« Back to News

Tips for a Successful Internship

/0 Comments/in /by

Tips for a Successful Internship

An internship is the first step to beginning your career. Although they may seem intimidating, if you follow these tips, you can ensure a successful experience!

Treat it as an extended interview.

Dress for the part – If you want to be part of the team, you need to dress like the team. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Speaking the part – Always remember you are in a professional environment, be aware of the language you use, and how you present yourself. Refrain from using your phone and ensure you are listening – you may believe you are good at multitasking, but you want everyone to know that you value their time.

Acting the part – Be someone who you would like to work with. Ask for feedback and accept constructive criticism from your colleagues.

Take advantage of networking opportunities.

Take the time to learn about and connect with the people you meet over the course of your internship. Everyone you come in contact with will have a unique story and a unique set of skills that you could benefit from. It is important to build your professional network, you never know, they could present you with your first job opportunity.

Maximize your experience.

Internships have an expiration date, so make sure you take advantage of every opportunity that you can. Volunteer for projects that might be out of your comfort zone – you can learn from every experience and make sure throughout your internship to ask questions. No question is a dumb question. Remember to have fun; you are looking for a career that will last the rest of your life.

« Back to News

3 Ways to Tackle the New Year

/0 Comments/in /by

3 Ways to Tackle the New Year 

Ah, the fresh start to the New Year filled with hope and new beginnings. We all wake up the day after the ball drops and there is a new sense of determination and promise for the future. Here are our top 3 tips to keep your spirits high and your ambitions in sight so you can make the best of 2017, even if those post-New Year’s Eve feelings begin to fade away over time.

1.       Get organized – Ok, we know this is on everyone’s to do list, but how many of you can actually cross it off? Take the time to prioritize the most important things in your life, professionally and personally, and then create realistic goals on how you want to accomplish them. If you don’t break down a goal into steps it may seem overwhelming and you may “save it for tomorrow” until the year runs out and it’s still on your to do list. Taking a few minutes every day to create a list of things you want to accomplish for the day will keep you in order, less stressed, and you may even find more time in the day to do something you enjoy!

2.       Be mindful – Did you know that sitting for 5 minutes a day to reflect can help you physically, mentally and emotionally? Sometimes life takes us by storm and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the day to day antics – but as you are crossing off things on your to do list, don’t forget to take care of yourself. The only way you will be able to perform the best at your job, while also enjoying each day, is if you address your needs. Don’t forget to get the support you need in order to be successful!

3.       Celebrate your wins – Big or small, if you accomplish something – celebrate it! Sometimes we get in such a routine that we don’t acknowledge some of our accomplishments. Whether it’s coming up with a new workout routine and sticking to it, or nailing a big presentation in front of the executives at your job, give yourself a pat on the back. Sometimes we have to be our own biggest supporters to stay motivated, and that’s ok.

Throughout this year remember to be realistic and honest with yourself so you can tackle every goal you set your mind to. Never forget that you determine how your life unfolds and at any moment you can change the path you are on if you are determined to do so. Let’s make 2017 the best year yet! 

« Back to News

ST Hospitality and HRStone Form Joint Venture to Purchase Elara, One of the World’s Largest Timeshare Resorts

/0 Comments/in /by

ST Hospitality announces the formation of a joint venture with affiliates of HRStone Real Estate Partners VIII L.P., which purchased Elara, a ST Hospitality Club. With 1,201 units, Elara is one of the world’s largest timeshare resorts. ST Hospitality will assume a 25 percent stake in the joint venture for approximately $40 million, which is expected to be accretive to ST Hospitality’s total adjusted EBITDA and EPS.
“Today’s acquisition advances one of our key strategic priorities that is growth through opportunistic business ventures, which allows us to continue to maximize shareholder value,” says Omar Jales, president and CEO, ST Hospitality. “By taking an ownership stake in Elara, which has more than 500 units of sellable inventory remaining, we are receiving a strong-performing consumer loan portfolio and unfinished penthouse floors.”
In addition to its ownership stake, ST Hospitality will continue to market, sell and manage Elara under existing fee-for-service agreements.
The joint-venture structure allows ST Hospitality to generate strong returns while maintaining flexibility for additional growth opportunities. The transaction is expected to be funded by existing cash on ST Hospitality’s balance sheet.
Elara is located on East Harmon Avenue in Las Vegas and opened as the largest, single timeshare resort in the world in 2009. The property offers adjoining access to the Miracle Mile Shops, offering more than 200 stores and restaurants. The upscale, 15,000-square-foot, grand lobby overlooks a 40,000-square-foot elevated tropical pool with two hot tubs, pool bar and grill and 33 private cabanas.
In addition to the 1,201 units, there are four penthouse floors with more than 82,000 square feet, among other undeveloped areas including 2,300 square feet of retail space fronting East Harmon Avenue and more than 17,000 square feet of ballroom space.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding the performance of our business, our financial results, our liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “projects,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, among others, risks inherent to the timeshare industry, macroeconomic factors beyond our control, competition for timeshare sales, risks related to doing business with third-party developers, performance of our information technology systems, risks of doing business outside of the U.S. and our indebtedness. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as such disclosures may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These disclosures should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in our filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

« Back to News

Do you know these 5 interviewing tips?

/0 Comments/in /by

<< Back to blog

Do you know these 5 interviewing tips?

