You Know You are A Road Warrior When....part 2

So I get up in the hotel room in the morning and on my way to the bathroom notice that the bill is not under the door.

"Darn!" I think. "Now checkout will take longer."

Until I rember that I am here more than one night this time....

Room with a World-Class View

Hotels--what message are you sending?

In a major meetings publication (Meetings West, November 2006) there is a huge ad for a major property. The headline reads: "World Class Venue with a Backdrop only Nature Could Create". Makes you just want to look at the photo right? What are we going to see? A beatiful ocean? Mountains? Forest? Something that would make this property stand out and be unique right? Of course.....not.

The photo is of a ballroom-- yep a ballroom. It could be any hotel anywhere. Why do hotels insist on doing this in their ads? Do they really think their ballroom is that unique? Do they think planners do not know that they can set a nice table with beautifully folded napkins and chair covers?

If you are going to have the "backdrop" as your main sales tag...better show it. At least through the window of the ballroom.

A Resort in A City? WIth a Water Park?

So here I am looking for a hotel in Phoenix, near an office building because I am meeting someone for dinner who does not have a car. I am also trying to have a little bit of a "Me Day" for a break. I am recommended to the Hilton Squaw Peak Resort. I go on line. How can this resort be in an area of the city, with office buildings...and have a water park to boot??

Well it did and it does. Beautiful property --definitely a resort. Meeting rooms are lovely and most have a very different feel to them then a standard hotel meeting room. And of course they have outdoor entrances (I am adjusting!). They also have a number of pools, a Wild West City which would be fun for an outdoor event.

It really has a nice blend for leisure (even if you bring the family) and professional events. It also has a spa on premises...it was booked and I did not get to try it, but it was beautiful.

You Know You are From the NE United States When..

In May I had the pleasure of speaking for the MPI-AZ chapter. Although I am a little behind I did want to mention that it was held, and I stayed at, a beautiful property called the Tempe Mission Palms, part of the Destination Hotels and Resorts. As most of you probably do, I tour (almost) every property I stay in. I promise I have nothing to gain by telling you about it!

It truly is a beautiful property, IACC certified, elegant SW decor, and a really nice professional staff. You can even walk right out into the shops and restaurants of Tempe --no transportation needed!

Here is one of the funny things though - and when you can tell I am a Northeast girl and sometimes only think like a NE girl! The day before I was scoping out where all the parts of the meeting were. The reception was to be held in Courtyard East. I looked at the map and went off wandering. Do you really want to know how long it took me to figure out ---it was in the (outdoor) courtyard? Also the fact that the meeting rooms open to outside....I guess that works when you aren't worrying about the snow and ice.

I know I cannot be the only one who is astounded to see this...but what a wonderful thing (when it is not 115).

You Know You are A Road Warrior When....part 1

The delivery slip for your lunch order reads "Lobby-Joanne" because you are spending three hours in the lobby after you checked out of your room...

Who Says I Have an Accent?

For years and years people have tried to figure out where I am from by my "accent". What most people determine is that I really don't have one. I don't sound like my southern parents, Massachusetts where I grew up, Western NY where I went to college or New Jersey, my current home.

This week I was reading in one ofthe advice columns, a lot of discussion about how to comment on someone's accent in a positive way, especially if they are from another country. Little did I think this would pertain to me so soon.

As I sat down to dinner last night outside of Toronto and started talking with the server, the first thing he said was "I know you are American by your accent!!".

I may not sound like a region of the US, but apparently I don't sound Canadian either!

It was a great experience....always good to walk in someone else's shoes.

Sweet or Suite?

I love clever stuff. I stayed last night at the Hampton Inn and Suites, Toronto Airport last night. Due to the suites they have a little store with microwaveable food, beverages, candy, snacks etc. They call it the "Suite Shop"---gotta love it! As the kids would say..."Sweet'!

By the way - nice hotel and the staff couldn't be more helpful especially to "Americans" like me who know less than we should about Canada!

Oops! New Airline Boarding Procedures

I had to laugh at myself the other day. I was in row 6 of the plane I was boarding. I had not checked the "Group Number" that some of the airlines now use (not Continental, the airline I fly most often). I missed the first two announcements while I checked my ticket only to find out my group had already been called. Why? Becasue I had a window seat and they had boarded us first. Kind of funny because of what I wrote back in January.

Luckily I slipped into my seat before the aisle person!

Is Recycling Inconvenient?

So here I sit in a hotel room in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. By my feet, at my desk, are a trash basket and a recyling can. The last hotel I stayed in in Tornoto had a recyling bin too. So why can't the US hotels do this?

I have asked various hotels over the years why we do not have recycling in the hotels in the US. I was told "We can't ask our guests to do that--it would inconvenient them!"

In NJ where I currently live, recycling is mandatory and yet the hotels do not have it in their rooms or common areas. Most people are "trained" to a certain extent to recycle. If there is a bin in the room how hard can this be?

For me I frequently find myself taking "USA Today" and plastic water bottles home with me so they can be recycled. That's inconvenience!

Back to Front or Inside Out?

Having just boarded 4 planes in 4 days, I definitely feel there has to be a better way to do it. Frequently I am having people move since I have the window seat and they managed to get move down the aisle sooner than I did. I don't know if these are the answers, but something must work!
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-01-09-boarding-usat_x.htm