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I have had the absolute pleasure in working with Gecko Hospitality this past year, we work directly with Karen Kern on most of our open positions and she has been phenomenal! What I appreciate most about Karen is she takes time to listen to exactly what we are looking for in a candidate, from their experience and demeanor. I can always count on her to be in communication with me and answer any questions I have during the process. Karen is a very knowledgeable about overall hotel operations and understands recruiting experienced people into these roles at our hotels.
Marty, Karen, and team have been a true asset to our recruitment process and we look forward to continuing to work with them for years to come.
Karen Kern is one of the best in her industry. She is very thorough in candidate selection, follow’s up and follows through. She takes her time and has always giving me the best of the best in candidates. In fact, her candidates are still with the company today. Her knowledge, understanding and experience are a true asset to her company and mine. Her approach and overall demeanor is always very excited, open and precise. I look forward to working with Karen for many years to come.
Marty
You are a great “people picker” and talent developer! Tara is terrific and reps you well.
I am on to the next phase of interviews!
Tara’s ‘tude’ is contagious and she motivates me, but keeps me grounded.
Thank you!
It’s been great working with Gecko Hospitality. They made sure to thoroughly educate themselves on our company culture before seeking out candidates for us, and since, their communication and follow-up has been impeccable from candidate introduction to selection process scheduling. They’ve matched us with some great candidates that wouldn’t have discovered us through our own ads, and many are succeeding in their current roles. We look forward to our continuing partnership with Gecko Hospitality.
Gecko Hospitality has been a huge asset to us in our hiring needs. Our company has been experiencing a huge influx of growth, and Gecko Hospitality is always quick to provide new candidates, and are always there for us for anything we need. The candidates they send are professional, qualified, and are exactly who we are looking for. We look forward to our continued partnership with Gecko and to receiving more of their referred talents.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Gecko Hospitality on several job searches as well as a candidate. Gecko demonstrated the highest degree of integrity, kindness, skill, insight, and perseverance. The Gecko Team is friendly and professional keeps the interest of its clients at heart. I highly recommend Gecko if you are looking for top quality talent or seeking career development.
I wanted to write a quick thank you for all of your hard work in presenting us with magnificent candidates. As you know, Gecko Hospitality is a new partner with Hard Rock but we are already seeing great results in the candidates you are providing us.
Your communication and screening of candidates to match our needs are working.
Keep up all of the great work.
Since 2014 I have had the pleasure of working with Rob Dallaire C.P.C., Southern California Market Partner with Gecko Hospitality. At the time our collaboration began, Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop maintained 4 existing establishments in the Los Angeles and Orange County Markets. With expansive growth on the horizon, Greenleaf partnered with Rob to recruit key candidates to build our restaurant leadership team. Over the years, Rob has placed General Managers, Managers, and Chefs within the Greenleaf Organization, helping to support our growth to 9 locations. Each time we were presented with talented candidates who matched our specific criteria and needs. Rob’s personalized services seek to know and understand your business to ensure that all candidates presented will be a true fit within the organization. He has a natural ability to identify and attract high caliber candidates. Paired with Rob’s outgoing, professional, and reliable traits, we could not ask for more qualified individual to partner with for our recruitment needs. Rob Dallaire is an integral part for any company looking to source the best talent for their hospitality needs. Please accept this letter and my personal and professional endorsement of Rob Dallaire and the services he provides.
I just wanted to say thanks to you and your staff for your strong level of commitment and your willingness to work with Bakers Square in resolving our management openings.
For the past three years you have provided our Company with management candidates who are experienced in the restaurant industry and who display a high level of professionalism.
My regional managers have commented on the quality of your management referrals and they have collectivity chosen Gecko as their agency of choice for identifying and hiring the best management candidates.
Again, thanks for your help and I look forward to many more years of working together.
Gecko Hospitality has worked with us at Yard House for 5 years. In that time we have used them in all of our markets. Scott Butts and Darrell Reidinger have participated at a very high level in what have proven to be 2 very high turnover areas in Kansas and Arizona. Both have shown great ability in understanding the type of candidate we look for and their candidates are always prepared for our process. They have also shown great flexibility and determination in finding “diamonds in the rough”. Its their performance on that level that gives us confidence in using Gecko wherever we may need Managers.
