In Travel

The Baptist Convention of New Mexico kicked off their State Convention at Glorieta with a missions banquet prepared by Glorieta’s Executive Chef, Danny Hernandez, and his staff and served by Glorieta staff and volunteers. Thus began three days of what Glorieta Director Hal Hill termed, “a sweet spirit of fellowship.” The Baptist Convention of New Mexico and Glorieta have a long history tracing back to Glorieta’s founding when BCNM put money on the land where the conference center now sits in hopes of convincing the Southern Baptist Convention that northern New Mexico was the right place for the western conference center they were planning to build.

The State Convention featured addresses by Baptist Convention of New Mexico President Bruce Kirby, Executive Director Dr. Joseph Bunce and Michael Dean of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Ft. Worth TX. Special music was provided by the New Mexico Singing Churchmen. Hal Hill said that both the messages and the worship were significant to the convention and that he felt that Glorieta provided the perfect location for both the formal and informal fellowship of the convention. Glorieta provides a unique experience for guests in the way that the campus brings people together in their day-to-day activities. Thus, Convention guests gained the benefits of attending the Convention sessions as well as the face time that is so important to ministering effectively as the body of Christ.

This post was written by Glorieta Intern Mindy Cook.

This past Sunday, October 25, there was a major rock slide that has closed I-40 in both directions. (click here for story) The slide occurred between mile markers 2 and 3 on the North Carolina side. Highway officials are estimating that it could take up to 3 months clear away the rock debris and reopen the road.

Until the highway is reopened, guests coming to Ridgecrest from the west should take I-40 East to I-81 North and then take I-26 East to Asheville where you can get back onto I-40 East. This route is the recommended detour and there should be plenty of signage to help along the way. The detour will add approximately 60-90 minutes to your drive time so please plan accordingly. One good note, the drive on I-26 from Erwin, TN to Asheville is absolutely beautiful and you will definitely enjoy the views.

We will keep updated highway information on our Ridgecrest website. Please check beck for the latest before hitting the road for Ridgecrest!

The Balloon Fiesta in Albuqurque is a big deal around Glorieta Conference Center, and many of the staff and volunteers took time to go enjoy the festivities. This shot is from one of the mass assentions, which involved over 200 hotair balloons.

This post was provided by Glorieta Intern Mindy Cook.

Today, as I was looking through the books in my office bookcase, I came across a blast from the past. The book is titled Without Reservations - An Uncensored, Unabashed Look At How People Behave In Hotels and is a compilation of guest stories from Holiday Inn hotels during the early 90's.

As I looked at the book, I remembered first reading it when I was the general manager of the Holiday Inn Townlake in downtown Austin, TX. The book was loaned to me by Oscar Sanchez, my front desk manager at the time. After reading I must have set the book aside and forgot to give it back when Oscar left to go to another hotel. So, Oscar, if you read this... I'm sorry man!

From experience, I can tell you that guests really do some strange things when staying in your hotel. I wish I would have been smart enough to right down all the crazy stuff I've seen over my hospitality career. While I don't remember all of them, here are just a few that I'll never forget.

