Hilton Hotel Call Center Operators Take Reservations From Home
February 19, 2008 by Yvonne Russell
Well, who would have thought that a large call center would close down, and operators could work from home as telecommuters?
The Streator, Illionois based Hilton Hotel Reservations Worldwide Call Center opened six years ago and is now closing down.
Greg Stanmar reports
The company will provide $250 and an allowance for high-speed Internet service to allow employees to work from their homes, making reservations for hotels in the chain, according to a press release issued this week. About 35 employees have taken the company up on its offer and the rest have until Jan. 25 to decide…
The entire Streator operation will be home based, adding to the 600 home based staff Hilton Hotels already employs. The theory is that the extra incentive would be saving on gas and traveling time, a well as the monetary incentive.
This is a huge move from traditional highly controlled call center operations. It will be interesting to see how this approach pans out and if it is the start of a trend worldwide.
This does seem to be a trend that enables businesses to save overhead and hire employees who don’t have to deal with commuting. One of the airlines does this, too…handles many of its reservations using at-home employees. I think we’ll find it becoming a trend, if businesses such as Hilton Hotel have success.
JetBlue has been doing this for years. Every time you call JetBlue to make a booking, you’re getting served on by a woman working out of her home. A fantastic plan for part-time employees and mothers of young children, as well as for older people. This is new outsourcing.
Thanks for this information and your insights about JetBlue.
It does seem that outsourcing to home based workers and contractors may be the future for call centers.
I find this much more appealing than outsourcing to another country. It’s about time a company has actually taken advantage of technology. This really helps contribute to the life/work balance that this country severely needs.
Hi Keith
It seems a win win, as workers have more flexibility, and companies have less infrastructure costs with offices etc.
I have been working from home as Senior travel agent for AAA Mid atlantic area. For my personel social commitment have to quit the job. It is a good job working from home however it seemed was working all the time as never got morning shift to work. worked most evening when family is home and had to be at the computer all the tmie and all call recorded. It felt like a school child somebody alway looking over you saying don’t do this don’t that. I am looking for part time work just as hotel reservationist like Hiton has for tampa and Texas.However we need somthing in Washington DC area where I could work for hilton with flexible hours only during the day time. like between 9 am to 6pm may be. I have good experience for 7 years as senior travel agent. Any suggestion to find something like that?
Sheela
Hi, A friend recently told me about the reservationist work at home program. I am interested in learning more about it and what type of training you do. Is it all internet based training or do you go somewhere for that? I am looking for employment and this would be something good to keep me busy and earn some extra money. Thank you.