HotelChatter

Re: Ross Klein Leaving W Hotels for... Hilton?!!

The Wall Street Journal reported on Ross's & his right hand man leaving Starwood for Hilton to launch Hilton's luxury boutique hotel brand:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121236314063036385.htm

Re: Ross Klein Leaving W Hotels for... Hilton?!!

stunned!

Re: Ross Klein Leaving W Hotels for... Hilton?!!

what's really interesting is that aloft was ross' baby. i mean, he was all about "reinventing the roadside motel" with aloft. maybe he got frustrated it took so fricking long to open the first one. er scratch that. we still have two months to wait on the first aloft.

Ross Klein Leaving W Hotels for... Hilton?!!

As an employee of Ross here at Hilton, I can definitely understand why W Hotels didn't want him.  The man is unbearable to work for.  The biggest PRIMADONA, whiner who never smiles, treats his team with disrespect, has zero communication skills, extremely rude constantly emailing on his blackberry, wasting all day using company money to take his designer friends out.  The man needs to grow up, dump that W clique and start showing respect and appreciation for his Hilton team.  I just don't see why he is considered the 'golden boy' when it is his team that does all the hard work.  Amar, on the other hand is great!  Definitely a 'win' for Hilton.  If anyone who reads this is considering working for him, DON'T.  I am not a disgruntled employee trying to blacklist him, I am just being 100% honest and not wanting someone else to make the same mistake I did.  What a nightmare.

Ross Klein @Hilton

Sounds like a bitter "former" employee of Hilton or even worse somone from Starwood stil mad that Ross is creating a fun cutlure at Hilton. If he is on his berry its becuase he never wnats to let anyone down, including the dozens of guests who have emailed chatter to thank him for his personal return of every email or complaint and being available as an executive. Dont mistake his seriousness for being a primodonna. he is direct and doesnt BS, maybe thats too much for some people,but not customers or evidently the people that follow him to do great work wherever he goes. maybe legomyeggo should re-read theirh note to really understand what whiney sounds like. Good for Hilton, people are really looking and people are really joining his team, amar is one of them.

Ross Klein Leaving W Hotels for... Hilton?!!

Looks to me like legomyeggo is having a hard time.  Ross definitely has standards and expects a high level of energy, but he is one of the most decent and delightful people I have ever worked with.  I know many others who would say the same.  Might want to take those sour grapes and make a different kind of wine.  

Ross Klein Here

As a Hilton associate for over a decade, I am thrilled that designers are now coming back with Ross' presence here, the energy has totally changed. And for the better. I have found Ross to be approachable and reserved and speaks a different language but thats ok, we needed a shake up. Maybe eggo just wanted things to stay the same. I have seen Ross with his new team and there is a lot of laughing and their office even has candles and music. Now that is something we could use more of. Shame on Eggo for a personal attack. That is not Being Hospitable.  Maybe they should work more on Company time. People are supposed to be different, and complete change had to happen. Especially in these tiimes. I remember the same mean-ness during other Hilton transitions and its really a shame for some folks.

Ross Klein Platinum

If Ross isnt Golden, he is Platinum, ck out W and aloft and stay tuned for whats coming from Hilton.If Leggo is still at hilton, must be pals with someone Ross fired. I have worked with Ross outside of the biz for years and if he is not smiling, he is thinking. He defends and promotes his team from interns to veeps and as far as working 24/7, are you joking? As a vendor I have called him on many continents and many time-zones and gotten a response without fail. Ross doesnt fail or let his projects or team fail. Maybe that is too much for some. Any old-schoolers at Hilton better grab-on for a cool ride or hop off your Eggo now.

eggo on Ross's face?

Who wrote that crap? Ken or Frits? Matt's gone, so who knows, amazing how close to a feared Hilton announcement something childish gets said most likely out of the fear in the building here! You go Ross and Amar! Many would have followed you both!

Ross Kleins Blog Coward

What I find amazing is that Ross would give someone an opportunity on his team that doesnt seem to  know why he would be be meeting with designers or the differences between his role challenges and Amars. In any event, I am writing not because I like Ross-although i do like his fresh clarity and capabilities-so much as I despise this kind of cowardly internet witchhunting. As someone on the inside, Here are Ross and Amars emails: Ross.Klein@hilton.com amar.lalvani@hilton.com ; maybe eggo , if they really exist can be an adult and email them. Sounds like a grudge or lack of maturity or a plant to most of us, at the very least someone without maturity or abiity to keep up. maybe they should just quit or go back to a comfort zone. Dozens of people want to work on the Brands Ross is restoring or creating and reports from the team I interact with are they are exhausted but having fun. maybe eggo can leave and make room. From the presentations we have seen the work is sharp and Ross always calls out the team contributions.  
If I were Ross I'd keep the bar raised and do a better job screening.

