Thousands apply at Book Cadillac July 15, 2008

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Thousands apply at Book Cadillac
More than 3,000 seek jobs at renovated hotel
Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News

Reflecting both the lousy economy and the glamour of a landmark hotel, the Westin Book Cadillac drew thousands of would-be workers on the first day it accepted applications for 250 jobs.

In-person applicants began lining up around 4 a.m. Monday; by the time the Book's recruiting center opened at 9 a.m., the line from the 1226 Griswold St. location stretched over to Woodward Avenue and around the entire block.

Eight hours later, the hotel chain accepted some 350 applications in person and another 3,000 applied online, said Diane Tunstall, the Book's director of human resources.

"We were successful in re-directing many people to apply online," Tunstall said.

That took some doing as hundreds of job seekers waited hours in the sun despite being repeatedly told they could apply online. Many said they just wanted the chance to greet a Westin official in hopes of improving their chances for jobs that will pay an average of $10 an hour.

"If I can just meet somebody and shake their hand for five minutes, that would make it all worthwhile," Keith McCord said. Just before noon, the 58-year-old Detroiter had been waiting in line for three hours and still faced about 100 people between him and the front door. A part-time security guard, McCord was dressed in a dapper blue suit with a white captain's hat he said was from his days as a staff photographer on the Bob-Lo boat.

"It would be an honor to work at the Book Cadillac," McCord said "I used to party there when I was a kid. It's a very respectable establishment, and I'm glad to see it back."

The renovated hotel's hiring plan is one of the few bright spots in southeast Michigan's struggling economy. The state has persistently posted the highest unemployment rate in the nation, while automakers and related employers have been cutting back, laying off and buying out workers.

Many of the applicants in line said they have memories of the gracious old Book Cadillac, which motivated them to head downtown.

"I had my prom there back in 1981," said Bridgette Roberts of Belleville. In April, she was laid off as a flight attendant from Spirit Airlines and said she was tired of applying for jobs online and never getting any response. After three hours, Roberts, 44, and her 22-year-old daughter, Dominique Roberts, kicked off their dress shoes rather than leave the line, standing on pieces of paper to protect their stockinged feet.

"If I can just get a few moments of face time, I think that's worth it," Roberts said.

Tyrol Gottey, an 18-year-old Detroiter, never heard of the Book Cadillac, but his uncle and his mother have been urging him to try to work there. "My mother keeps telling me that if I don't apply for this job, there won't be another like it that comes along very soon," Gottey said. But once he walked by the restored 455-room Beaux Arts building, his elders' advice suddenly made sense.

"I understood what they were saying," Gottey said. "It looks so nice."

The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit opens Oct. 1 after a two-year, $200 million renovation.

When it was built in 1923, the Book was the tallest building in Detroit and the tallest hotel in the world. Throughout its six decades, until it was shuttered in the early 1980s, the noble, the famous and the feared stayed at the hotel known simply as "the Book."

The hotel's last big hurrah was 1980 when many dignitaries from the Republican National Convention stayed there, including Ronald Reagan, who won the party's nomination for president.

On Monday, the hotel lobby smelled of fresh paint and plaster. The chandeliers are covered in plastic, the ornate flourishes of the columns looked squeaky clean, the fancy lobby bar was half-finished.

The Book continues to take applications until Friday, Aug. 29. The recruiting center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or applications online are accepted at www.westin.com under the "careers" menu.

You can reach Louis Aguilar at (313) 222-2760 or laguilar@detnews.com

I'd take a BMW over a Cadillac

That was a long line they showed on yesterday morning's news.

Amazing so many people are applying for Jobs,


You think the jobs were paying 30 bucks an hour rather than 10


Cadillac Cars made nowadays Suck!


I like the Big Old Cadillacs they made in the 60's and 70's

Land Yachts Rule!

I wonder if the Hotel validates parking or gives its employees money for parking.


There are Comerica Park Ushers and Crowd Managers that park in the garage I park at.


Illitch don't give em shit for parking and they pay for their own uniforms.


Don't pay them much either! 8 bucks an hour to Usher; 10 for being a Crowd Manager.



Then again; most of them people work as Cops, Teachers and Principals; they make money

That's what our usher in our section told me, $10/hr for down on the field. Crowd Manager Stefan (Mrs. Rabelo knows of whom I'm speaking) must be a teacher!

Most people that work as Ushers or Crowd Managers work there because they like baseball; not because of the pay provided by Mike Ilitch

How much do the vendors get? Anybody knows that? To carry all those beers around the stadium is not the easiest job i think...

hey! Swiss! welcome back!

Depends how much beer they sell;


Plus They often get tips!