Going Home: Diane Sawyer Visits Louisville's Brown Hotel
Louisville landmark preserves jobs by cross-training employees.
Sept. 28, 2010— -- At the historic Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, the economic downturn hasn't meant layoffs, despite a slip in business.
ABC's Diane Sawyer visited the Brown Hotel as part of the week-long "Going Home" series on "World News," and she heard firsthand how hotel managers have found a way to preserve jobs by cross-training employees.
"We made a conscious decision not to reduce any of our management staff," said the hotel's general manager, Brad Walker. "We want them to come in and do a great job with the guests that we have and not be concerned that today is their last day."
Telephone operators learned to work on the conceirge desk, a front desk employee became a housekeeping inspector, and a banquet server even learned to be a painter. Everyone kept their jobs and their benefits.
"We have some great employees," said Walker. "We wanted to figure out a way to keep hours up."
The Brown Hotel was built in 1923 by J. Graham Brown. Though it's been through ups and downs over the decades, it's remained a Louisville landmark, known for its five-star service. It's signature sandwich is equally famous -- the "Hot Brown," first introduced in 1926, featuring turkey and bacon smothered with tomato and cheese.
"People like coming to work," said restaurant manager Neal Ward. "Just like in Mr. Brown's day, in the original days of the hotel, there's a family feeling here. There's a lot of people who are very concerned about how this place operates."
Sawyer spoke with Walker and Ward in today's Conversation, and she also had a chance to taste the "Hot Brown." We hope you'll watch.
Click here for the recipe for the "Hot Brown."
Click here for more from the "Going Home" series.
