The bigger they are…

September 16, 2008 by Chris Harrower, CTIS.

Back home again, after Virginia Motorcoach Association’s annual convention at the new Gaylord National in DC…a very surprising weekend!

Biggest surprise of the weekend? No, it’s not how badly I played golf (that was a given)…it was how badly the Gaylord botched their handling of the convention! For a property that’s always been top notch for past conventions I’ve attended at the Opryland and the Texan, VMA was a mess for them! Examples? Sure…how about:

· Not having the Marketplace room ready on time, and making everyone (Operators, group leaders and suppliers) wait nearly 30 minutes until it was ready.

· Letting their serving team clear dishes (with plenty of loud clanking and banging) while entertainment was going on in the same room.

· Taking a site visit from a potential future customer right through the room while the annual Awards Dinner was in progress.

· Losing plenty of packages that were shipped in advance, then creating some of the absolute lamest excuses ever heard (bottles of wine for the convention were found in the housekeeping area; a lost package was found 5 days after they signed for it’s receipt, but the supplier was expected to pay shipping and a handling fee to have it shipped back; others were just never found, even though UPS had proof of delivery).

And there was plenty more, but the point is made. The hotel is beautiful (as all Gaylord properties are), the hotel staff was very good, but the convention staff was very poor. It was like you were entering a completely different property when you walked down the short hall connecting the hotel to the convention center. I know they will get everything fixed in short order, and most definitely before ABA goes in there in 16 months!

Of course, the highlight for many (their words, not just mine) was a special performance by Amanda Carlisle, who had just completed a run as Maria in our production of The Sound of Music. She was driving home on Sunday, so she was able to stop by and sing a few songs for the assembled attendees. Absolutely delightful…she told some great stories about life on stage, sang like the proverbial bird, and enthralled everyone with her professionalism, her abilities, and, of course, her voice.

And now we’re hard at work here…September 27-30, 2009, VMA will be in Lancaster County!  Staying at Willow Valley, visiting certain theatres (and maybe some other properties), and getting everyone excited about the area once again.  We’ve already come up with some phenomenal ideas, so if you’re a VMA member, clear the time on your calendar now!  If you’re not a VMA member, it’s only $200 a year to join, so come join us for a huge Lancaster County Party next September!!

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