Author Archives: Quinn Pochekailo

Two Legacies, One Lodge: Welcoming The Lodge at Lake Guntersville

A First-of-Its-Kind Alabama Partnership

Guest Services has stewarded America’s parks and public spaces since 1917. Alabama State Parks, established by the State Land Act of 1927 and shaped in its early years by the Civilian Conservation Corps, has spent nearly a century preserving and showcasing the natural beauty and heritage of the state. The Lodge at Lake Guntersville marks the first time these two legacies have come together.

“Bringing together two organizations with such deep and enduring histories is truly meaningful for all of us at Guest Services, Inc.,” said Nico Foris, CEO. “Since 1917, our company has been built around a philosophy of creating exceptional guest experiences while serving as responsible stewards of some of our country’s most treasured destinations.”

“Alabama State Parks has carried a remarkably similar mission since 1927, preserving and showcasing the incredible natural beauty and heritage of this state for generations of visitors,” he added.

For Nico, the alignment of values is what makes the partnership special. “We believe the strongest partnerships are long-term relationships rooted in trust, collaboration, shared purpose, and a commitment to elevating the guest experience while protecting the integrity of the property itself,” he said.

A Lodge with a View

The main lodge sits atop Taylor Mountain with meeting and banquet rooms, a full-service restaurant, a swimming pool, hot tubs, and a sauna. A four-year, $24 million renovation completed in 2008 gave the building its current character: massive stone pillars, exposed wooden beams, and natural stone fireplaces. Guests dine at the Pinecrest Dining Room and gather at the Hickory Lounge.

The property offers three distinct kinds of lodging:

Lodge Rooms and Suites overlook Lake Guntersville from the bluff, keeping guests close to the trails, the marina, and the early morning launch. The main lodge holds 112 of them.
Mountain Top Chalets sit at the top of Taylor Mountain, offering space, solitude, and everything guests need to relax between lake days.
Lakeside Cabins sit close to the shoreline, with room to spread out after a full day on Lake Guntersville.

Recreation in Every Direction

Lake Guntersville State Park gives guests an extraordinary range of ways to spend the day.

Eagle’s Nest Golf Course: an 18-hole championship course winding through the property
Screaming Eagle Zipline: canopy tours through the trees of Taylor Mountain
Bass fishing: Lake Guntersville is a renowned bass fishing destination, fed by the Tennessee River and served by the park’s Town Creek Fishing Center
36 miles of hiking and biking trails with weekly guided hikes
Beach complex open May through September for lodge and cabin guests
Eagle Awareness programs on select January and February weekends, as Alabama’s nesting bald eagle population continues to grow with Lake Guntersville at the focal point

A Conference Destination in the Heart of the Tennessee Valley

Laura Sherman, Vice President of Hospitality, sees The Lodge as one of the strongest conference and event destinations in the region. “The Lodge is a world-class conference center, and we are excited to offer customized catering and event planning for organizations like the University of Alabama, Auburn, NASA, and the FBI,” she said. The convention center accommodates national, state, and regional meetings, and reservations are open up to two years in advance.

Laura also pointed to the property’s geography as a defining advantage. “Located conveniently between Huntsville and Birmingham, the property pairs that capability with extraordinary bass fishing and lake vacationing on the Tennessee River,” she said. Downtown Guntersville is ten minutes away, Huntsville is about an hour, Birmingham and Decatur are within two hours, and Atlanta, Nashville, and Montgomery all sit within three. That reach pulls clients from across the Southeast.

The Team Behind the Launch

A property launch of this scale takes a deep bench. Jason Morgan joined from the Lodge at Wakulla to oversee Front Office operations. Brad Rowland is leading housekeeping. Mark Johnson and Brittany Guy are bringing Retail operations to life across the property. Jesse Askew and Mike Lutz are among the many others whose work has carried this opening across the finish line. Their effort over the past months has set the foundation for everything The Lodge will do next.

As Nico put it: “We are extremely humbled and privileged to have the opportunity to serve alongside the State of Alabama at Lake Guntersville. There is tremendous pride in being part of a property with such a strong legacy and such an exciting future ahead. We believe this partnership represents the beginning of something very special.”

Bill Briggs Retires After 14 Years as Our Steadfast Director of Safety and Security

An Invisible Shield Across 14 Years

Jeff Ritter, Corporate Compliance Officer, describes Bill’s role plainly: “Bill has served as our invisible shield.” That shield extended across the full geography of Guest Services and into corners of the organization most colleagues will never see. Bill’s combination of investigative skills and safety focus minimized workplace accidents and kept guests and team members alike protected, across every unit type the company operates.

Steady Leadership Through COVID-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic upended hospitality operations everywhere, Bill helped steer Guest Services through it.

“During one of the most challenging periods in modern history, the COVID-19 pandemic, Bill was absolutely instrumental in helping to guide our company through unprecedented circumstances,” says Nico Foris, CEO. “He developed and implemented critical policies, procedures, and safeguards that not only protected our people and operations during the crisis but will continue to strengthen Guest Services well into the future.”

The frameworks Bill built during the pandemic remain in place today, reinforcing how the company protects employees and guests across every property.

Building the Safety Foundation

Day to day, Bill’s role was equal parts proactive and reactive. He presented monthly safety training webinars to keep operations teams prepared. He investigated workplace accidents to sharpen internal protocols. He upgraded video and alarm systems, internal training, and processes across more than a decade of incremental improvement.

His work also reinforced Guest Services’ most important external relationships. Bill strengthened partnerships with the National Park Service, numerous state park systems, and countless team members across the company who relied on him for guidance. As Jeff puts it, Bill demonstrated that “excellent hospitality relies on a secure foundation,” letting service teams focus entirely on guests.