• While helping to open the Crowne Plaza Galleria in Houston I remember I man coming down to the front desk and complaining about the toilet in his room. Not an unusual complaint for most hotels. However this one had a twist. See, we had really rushed the last couple of days of construction in order to get the hotel open in time for the Houston Homebuilder's Show and when you rush construction, some things tend to get missed.  When the desk clerk told him she'd send maintenance right up to fix the toilet he told her the problem was not a 'broken' toilet. No, the problem was he didn't have a toilet at all, only a hole in the floor of the bathroom! Big oops!
• One night, when serving as the Manager on Duty, I got a call on the radio that someone was shooting off a fire extinguisher on the 4th floor. Grabbing two security guards to go with me, we headed up the elevator. When we got off the elevator, we didn't see anyone and it was very quiet. Thinking we must have missed them, we started to head back down to the lobby. However, before we could, we noticed CO2 powder running down the corridor carpet so we followed the trail. The trail led us directly to a room on that floor so we knocked on the door. Imagine our surprise when a young man opens the door with a fire extinguisher in his hand. Talk about finding a smoking gun! Needless to say, he and his buddies had been partying in their room just a little too much. They ended up spending the rest of the night in jail...
• One Saturday afternoon, while working as the F&B Director at Holiday Inn East in Montgomery, AL, I got a call from the front desk saying someone had reported a 'bum' loitering in our Holidome. She asked if I would check it out and if true, politely ask him to leave. I said sure, but before I could walk out of the restaurant, one of my waitresses came running into the restaurant all excited. I asked her what was going on and she breathlessly explained that she had just see Hank Williams, Jr in the Holidome. Turned out he was the 'bum' that had been reported to the front desk. Evidently his tour bus had stopped next door to the hotel and he was just walking around to stretch his legs. Needless to say, I didn't ask him to leave. Even though he did look a bit like a bum...

What about you? Care to share an unusual hotel experience with us?

When was the last time you dusted off those old files and gave them another look.  Many of the people you have prospected in the past for business need another call.  In this down economy, many of those old prospects that couldn't use you due to size, budgets, location, etc. just might need you now.

As many companies have reduced their labor forces, meetings that were once to big now are the perfect size.  Just as many companies that used to only take their meeting to resort locations have had their travel budgets cut and need to remain closer to home. So why not give them a call.

Remember that old 10% rule I still believe in - Make 30 calls, Get 3 bookings.  Once a prospect, always a prospect.

Tomorrow, my daughter and I will board the first of three flights that will eventually take us to Nairobi, Kenya (via Detroit and Amsterdam). Given that I've never been outside North America, I'm both excited and just a little bit nervous.

The primary purpose of our trip is for me to spend time working with the management team at Brackenhurst Conference Centre. Brackenhurst is a Christian conference center located about 30 miles outside Nairobi. I will be learning about their operation while also sharing with them how we operate Ridgecrest and Glorieta.

After spending a week or so at Brackenhurst, we will have the opportunity to go with some of the conference center staff on a weekend mission trip. We'll be working with a local Baptist church in the Homa (no relation to my dad!) Bay District near Lake Victoria. After returning from the mission trip, we will turn right around and head out on a 3 day safari to the largest Kenyan game reserve, located in the Great Rift Valley. Very cool! Actually I'm told that part of the trip will be pretty hot, but you know what I mean...

With only a day left before we leave, I've been checking and double checking all the details. Typically, when we're heading out on vacation, I will usually take a small folder with the confirmations for our plane tickets, rental car and hotel reservations. Heading to Africa has expanded that folder just a tad bit. In addition to those confirmations, I've added passports, a daily agenda, US State Dept info, shot records, travel insurance, anti-malaria meds and a checklist that would make an air force pilot proud. However, I'm sure I'll still be up half the night tonight trying to think of anything I might have missed!

My prayer has been, and continues to be, that God would keep us safe and use this trip to change our lives and those of everyone we come in contact with. I will do my best to keep you updated throughout our trip. Please feel free to check back here, or on my personal blog.

Brackenhurst, ready or not, here we come!!

Creating and sticking to your budget when planning meetings and events sometimes are two different things.  Here are seven commonly overlooked steps when planning and executing your meeting that can help you stick to the budget.

1.  Allow contingencies in the budget for the unexpected.  Don't cut it so close that you set yourself up for failure.

2.  Include tax and services charges in the budget.

3.  Include labor costs in the budget.

4.  Communicate clear policies to speakers and staff.  What will you pay for?  Set limits on meals, travel expenses, etc.

5.  Review your master account daily and limit the number of people authorized to add charges to the master account.

6.  Rely on your history not attendance when giving your meal guarantees.

7.  Know the value of your business, when you are negotiating your contracts make sure you are getting the best pricing based on the history of what you have spent in the past both on and off the master account.