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!

Special Olympics

I am just back from another interview on Hope FM, where together with Sue Gorman from the finance department here at the Highcliff, we have been doing our bit to further raise the profile of the Special Olympics and in particular the Bournemouth & District Team.

Bournemouth & District Special Olympics are the hotel's chosen charity for 2013 and our goal, beyond helping them to raise much needed finance, is to bring their great work to a much wider audience here in Dorset and UK wide. 

I am really grateful to Hope FM for allowing us onto the airwaves once again, to talk about what we are doing and have planned here at the hotel and more importantly the impact that training and competing with the Special Olympics has on the lives of the athletes that take part.

http://www.activedorset.org/clubs_coaches/Disability+Sport/specialolympics

http://www.hopefm.com/

Some of Dorset's most acclaimed chefs come together at the Highcliff

Top Chefs impress at Forest Holme Hospice dining event

Thursday, April 25, 2013 Posted in Lifestyle

Chef Matt Budden plating the main course

Diners were treated to an evening of culinary delights as they experienced the stunning creations of four of Dorset’s finest chefs.

On Sunday April 21, The Bournemouth Marriott Highcliff Hotel provided an elegant setting for Forest Holme Hospices’ fine dining event, Dorset on a Plate. Event guests enjoyed a unique four course meal cooked by top chefs; Gary Kilminster, Richard Allsopp, Matthew Budden and Russell Brown. The chefs exceeded all expectations and ‘wowed’ guests with their creativity and culinary talents.
Hannah Parsons, Event and Corporate fundraiser at Forest Holme Hospice Charity said; “The evening was a great success and showcased the fantastic local produce that is available in Dorset. I would like to thank all of the chefs that took part in the event and our event sponsors; Samways Fish, Harvest Fine Foods, Essential Cuisine, Lyme Bay Winery and The Dorset Charcuterie company”.

Gary Kilminster and Hannah Parsons will continue to build the profile of restaurants and suppliers in Dorset by producing a local hardback cookery book that will be available to purchase later in the year. All of the proceeds from the book will go towards end of life care at Forest Holme Hospice

http://www.seekernews.co.uk/2013/04/top-chefs-impress-at-forest-holme-hospice-dining-event/

Dorset On A Plate - Charity Dinner

Highcliff Executive Chef; Matt Budden

 Preparing his main course dish for our forthcoming

"Dorset on a plate" charity dinner.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/B_rT0IH4oxE

My top 10 reasons to visit Bournemouth in 2013

• Bournemouth Air Festival -  Officially recognised as one of the top 10 air shows in the world - August
• James - Live at the O2 Accademy - April
• Bournemouth Food Festival - June
• Beach Polo - at Sanbanks beach July
• Friday night fireworks - Every Friday in August.
• Pier to Pier swim -  Join the thousands taking part in this 1.4 mile swim from Bournemouth to Boscombe Pier - July
• Goodwood Revival - Stretching it a little in geography, but a great run through the new forest from Bournemouth to this petrol head's nirvana - September
• Explore the Jurasic Coast - Anytime
• Catch a wave. Try your luck at the man made surf reef or head for our famous pier break in the winter - Anytime
• Just come and enjoy the Highcliff Style - Great food, great service and awesome seaviews - Anytime

Announcing the Highcliff Hut

Great news today; as we have just heard that we have been successful in

our attempt to acquire a beach hut for the hotel.

Situated directly below the hotel on the lower promenade, just a few steps from the golden sand of Bournemouth's award winning beach, our hut will be available to book as part of a new suite package and also available for our guests to hire on an ad-hoc basis.

We can't wait to get the keys and give it a make-over.  We will be launching a competition in the coming weeks for all budding interior designers to help us give it the Highcliff Style!!