I want to thank you for all of your assistance this year with attracting high quality talent for our unique concept. I especially appreciate your recruiting efforts in tough markets. You are first on my list to call regarding new openings.
Gecko Hospitality is one of the very few agencies I work with to place managers at GameWorks. Your firm is a true asset.
You and your team have very high standards and integrity.
I look forward to working with you and your team in the future.
Victoria is an excellent recruiter to hire when in need of restaurant managers. I recently asked Victoria for help in a very tough to hire region and she provided me with great candidates, one of whom we recently hired. What I appreciated most about working with Victoria was she took time to select candidates that met our requirements for the position we were looking to fill. She is also an excellent communicator and always kept me aware of the candidate’s she was submitting for consideration.
I highly recommend Victoria for any restaurant concept that is looking for additional recruiting support. She is trustworthy and very reliable and a pleasure to work with.
Kevin Kalstad was prompt and professional. Our new General Manager is a perfect fit. We look forward to enlisting the help of Gecko Hospitality as we continue to grow. Cheers, Kevin!
I would like to thank you and your staff for the hard work put forward in presenting qualified candidates to me in staffing Cracker Barrel Restaurants. Your recruiters’ diligence as well as follow-up to details are second to none. All of your recruiters are very cordial and I enjoy working with them. I look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with yourself and Gecko Hospitality. Keep up the good work.
It is with great pleasure that I recommend Barry Mills. I have worked with Barry for approximately 5 years and in that time he has displayed nothing less than professionalism, integrity and hard work. He has come through for us on multiple occasions in bringing solid candidates to fit our needs. He has done an excellent, consistent job over the years and his dedication, determination and follow-up are exemplary. We have had a great working relationship that I hope will continue for many, many years.
It has been a pleasure working with Larry Friedkin from Gecko Hospitality – it is obvious how deeply he cares about his profession and helping to link candidates to find their best possible next career. Larry has certainly done his research in understanding our company’s needs and interests, and presents timely candidates who often work out and end up being great additions to our bakery-cafes. He is quick to respond, be it setting up interviews, reviewing interview feedback and/or making sure each candidate is treated with respect, dignity, care and timeliness. Larry is conscientious, dedicated and interested to work with us to find the best possible candidates and managers. Our partnership continues to be enjoyable and a success.
I wanted to take a moment to thank you and your staff at Gecko Hospitality for the wonderful service you provide to Bravo! Development, Inc. In today’s market, seeking the best hospitality candidates can be a complicated task. With the timely and precise help of Gecko, Bravo! Development has been able to fill several key positions with extraordinary candidates.
Thank you again for providing the exemplary service I have come to expect from your company. Bravo! Development looks forward to a continued partnership with Gecko Hospitality.
It is with pleasure that I recommend the Gecko Hospitality organization. I wanted to say a special ‘thank you’ to Joan Koelbel who helped us with the recruiting efforts during a critical time of expansion process of our restaurants. We spent time discussion the particular qualities and the critical attributes that this person must possess in order to help propel our brand. Immediately, she was able to set up meetings and interviews with qualified candidates. We worked together on the recruiting process and she was timely and very professional. I would highly recommend working with Joan or the Gecko Hospitality organization again!
I just wanted to say thank Tom Bull and his team for helping us fulfill the Market Chef position for Washington, DC. I’m truly appreciative of his support along with the quick response from his team and most importantly identifying the ‘right fit’ candidate for us. We are very excited to get our new Market Chef started in DC.
In today’s competitive labor market, developing relationships with quality vendors is one of the keys to success. Working with ethical, talented individuals outside as well as inside a company is necessary in order for an organization to maximize its potential. At Ryan’s, we are selective in the companies that represent our brand.
I’m happy to say that Gecko Hospitality assists us in meeting our management staffing needs.
The staff at Gecko continues to earn our trust by accurately portraying Ryan’s to applicants. They are diligent, honest and perceptive in executing our job orders. Most importantly, they present fine quality candidates to us that meet and exceed our hiring criteria. Like Ryan’s, they have built a successful business by treating people right. That is a business strategy that will never go out of style!
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding our satisfaction with Gecko Hospitality.
When I joined the Krystal Company in September 2009, Sterling Smith was the first Recruiter that contacted me to establish a partnership. Sterling and I spent time on the phone week after week discussing candidates and their backgrounds so that he could get a best understanding of the Krystal culture and present the candidates that were the ideal fit for our various markets.
