Happy 86th Anniversary, Marriott!

On this day in 1927, a tiny new enterprise opened its doors at 10 a.m. in Washington, DC: a nine-stool root beer stand that was soon named The Hot Shoppe.

Who would have believed that this small business would be the start of one of the most successful lodging companies in the world and it all began with a root beer stand.  Founder J. Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice, got their young business off the ground by quenching people’s thirst during Washington D.C.’s hot, muggy summers. Good food and good service at a fair price became a guiding principle for Hot Shoppes restaurants--and for Marriott International as it grew.

Today, Marriott International has more than 3,800 hotels in 74 countries - including the wonderful Bournemouth Marriott Highcliff Hotel.

No monkeying around - the serious side of associate appreciation week

With the same kind of consistency as Marriott Burgers on the menu and Oatmeal on the breakfast buffet, you will find every single Marriott hotel around the world delivering their own Associate Appreciation Week this month.

"Putting people first" is a core value here at Marriott, something that is focused upon every single day, but Associate Appreciation Week allows us to go a little crazy - some might say bananas!

My welcome to AAW, from the Housekeeping team

here at the Highcliff - It's going to be a great week!

This has given me a great idea for a welcome to some of our younger guests in the summer season.....

Sometimes it is the simple things in life that make you happy

Ever since I arrived at the Highcliff, I have been embroiled in the "ying & yang" of road cones, the "should we, shouldn't we" of conical traffic management aids...

On the one hand they are absolutely required to manage parking, especially in our prime cliff top location.  On the other hand, they are just so unwelcoming. 

Nothing quite kills the sense of arrival at a nice hotel more than a dirty red road cone.

So, I was very happy to find these little beauties....

Somehow, bright blue is just a little more pleasing on the eye.

As I said; sometimes it is the simple things in life!