Insanity

I never tend to blog against comments but this original comment needs to be spoken to.  I worked for Ross in his previous position at W and the world has not been the same without him there.  If he blackberries it's because he is answering guest complaints DIRECTLY or creating relationships for his employees to execute - half of what W acomplished was because of his day, night, weekend work ethic to make that brand a success.  His level of attention and vision is unparallel to anyone I have EVER worked for and since working for Ross I have not been inspired the same by anyone.  My friends at Hilton say he is turning the place upsidedown in a good way and makes everyone feel they too are a part of a revolution for Hilton with this new lifestyle brand.  Incredible.  Starwood should be scared and should have treated him better so he stayed.  Their loss, Hilton's gain. I hope everyone can one day meet or work for him because he is truly an energy that will change your outlook on life - or at least hotels!  Legomyeggo - you are a hater that couldnt keep up with the pace of his genius.  

RK is a RockStar!

I have also had the pleasure to work closely with RK and he is a true rockstar! he is one of the most innovative people I have ever met, his passion for what he does is incredible & he is absolutely inspiring. if you have the chance to witness his genius you should take advantage and learn from it you will find it an invaluable experience.  He truly believes in the team effort and always gives credit where credit is due. he is a true leader and tries to surround himself with the best people to bring his vision to fruition.  Does he expect a lot from those around him?, absolutely! But, is that a bad thing?  Be assured that he gives 3x's as much as he expects from others.  I have witnessed hi's & lo's with RK and like all creative genius' with great passion it is an emotional ride, but that is exactly what sets him apart and above the rest... his heart.  But...alas, it's human nature to try an break down such a genuine soul.

A difference of opinion

I had heard rumblings that there had been a post with claims against Ross, and that many of his friends "passed the word" to post in his defense.  It is because of this, I feel compelled to post as well.  I am not a blogger, but I'd hate for readers to be mislead by one-sided opinions, especially when I could provide a different view, giving more depth to the subject.  Like the other bloggers, I too worked with Ross closely at W, and came to know him quite well professionally.  Although leggo may not have put his/her opinion into words as eloquently, constructively or professionally as they could have been, I think leggo was spot-on in many respects.  However, I would have to agree with Ross' decision to bring in his "clique" from W, for it definitely takes a special type of personality to be able to work his personality successfully.  In Ross's defense, he has a very nice side and treats those in his circle quite well, but he also can be very rough on them, and even rougher on those who are not.  It is from close observation I have come to the opinon the real issue is that his personality isn't mainstream corporate, and most certainly not mainstream hospitality.  It is the type of personality that is more acceptable in the design/art world, which, if you've done your research, is his background (and thus, most likely the reason for his many "designer" friends).  

Spin

i dont think there are enough anonymous Page Six sources or Ross Klein coterie members that are going to be able to put a positive spin on the lawsuit filed against Ross for stealing confidential information.  I dont think anybody can deny his creative ability and accomplishments while at W, but his inability to get along with people, along with his abrasive and unprofessional manner are what will ultimately be his undoing.  There were not many upset people inside Starwood when he left.  Lesson for those early in your career in corporate America: You just cant go around treating people unprofessionally and horribly before it catches up to you.

PS

I feel sorry that Amar Lalvani, who is a class act, is being dragged into this mess.

Sad day at Hilton

I read all 91 pages of the legal filing against Hilton, Ross and Amar. If the allegations are true, and everyone deserves their day in court, bring back the old Hilton ... those guys had ethics.  It is apparent that Blackstone's paying way too much for the "Hilton Family" has lead to desperate times at the "new" Hilton.  Nassetta doesn't mind flipping peoples worlds and moving to his "home town" of the Washington Metro Area and these folks are his hires ... my guess is that heads will role over this and Hilton will emerge stronger sans Blackstone down the line.

No surprise

The "sad day at Hilton" was the day Blackstone brought in new management, and, in particular, Ross Klein.  I was already very disappointed to learn that after Ross had hired an entire team, Blackstone announced they would be relocating the Hilton Corp office.  Which means many of those who left their jobs to work for Ross/Hilton would now lose their jobs, putting them out of work in a crappy economy. I have no doubt Ross and Hilton management knew at the time they hired those poor people that they'd be relocating in the near future.  SHAME ON THEM.  Now, the announcement of being sued for espionage!  I hope that those he brought with him from W to Hilton also will be sharing the responsibility (i.e., Susan, Erin, Chris, etc.)  Looks like Legomyeggo may see some sort of justice...lets hope that the ole saying "what comes around goes around" will hold true in this case.

Are You People Kidding?

Susan Magrino, Michael Doneff, THEN Barry S. and a host of others are the ones who "Made W" - RK just took what existed successfully and turned it into something else. NOT Genius - just resourceful.

RK left a wide wake of crying (because of how poorly he treated people) in the halls outside of offices. He was rude, boorish and a wasp-wannabe in EVERY sense of the word. Sad and desperate at best.

And I'd say - that there's a 97% chance he did snag Starwood docs and use them at Hilton to create Denizen - known as the Zen Den at Starwood. Huh - what a fluke? Hardly!!!

Lesson to be learned - what you put out there WILL come back to bite you on your big wide-wale chord butt.