I went to Holland....MI! :).

Feb 16th started with a quick trip to Chicago (more to come later) and then I headed to Holland Michigan to meet the one, the only Trisha!  We were assigned to a New Build Courtyard, she would be teaching Bistro and I'd be working with Housekeeping, FOSSE and Leadership!  I was SOOOO excited to be joining her again as I learned so much from her in our 4 days together, she is a patient teacher and since last seeing her I had spent 18 days with the Queen getting whipped into shape...so I felt ready to "add value" during our week together.  The hotel was still under a bit of construction when we arrived...and when I say bit I mean a hott mess!  :)

I spent time with their housekeeping department and the front desk, then it was time to work with Trisha in the Bistro...HOLY LORD!  I was a nervous wreck...but she is SOOOO good at what she does...making sure that employees are following her...she instructs in a way that you catch every word and in the 72 hours of Bistro we spent together I learned so much from her.  

We started together on Wedensday and on Friday I got a call that I was being pulled to go to another project in Boston, so the Queen was coming in on Saturday to take my place.  I had arrived in Chicago on Tuesday and spent the day with Micheal Van Akkern he is the Brand Leader for Lifestyle Brands (AC Hotel, Moxy,Renaissance) I was interviewing to be part of the Lifestyle section of our team, a group of select individuals who are chosen to join the brand training.  I still wanted to meet with MVA in order to expand my network, broaden my horizons and I had told my bosses when I interviewed that I would go anywhere and do anything.  So when I got the call to head to the AC I knew that the interview had gone well (more to come in a later blog posting).

Trisha and I had a good few days of training together and a few great dinners.  We went to a local pub that was playing the NBC Night of Curling on the TV so I got the opportunity to school some folks in the bar on curling...it was fun!  Then we had the GREAT pleasure of Queen Zirkle joining us on Saturday so we got Saturday night and Sunday night dinner with her...it was amazing to see her...I am not sure what I am going to do when I have to go more than a few weeks without seeing that amazing face!!!  

I packed my bag and hit the road on Monday morning at 5am for Boston MA for an new AC Hotel Boston North, my first lifestyle brand!  It was a trip to remember and I will blog about it later....for now I am going to finish the rest of my in air cranberry and vodka and take some time to unplug when I get home.  Recharge my battery, say good bye to someone I love dearly and get prepared to hit the road again on Sunday!  Stay tuned!

Our car while in MI...not very good for the snow...but darn we looked good!!!

Trisha and I out on the town! :)