Joseph Merek
Sunnyvale,CA
Summary
Hospitality professional with experience in restaurant operations, guest relations, and private dining support within Starwood Hotels, complemented by a background in process improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and team leadership. Skilled at building exceptional guest experiences, optimizing operations through SevenRooms reservation management, and partnering with leadership to execute seamless service. Passionate about growing within Starwood Hotels by leveraging strong communication, operational excellence, and a guest-first approach to drive successful catering and events sales.
Overview
1
1
Certification
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Valley Goat Host
Starwood Hotels
Sunnyvale, USA
05.2025 - Current
- Build positive relationships with guests while resolving service issues with professionalism.
- Partner with restaurant leadership and restaurant staff to ensure seamless execution of daily service and private dining experiences.
- Manage reservations through SevenRooms to optimize table utilization, guest flow, and overall dining experience.
- Support restaurant operations during peak service while maintaining Starwood's luxury hospitality standards.
Software Quality Specialist
Waymo
11.2021 - 08.2024
- Served as the subject matter expert (SME) specializing in product quality assurance processes.
- Facilitated cross-functional communication to revise workflows and documentation.
- Conducted training sessions and ensured successful implementation of changes.
- Monitored quarterly OKR goals for team quality.
Education
B.S. - Industrial and Systems Engineering
San José State University
San Jose, CA12-2019
Skills
- Customer Service
- Restaurant Operations
- Events Support
- Team Leadership
- Reservation Management (SevenRooms)
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Training & Development
- Vendor Management
- Google Suite
- Continuous Process Improvement
- Quality Assurance
- Communication
Certification
- Google Project Management Certificate
December 2024
Projects
Training Revamp, 2023
- Increased training material volume by 50%, created an exam feedback loop, and reduced training hours by 35%.
Inbound System, 2019
- Optimized workflows for 12 inbound stations, standardized processes, created documentation, and led training.
Timeline
Valley Goat Host
Starwood Hotels
05.2025 - Current
Software Quality Specialist
Waymo
11.2021 - 08.2024
B.S. - Industrial and Systems Engineering
San José State University