I worked at JW Marriott (Kindred/Braven) and unfortunately my experience was far below what I expected from a five-star hotel environment. The biggest challenge was the lack of consistent communication from management. Different managers gave conflicting instructions, and following one manager’s direction often led to criticism from another. This created an environment with no clear standards or guidance, leaving staff confused about expectations.
Another major issue was the workload. I was regularly expected to complete the full opening of Kindred entirely by myself, which includes more than 50 individual tasks before 6:30 AM. These tasks covered prep, coffee, pastries, juice production, restocking, cleaning, and customer service. Working alone at that pace was extremely stressful and unrealistic. Meanwhile, the Braven side of the hotel often had ten to fifteen staff scheduled for the same time period. The staffing imbalance made it clear that the workload placed on Kindred staff was not reasonable.
Opening alone also created safety concerns. Managers with keys frequently arrived late, leaving me unable to access necessary supplies or start setup on time. With no supervisor present and no second person on shift, morning operations felt unsupported and unsafe, especially when dealing with hot equipment, heavy items, and complex prep tasks.
Another ongoing problem was the lack of structured training or written instructions. Most of the job had to be learned through trial and error because expectations were never clearly documented. When mistakes happened, the blame often fell on staff instead of addressing the lack of proper training or communication.
The culture between departments was also difficult. Night shift and kitchen staff often left messes or incomplete prep work that morning staff had to fix alone, which added even more pressure to an already overloaded shift. Some members of the kitchen team were rude or dismissive, making the environment feel tense and unwelcoming.
Management support was minimal overall. When concerns were raised, they were rarely addressed or followed up on. At times it felt like management cared more about appearances and their own comfort than supporting staff or maintaining a healthy workplace culture.
There were also professionalism concerns that were openly visible to staff, and these behaviours were not addressed by leadership. It contributed to a workplace that often felt uncomfortable and not up to the standards expected from a hotel at this level.
Lastly, the lack of any employee discount on food or services at Kindred added to the feeling of being undervalued, especially given how hard staff were expected to work.
In my honest opinion, this is not an ideal place to work if you value clear communication, proper support, teamwork, or a healthy work environment. The inconsistent leadership, overwhelming workload, and lack of structure made my time here extremely challenging. I would recommend proceeding with caution if you’re considering a job at this location.
