Virginia Beach Hotel Offers Family "Bail Out!"

In a previous post, I shared hotel packages that were popping up in order to add value to a hotel's product with the hopes of increasing demand for hotel stays in one market or another.

With government bail outs making the news so frequently these days, the clever crew at the Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach-Norfolk has created their own "Family Bail Out" Package:

Our Family Bail Out package includes overnight accommodations, a beach pail, shovel and sand toys for the kids, free parking in a designated area at the oceanfront and a 1-hour rental of a surrey at the boardwalk.

Outstanding! Added value and a bucket to boot! Check on the availability of this package at www.cpvabeach.com.

Crowne Plaza's "Sisters in Laundry" Clean Up!

Congratulations to Miss Ella King and her sister, Miss Geraldine Henry, sisters who have kept up with the laundry at the Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach-Norfolk for the last 25 years for receiving the 2009 Virginia Beach Hospitality Award for Hotel Employees of the Year.

Yes. I said 25 years. I thought I should repeat that since that sort of longevity in any job is virtually unheard of these days, and is--in my opinion--an accomplishment in and of itself.

And yes, the Crowne Plaza felt it was important to nominate them together. Here is the letter that was written to nominate the pair:

It is with extreme pride and pleasure that I co-nominate Miss Ella King and Miss Geraldine Henry for this years’ National Tourism Awards.

Ella and Geraldine are an institute around here. Ella started working at the hotel 24 years ago before the doors officially opened. Geraldine joined her shortly afterwards. These ladies represent a time forgotten. They are refreshingly old fashioned. It’s like having two grandmas in the laundry to talk to. They never complain. They’re always on time and they go out of their way to help anyone in the hotel that needs assistance. They show up each day in their white dresses, white hose and white shoes. They make the laundry room sparkle. On any given day you can walk in and even in the busiest of times, they will engage in conversation and ask personal questions about your family. They listen because they care, and then they take it one step further, they REMEMBER the details of their co-workers lives. They both exude a wonderful laughter – a laughter that is indeed contagious. Something we all need today.

Any time that a new program is rolled out at the hotel, these two are champions to promote such programs. They are filled with pride and a competitive, yet generous, sharing nature. I often wonder how two sisters can be so close, both at work and at home. They both have a very gentle demeanor. That’s probably the trait that helps them to be the mentors that they are.

The Virginia Beach Public School System works with students that have different levels of challenges. The kids are at the hotel several days a week, in various departments, however, they most enjoy spending time in the laundry with these ladies. The kids are here to learn life skills. The ladies teach them to fold and press linens and various other jobs. They are very loving and caring towards the students and the students love them too.

As far as their after work activities are concerned – they are both big soap net fans – especially "All My Children" and "General Hospital." I can ask them for an update at any time and I get the lowdown. They keep me straight since my college days of watching soaps!

I cannot say enough kind or loving words about these wonderful ladies. I also cannot separate them. They are truly SISTERS IN LIFE AND SISTERS IN LAUNDRY. On behalf of the entire Crowne Plaza staff, I ask that you please consider Miss Ella King and Miss Geraldine Henry as the co–winners of this years Hotel, Laundry Queens of the Year.

Rita Matthews
Director of Sales and Catering
Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach

The Landmark Hotel Group is fortunate to have employees like these two ladies. Congratulations Miss Ella and Miss Geraldine. I'm personally very proud of all that you've accomplished, and am grateful for the work that you do.

Omega World Travel's "Travelganza!"

I'll be at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor this weekend for Omega World Travel's Travelganza on Saturday May 9, 2009 from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Travelganza promises to be a fun day for the whole family, as it features travel opportunities within the DC Metropolitan area, as well as locations near and far.

In addition, Omega World Travel will be giving away some fantastic prizes from their sponsors. This looks like one heck of a travel show for DC Locals to attend to see what sort of travel options are available to them for 2009 and beyond.

As tiring as these sorts of shows can be for hotel room "suppliers" like me, there is opportunity to meet people who are looking for places to go to get away for a weekend or a week. With more and more people looking for destinations closer to home, it looks like a good place for Landmark Hotel Group to showcase the seven hotels within a few hours drive of the DC area.

Details on Travelganza are here.

Omega World Travel's website is here.

Information on the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harboer is here.

The Outer Banks Knows the Value of a Smile

In a recent Associated Press article printed on Forbes.com, a Landmark Hotel Group co-worker from the Comfort Inn North in Kill Devil Hills, NC helps explain how attitude is everything in the "OBX."

You can read the article "Beach Chamber Promoting Hospitality and Smiles" by clicking on the link.

Hamptonroads.com also covered the goings-ons in the Outer Banks in this article: Hospitality Seminars Help Outer Banks Put on a Smile.

Nice job, Marian! I can't imagine my visits to Nags Head being any more pleasant, but something tells me that if this simple concept takes off, OBX hospitality workers will have found a way to improve on perfection!

If I may, I'd like to take the concept one step further. When I was a radio program director, I used to place a mirror in front of the announcers so they could make sure they were smiling when they spoke. Yep. It was on an easel in front of them so that they could view the reflection of their mouths while they were on the air.

People can actually hear a smile, and are more likely to listen to what's being said than they would be if the words were being delivered through the lips of a scowl.

Listen for it the next time you call a company that does business by phone. Did they sound like they were genuinely happy to hear, assist, or serve you?