Author Archives: Quinn Pochekailo

Welcoming Rod Taylor as Vice President of Hospitality

Leave a reply

Congratulations to Rod Taylor, the new Guest Services Vice President of Hospitality! Rod’s career in hospitality began in 1980 as a mechanic in marinas, setting the stage for his growth in the industry. During his tenure with Forever Resorts, the previous concessionaire at our Lake Mead units, his role involved managing operations where they rented houseboats, dining operations, and much more, showcasing his ability to handle large-scale hospitality services.

 

Recently, Nico Foris, CEO, congratulated him by saying, “I am very excited to announce the promotion of Rod Taylor to Vice President of Hospitality, effective January 1, 2024. His dedication, commitment, and expertise have truly set Rod apart to join our executive leadership team at Guest Services. Rod’s four decades of operational experience, large-scale problem-solving of complicated matters with the National Park Service, and effective team management and leadership align so well with Guest Services’ core values, and he will continue to build upon the success of the division. In his new role, Rod will be responsible for overseeing the five properties at Lake Mead, Lake Roosevelt, Stehekin, Mount Rainier, and Big Sur. Please join me in congratulating Rod on this well-deserved promotion!”

 

Honoring Barry Trice: Celebrating 27 Years of Excellence as He Transitions into Retirement

We would also like to celebrate Barry Trice, our esteemed Senior Vice President of Hospitality, who is transitioning toward retirement. Barry’s 27 years of dedicated service have been a cornerstone of our success, setting a high standard of excellence and fostering key partnerships that have greatly benefitted Guest Services.

Nico said, “Barry Trice, our Senior Vice President of Hospitality, is now embarking on a separate transition toward retirement. Barry’s twenty-seven years of service to the Company has been invaluable.  He has established a standard of excellence and cultivated so many key partnerships and relationships, which we still maintain today. Barry will remain part of Guest Services to support Rod during the transition efforts over the next year and continue to be involved with our existing units on a lesser scale, notably at Florida Southern, Musical Instrument Museum, The Doubletree, and the Condominium & Property Management division. We are all extremely grateful for Barry’s contributions past, present, and into the future during this exciting time.”

Guest Services, Inc. Invites Travelers to Embrace the Outdoors with Adventures Unbound

Leave a reply

New Brand from Leading Hospitality Company Offers Ultimate Opportunity for 
Outdoor Enthusiasts

FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today’s travel enthusiast seeks more than just a vacation; they seek a personal connection to the unforgettable outdoors. Adventures Unbound, the new brand from venerable hospitality company, Guest Services, Inc., embraces this spirit, enabling travelers to rediscover the wonders of nature. Featuring a new online platform and an integrated brand experience at nearly 50 Guest Services locations across the country, Adventures Unbound will offer a personal connection to the unforgettable outdoors.

Within the brand lies a gateway to iconic destinations and hidden gems, where uncomplicated enjoyment paves the way to unforgettable memories. Designed with the traveler’s needs in mind, the Adventures Unbound website serves as a comprehensive, one-stop booking platform for so many treasured locations across the country. Options range from scenic lodges to recreational activities at state and national parks, catering to all outdoor enthusiasts – from the experienced national park adventurers to the newcomers eager to embrace nature.

“Embodying our tagline, ‘Your Personal Connection to the Unforgettable Outdoors,’ Adventures Unbound is a testament to our 107-year commitment to making the outdoors accessible, inspiring, and transformative,” said Guest Services’ Chief Executive Officer Nico Foris. “The introduction of the Adventures Unbound brand unites dozens of Guest Services’ managed properties that share the common goal of serving guests who seek exceptional experiences in America’s great outdoors.”

The newly launched Adventures Unbound website is an intuitive portal that invites users to explore, plan, and book their ideal outdoor adventure. Visitors can tailor their search to explore seven different Collections of geographically-clustered properties, such as the Capital Collection of offerings near our nation’s capital, the Sunshine Collection featuring lodging and recreational offerings throughout the state of Florida, and the Summit Collection offering mountain adventures in Colorado and Minnesota. Travelers can also explore adventures by activity type – from an adrenaline-fueled getaway to a relaxing wellness escape.

With the future launch of a loyalty program and other signature guest-focused programs, Adventures Unbound will offer travelers not only a seamless booking experience but also access to special offers, exclusive promotions, and unforgettable experiences. Find details on the new brand and exclusive items at various travel expos and trade shows throughout 2024.