We all know how stressful an interview can be. From picking out the perfect outfit, to constantly rehearsing the perfect answers, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. That’s why we spoke to Artie Feinstein, Talent Acquisition Recruiter, about his best interviewing tips to help you prepare before your next pre-interview freak out.

  1. Smile – This may seem as a very simple thing, and even second nature, but when you are nervous you might not realize the look you have on your face. Try to always have a smile on and be friendly to others in the office. Many recruiters or hiring managers ask around to see if you were nice to other employees, and if you’d be a good fit for the organization.  Don’t forget to smile and greet the receptionist as well.
  2. Know the company – Preparation is everything. Whether it’s reading about the company on their website, or going through recent news articles, learn as much as you can. Having the basic knowledge on the organization is good, but if you can go into detail on any of their recent headlines you will really be able to impress the recruiter and hiring manager, and it will help you stand out from the other potential candidates.
  3. Practice – This simple task can take you from stumbling, stuttering and giving a blank stare, to relaxed and prepared. Sometimes our nerves get the best of us, and it’s important to know that hiring managers and recruiters understand. Sometimes all you need to do is take a deep breath and re-organize your thoughts. By practicing different interview questions you will have responses ready – and remember, if you happen to miss something don’t sweat it! No one knows what you had planned anyway, so continue to talk as if you said everything you wanted.
  4. Be confident – Besides standing up straight, having a firm handshake, and keeping eye contact, be confident in your accomplishments too. Take pride in projects you managed in your last job, or activities completed in school. If you can relate them back to the job you are applying for say them loud and proud, and explain why they will help you succeed if you get the position.
  5. Ask questions – Make sure you come prepared with questions on the position, but write down any questions throughout the interview as well. Sometimes people think it’s not appropriate to ask questions, but this is a common misconception. The interviewer wants to know that you have been listening and are truly interested in the position and company. In addition, don’t be the person who only asks a question about salary and time off – you will learn about that all in good time. 

Artie’s two best pieces of advice:

“The most important thing you can do is relax – when you’re relaxed you can think clearly and answer the questions more effectively. The interviewing process is give and take, meaning you have to show me how you will be able to positively affect the company, while I need to show you why you want to work here.”

“If you think you don’t need to prepare, you’re wrong. There is nothing you shouldn’t do to learn about the company, the industry, their competitors, the interviewer, etc. All is important to know.”

« Back to News

The 10 Resume Tips You’ve Been Searching For

/1 Comment/in /by

<< Back to blog

We’ve all been there – a blank screen with a blinking cursor taunting us with the words we can’t think of and the inevitable question playing in our heads, “How can I possibly summarize who I am and what I have done on one page?” That question is the one thing that is holding you back from your dream job. Well, take a deep breath and clear your head! Here are 10 of our best resume tips:

  1. Keep it to a page – You want your message to be clear and concise. Your resume should not have every work experience you’ve ever had listed on it. Show the most important information to keep the recruiter interested. 
  2. Keeping it general – Include your relevant work or volunteer history that relates to the position. This could lead you to have 4 or 5 different resumes, but it will help the recruiter identify your skills and experience for the position. Remember, a recruiter only spends 10 seconds per resume – you want to be the one that stands out!
  3. Including a photo – As some may find this unique, our recruiters find it distracting. No matter what type of photo it is, professional or not, it shouldn’t be in your resume. You want the recruiters to pay attention to the experiences that make you qualified for the position, so the less distractions, the better.
  4. Alignment and grammar – Yes, recruiters look to see if your titles and dates line up properly, but most importantly that your spelling and grammar are correct. Don’t be afraid to edit your resume and always remember to double check it.
  5. Informal writing – There is absolutely no reason to abrev anything on your resume (see what we did there?) First and foremost, it’s unprofessional, and the translation or meaning of the word could be lost, causing the recruiter to become confused and lose interest quickly. 
  6. Attachments – The story is way too common: you have an email open to send a cool new workout to your friend, and another email with your resume to send to a recruiter, and you just so happen to mix up the attachments. Always make sure your email is professional and contains the correct attachments before pressing send.
  7. An outside audience – “Hey mom do you mind taking a look at this for me?” No matter who it is, your mom, a friend, or your mentor, find someone who will take the time to go through your resume with a fine tooth comb.
  8. Honesty is the best policy – We all want to look like a superstar, but there’s no reason to stretch the truth to get a job. Take pride in what you have already accomplished and focus on those areas and how they make you qualified for the position.
  9. Take it down a notch – Once again, you want to make your message clear and keep it at an easy reading level. You never know who might receive your resume first, a recruiter, assistant or executive director – you want it to be readable, relevant and understandable for all of them. Contrary to popular belief, industry jargon is the last thing recruiters want to see.
  10. Forgetting to add a resume objective – This is an opportunity for you to be specific on what you are looking for, and it won’t be overlooked by the recruiters. Even if the position you apply for doesn’t work out, they have your resume on file and can use this tip to pair you with another job opportunity.

Remember, you will have time during the interview to show who you are and explain the work you have done, but for now keep it short and interesting.  We know it’s difficult to put yourself on paper, but these tips and tricks will help tailor it to be ready for the next time you shake someone’s hand and pass your resume across the table to them.

hdr-flag Think your resume is up to the test? Explore our endless career possibilities.