Due to his dedication, persistence and ability to make the connection between candidate and company, I am very proud of the fact that my first placement with my new company came from Sterling!
Any company that decides to partner up with Sterling and Gecko Hospitality is considered lucky in my book; he’s proven to me to be the ideal extension of our recruiting efforts!
In the past two years, Apple Gold has developed a strong recruiting relationship with Gecko Hospitality. They have done an exceptional job helping us successfully hire both Restaurant Managers and Area Directors.
Before sending potential candidates to us Gecko does an outstanding job of screening candidates ensuring we can make a good fit and create a beneficial match for both parties. During the time we have worked together the Gecko recruiters have demonstrated strong knowledge of the casual dining industry as well as a comprehensive understanding of our needs.
Overall, we immensely value our relationship with Gecko Hospitality and recommend them to other organizations.
Robert,
This is a letter of recommendation for Gecko Hospitality. Gecko Hospitality has played a vital role in Houlihan’s success over the years with its support of our management staffing and recruiting. Whether it is through open houses, career fairs, or direct staffing Gecko hospitality has always been there to provide the support that we need.
One of the areas that I feel is so important not only in the Hospitality field but in all fields is customer service. The people at Gecko Hospitality are what I like to consider ‘Leaders in our Industry.’ They truly understand what it takes to get the job done, but do it in a professional yet personable manner.
Thank-you very much for many years of partnership and success and I look forward to many more years of continual success and friendship.
I have used Rob’s services for years. He listens well to a client’s needs and delivers on them. Rob has great follow up and follow through. He has excellent resources and an extensive network. Rob is a pleasure to work with.
Over the past 8 months, Kevin and I have worked together on my staffing needs for my team with P.F. Chang’s. Kevin took the time to find out what my needs and expectations are and only sends me the highest quality of management applicants.
While I don’t know Kevin Kalstad on a personal level, I know he has done his research and is clearly aware of my ‘likes and dislikes. As a recruiter, this is a great way to do business and create long lasting professional relationships.
Thanks Kevin…
Kevin Kalstad with Gecko Hospitality took all of the leg work out of identifying and pre-screening any potential candidates, allowing me to continue to focus on operations while looking for a new General Manager. We are located in a remote area and find it extremely difficult to find senior managers with the experience needed to run a facility of our volume. Within one month, Kevin had identified and put us in touch with a perfect fit for our organization. Should I have any future recruiting needs, I will not hesitate in contacting Kevin and the Gecko Hospitality organization.
I have been in the hospitality industry for most of my professional career and have had the pleasure and misfortune of working with recruiters. I have recently found myself inheriting a market in NW Arkansas for a restaurant company called Slim Chickens and have had the extreme pleasure of working with Jacob Tarabar. He is extremely organized, thorough, professional while delivering me credible candidates that fit my needs. I started my search for talent with three recruiters and know solely work with Jacob for he has outperformed your competition with Herculean results. I am very loyal to those that support me in this fashion and have recently even sent Jacob friends that are out looking for their next employment. So simply put Jacob Rocks because he is making the recruitment and hiring portion of my job effortless.
We began working with Victoria Epstein in 2010 in the Minnesota market. It is a market where additional recruiting support is absolutely needed. Victoria has had great success in the very short time we’ve worked together. Victoria is incredibly dedicated to listening, understanding not only the specifics of the opening but also our processes and has superb follow through & communication. As Victoria has gotten to know our company culture, she has also asked to proactively bring candidates into our recruiting process to see if a possible fit might exist and we have made a great hire or two in this way.
Victoria also takes the time to build a solid relationship with me as a client. She is sensitive to what is happening in my work world and also wants to get to know me as a person. It has been a pleasure to work with her and hope we can continue to do so for a long time to come.
Dear Tom,
I just want thank you for the good candidates you have been sending our way. I know I don’t communicate too often with Christina having your region but she is very impressed with the candidates that you are sending to us.
Again, thank you and look forward to continuing the relationship.
I have twice used the services of Kevin Kalstad to recruit new staff members. The talent pool we were provided was far superior to what we had found on our own.
In both cases, we made a big upgrade in the position by using Gecko Hospitality.