three odd jobs this month, most hotel chains employ “Sleep Directors” or people who can tell if a mattress is too firm or too soft, and whether the design of the hotel room will keep you from dozing into dream worlds.

Now this bit of trivia was something I read over a week ago and it bothered me a little on the inside. I mean, it bothered me to the point of trying to find out more about this unusual gig. Do I personally wish to become a Sleep Director? Yawn, not quite. I’m just curious to know the qualifications. In my searches I was only able to find this job ad for a Mattress Tester. The employer seeking Mattress Tester 44 notes that their benefits package is quite competitive and that salary is determined by sleep experience. Additionally they are an Equal Opportunity Employer, but Federal law prohibits employment of extraterrestrials.

The madness!!! Is this for real? If there are any real Mattress Testers or Sleep Directors out there I beg you to leave a comment. Heck, if there are any extraterrestrials out there in the blogosphere make your presence known as well.

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