The Future Leaders of Hyatt: Corporate Management Trainees

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When my peers and I are on campus, students often want to know more about Hyatt’s Corporate Management Training (CMT) program.  Heidi, Brook, and I can all speak firsthand about the program because we all began our Hyatt careers as Corporate Management Trainees.  Recently with the announcement of 13 General Manager moves within our company, we were reminded of the CMT program’s legacy and how many successful Hyatt managers have completion of the program as part of their professional foundation. 

Of the 13 General Managers recognized in the announcement, 9 of them began their Hyatt careers as Corporate Management Trainees.  One of them actually began the CMT program 42 years ago in 1969!  Our company has a vested interest in the program because not only is the program a pipeline for new Hyatt talent, the CMT program has launched the careers of so many Hyatt managers, division heads, and directors, as a result many of our key leaders are CMT alumni.  Our Vice-President of Recruiting was a CMT, as well as our Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Senior Vice President of Field Operations, and our Chief Operating Officer, Chuck Floyd. 

Hyatt’s CMT program is offered in eight different concentrations and the length of each program varies.  For example, our Operations (Rooms and Food & Beverage) concentration is five months in duration; our Culinary concentration is much more technical and therefore a fifteen month program.   Regardless of concentration all Corporate Management Trainees begin their program with a six week rotation throughout every department of the hotel.  Gaining hands on experience in every area increases the trainee’s understanding of how each department contributes to the hotel’s success. 

In order to be eligible for the program, graduating seniors must have continuous authorization to work in the United States, a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality (unless pursing a Culinary or Engineering concentration) with a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 or greater, and have at least nine months of work experience within the industry.  They should also be involved in their community and active leaders on campus.  Corporate Management Trainees are placed each January and June.  After successful completion of the program, the CMT is promoted to an entry-level management role. 

I’m often asked how warmly the staff of our hotels embrace incoming Corporate Management Trainees.  Many of our hotels have staff members that have worked for  Hyatt for over 20 years; I can honestly tell you that our employees get quite a kick out of seeing the fresh out of college graduate they met move up in responsibility.  They like to brag and tell new Hyatt associates that they know Hyatt’s COO or a particular General Manager personally, that they were there when the individual worked at their hotel as a Corporate Management Trainee.  They keep track of the former CMT’s career and take pride in their growth because they know they had a hand in their success. 

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