The Mark He Leaves

For Nico, what stands out is not just the work product but the manner of the leadership.

“Bill earned tremendous respect across the organization because he led with professionalism, consistency, and trust,” Nico says. “He set an exceptionally high standard, and his calm, steady leadership gave confidence to the many stakeholders we serve every day.”

“I will always be grateful for Bill’s steady presence, his thoughtful and composed approach under pressure, and his unwavering availability at all hours of the day and night,” he continues. “His leadership has had a lasting impact on this company, and his contributions have unquestionably helped protect and strengthen Guest Services for years to come.”

“His attention to detail and responsiveness in crisis situations will be difficult to replace,” Jeff says.

A Final Word from Bill

Bill himself wanted to recognize the people he worked with most directly. “I would like to mention names but there are too many to list,” he says, offering sincere thanks to the employees who helped educate him on operations and to the team members across the company who put in the work to keep their units safe and secure.

As for what comes next, Bill has arranged to volunteer with animal rescue and with his local police department.

Thank you, Bill, for 14 years of vigilant, behind-the-scenes service. Wishing you an extraordinary retirement.

A Centennial Company Meets a 250-Year-Old Nation

A Celebration Already in Motion

Chris Bloyer, Vice President of Operations, has seen the energy firsthand. When our team opened a new food service operation at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Charleston, South Carolina, they turned the launch into a full America250 activation. “We needed local government and client approval to use A250 on our uniforms, menus, and signage, staff buy-in to proudly wear the new uniforms, and management buy-in to produce the menus and signs and take full advantage of all the opportunities available,” Chris said. Everyone got on board, and the opening became a showcase for what the celebration can look like when a whole property commits.

That momentum is building across the organization. Corporate partnerships with America250 and the administration’s Freedom 250 program are opening new doors. “The list of major corporations participating in A250 and F250 is extraordinary and growing every day,” Chris said. Existing relationships with our partner-vendors now include America250 product lines, and new partners like Ace Specialties have come on board to provide co-branded merchandise. Events are scheduled nationwide all year, giving our properties more opportunities to participate.

Nico grounded the opportunity in the company’s heritage. “From the very beginning, hospitality was core to who we were,” he wrote. That foundation evolved into trusted partnerships with the National Park Service and state park systems, built on consistency. “We lead with integrity, honesty, and fairness, and we treat everyone with dignity and respect. Over time, that consistency has been the foundation for earning, and keeping, their trust.” Today, our teams serve more than 30 million visitors annually.

Creative Activations from Coast to Coast

Laura Sherman, Vice President of Hospitality, outlined programs already rolling out across properties. A retail contest is challenging managers and cashiers to promote America250 and drive sales while showcasing property-specific logos. Properties are receiving logoed souvenir cups for specialty drinks created by staff, doubling as keepsakes for guests. America250 uniforms are going out to select locations to spark conversations about the anniversary. And Adventures Unbound is building lodging and recreation packages tied to the celebration, with Central Reservations agents ready to share the story with guests.

Brandy Frederich, Vice President of Hospitality, developed a toolkit of creative activation ideas for properties to adapt to their local settings. She recommended using the America250 Quick Reference toolkit to help teams “highlight local stories, cultures, flavors, art, and landscapes with respect and accuracy, connecting guests to the places we operate in.” Her concepts include:

Celebration Sips: Cocktails and mocktails named for local landmarks, like the Fort Fire Old Fashioned (“smoky warmth recalling campfire nights”) or the Trailhead Refresher mocktail.
Creative Merchandising Displays: Use tasteful props and themed visual merchandising to create displays that draw guests in, spark curiosity, and connect merchandise to the local story. Rather than simply shelving products, build small scenes that reflect the heritage, industries, adventures, and landscapes tied to the property. Themes such as mining, gold foraging, and mountaineering equipment can create memorable focal points, with simple talking points that connect products to local stories, history, and the spirit of exploration.
Decade Dinner Specials: Feature rotating specials inspired by different eras of the past, tied to each property’s unique history

Every Property Has an American Story

“Everywhere we operate and every client we serve has its own American story to tell,” Chris said. “We need to uncover what makes each one special and highlight it as part of what makes America.” His advice to unit teams: look at what you already offer and find the history behind it.

Serve chocolate chip cookies? Tell guests about Ruth Wakefield, who invented them at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts in the 1930s, one of the most iconic American food creations. Offer kayak rentals? Share the story of Greg Barton, who was born with two club feet and went on to win America’s first Olympic gold medals in kayaking at the 1988 Seoul Games, taking two golds in a single day by one-hundredth of a second. “America created National Parks,” Chris added. The stories are already there.

Brandy emphasized making the celebration personal for team members, too. She recommended property newsletters and communication boards with prompts like: “Who here carries a family tradition tied to this town or state?” and “Share a favorite person in history whose work helped shape this park.” When team members feel connected to the story, guests will too.

A Turning Point for the Next Generation

For Nico, the stakes go beyond 2026. “These parks are more than destinations,” he wrote. “They are classrooms, gathering places, and living reminders of our shared history and values.” He sees America250 as a chance to shape how the next generation connects with public lands: “When done right, hospitality becomes a powerful tool for conservation, helping ensure these parks remain accessible, respected, and preserved for future generations.”

He continued, “If we do this right, America 250 won’t just be a moment of reflection. It will be a turning point that inspires lifelong appreciation, responsibility, and pride in our public lands and in what it truly means to be an American.”