Guest Services is committed to delivering innovative hospitality, ensuring that every trip taken through an Adventures Unbound property is more than just a journey — it’s a gateway to myriad enriching travel experiences. Whether seeking solitude in nature or an active adventure, Adventures Unbound will connect travelers to some of the nation’s most unique outdoor locations, from the foothills of Mount Rainier to the swamps of the Everglades and in between.

Learn more at https://exploreadventuresunbound.com/ or connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

About Guest Services, Inc.

Since 1917, Guest Services, Inc. has earned the reputation of providing the highest quality food, lodging, and leisure services for valued clients and guests throughout the United States. Guest Services offers hospitality management services across a variety of client sites including private and government dining services, national parks, senior living centers, school and university dining facilities, specialty retail stores, and full-service restaurants. For more information, please visit https://www.guestservices.com/.

SOURCE Guest Services, Inc.

See Press Release

Thanksgiving 2023 Event Highlights

Leave a reply

As we approach the December holidays and end-of-year celebrations, we want to look back and appreciate the success of four properties’ Thanksgiving events – The Lodge at Wakulla Springs, Giants Ridge, Bear Mountain Inn, and the National Park Inn at Mount Rainier. We interviewed the general managers of each property to hear what the highlights were, as well as what they think other managers can learn from their experiences.

Bear Mountain Inn

“This year was wonderful. We increased sales over the previous two years and the event ran without any major issues. We had a few extra tables ready for walk-ins, about 20 walk-ins, that were filled each of the meal periods. We successfully served just over 500 guests,” says Levon, General Manager at Bear Mountain Inn.

The only issues Levon reported a slight understaffing and running out of plates. “It seems everyone averaged about 5 plates, so we will adjust appropriately next year,” says Levon Bedrosian. He also mentioned a few other improvements:

  • Adjusting all three seatings to start 1 hour later than this year.
  • Expanding the number of available reservations to cover the entire ballroom, aiming for 1050 reservations (350 per seating).
  • Accommodating up to 100 walk-ins per seating, leading to a total availability of 1350 for the day.
  • Increasing the number of front house employees to handle the expanded seating capacity.
  • Adding an extra carving station manned by three staff (two for carving, one for running).
  • Employing two additional bartenders and one more utility staff member to cater to increased guest numbers.

Lastly, Levon mentioned a warning for those who use OpenTable. “We encountered challenges with Open Table’s reservation system, which issues a “paid” confirmation to guests even when no payment has been made, just for keeping a credit card on file. This has led to some confusion and instances of guests attempting to leave without paying, believing they had already paid based on the Open Table confirmation.”

See Restaurant 1915’s menu.

 

Giants Ridge

“We had a fantastic turnout this year with 593 total seats, we were very happy with the results,” says Steve Rahkola, Marketing Director at Giants Ridge. “Next year, our goal is to improve the ticketing process. We are considering having it be a pre-pay event to make the transition between tables more efficient and to get more guests.”

See the Burnt Onion’s menu.

 

The Lodge at Wakulla Springs

“Last year was had 501 guests, this year we welcomed 886. They absolutely love spending the holiday with us at the Lodge. We have guests come year after year to attend the event. The generational roots and memories this building holds are so special to the community and we are honored to be the destination for holidays in the community,” says Jesse Askew, General Manager at The Lodge at Wakulla Springs.

The Lodge offers the usual Thanksgiving staples, but fried shrimp and oyster stuffing were the fan favorites. “This year we partnered with a local small business in Wakulla County who provides some of the desserts for the buffet. This was another great way to outreach with the locals and show our support,” says Jesse. She also added that they plan to keep their reservations open through the day of the event next year to account for potential cancelations.

See Edward Ball Dining Room’s menu.

 

National Park Inn at Mount Rainier

“This year was the best turnout we have had in over 10 years with over 250 covers,” says Desiree Sharpe, Marketing Director at Mount Rainier. While the traditional Thanksgiving feast was appreciated, especially the vegan/vegetarian options, she noted higher wait times due to unexpected business volume- a good problem to have. When asked about improvements for next year, Desiree said, “Everything as we always strive to be better and learn from the past. Our biggest challenge was the wait time for guest seating, though.”

See National Park Inn’s menu.

 

Thank you to all team members involved in making these Thanksgiving day events a success and bringing families who attended an exceptional holiday experience. Your outstanding commitment to service is what makes Guest Services exceptional!