Thank You and End of Year Wrap Up!

I wanted to send out a heartfelt "Thank You," to everybody who continues to read this blog. It's always fun to write, and I look back and see that I started this blog a little over three years ago; which is remarkable and exciting to see that there is always something to write about.

As the year comes to a close, many people are running ragged trying to complete their holiday shopping, end of year goals or simply trying to stay above the fray in their day-to-day lives. It's not always easy, but we can only do our best. This year has been a mix of incredible highs, and significant lows too, but that is life. We can only do our best. With that being said, I hope that everyone out there is able to reach out to those who are important to them, and let them know how much they have brought to their lives. It's easy to let the days, weeks and months slip away without telling people how important they are to you, but I strongly encourage everybody to do just that - reach out and embrace the ones you love. I've been blessed to accomplish a lot this year, and I am optimistic about doing even more in 2013!

Enjoy the remainder of 2012, and look forward to more hotel, restaurant and entertainment postings in 2013.

All the best,

Chicks That Trip

*Photo taken in Intercontinental Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico by That Chick Té

www.chicksthattrip.com

Hotel Spotlight: Conrad Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico

 Ahhhh, Christmas in paradise, well, Puerto Rico, that is! I just got back from a wonderful trip to Puerto Rico. It's one of the best places to mix business with pleasure - I can personally attest to that.

The photo is of a communal Christmas tree that was right off of the beach in the Condado area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. I went for a two hour walk the day after arrival, and passed by the tree. I had to take a photo of the Pepsi Christmas Tree! Yes, the decorations are essentially Pepsi ornaments, so my assumption is that the tree was displayed and sponsored by Pepsi, but then again, you know what they say about assuming anything.

Alright, now, down to business. On this trip, I was scouting properties to hold an event next October, 2013, so I saw some incredible hotels during my visit (St. Regis, Water & Beach Hotel, Intercontinental, The Horned Dorset). I stayed at the Conrad during this trip, which is a property that my business partner likes (although I think that's because she was there during the Latin Music Awards, that was held there a few years ago),  but to be honest, it left me feeling a bit...blah. Don't get me wrong, the rooms are comfortable and well appointed. The decor is modern, without being too outlandish, but the service and general vibe left me feeling less than warm and fuzzy. Most of the staff that I encountered appeared to be less than enthusiastic to be there; with the notable exception of our bartender at the Aqua Bar & Grill, and our bartender at the Moon Bar (situated in the lobby area of the hotel). Both of these individuals were engaging and funny; however, the rest of the staff fell flat. Rarely did I see a genuine smile, nor did I feel that they were excited to be working. Even the doormen/valet were a disappointment (especially considering that one of their main competitors down the street has a phenomenal doorman/valet).

The overall property is fairly well maintained and clean, but it seemed to lack any real personality. I think the liveliest place on the property was the casino area, located on the 4th floor; however, it would have been a disappointment if it hadn't been lively because, well, it is a casino! I will say that the food I had was decent. My business partner and I had two meals while we were staying there. One was at Eight Noodle Bar, where we shared some spicy tuna rolls and chicken chow mein, and at the Aqua Bar & Grill, I had a nice chicken sandwich (with fries, but of course), and my business partner had a chicken quesadilla and wings. While not culinary cuisine, all of the food was well prepared and the appropriate temperature when served (I have a problem when food is lukewarm when it's supposed to be hot).

Pros:

• Clean
• Well appointed rooms
• Centrally and conveniently located in the Condado area of San Juan
• Close to Old San Juan 
• Rental car agency on site (Enterprise)
• In walking distance of a lot of great restaurants and activities

Cons:

• Seemed to lack personality
• Staff did their job, but didn't really go above and beyond to provide that WOW  factor that I look for in properties
• Pools and beach on property were just, ok
• Cleaning staff was hit or miss - the first couple of days the room was cleaned very well and all towels and toiletries were well stocked, but the last three days, the room wasn't cleaned as thoroughly, nor were towels and toiletries restocked 
• Also, when I attempted on several occasions to call the wake-up call number, nobody answered???? Fortunately, I used the alarm in the room, as well as on my phone, because I was there on business and had daily appointments 

All in all, the property is a solid 3* property, and despite my lack of "warm and fuzzy" feelings about the general vibe of the property, it is not a bad place to stay; however, I don't think I'll be staying there again anytime soon.

Finally, just a little bit of the sigh...factor:

It really couldn't get any better than this! I MISS YOU PUERTO RICO! I'll be back soon!

*Photos taken by That Chick Té

www.chicksthattrip.com

GOT MY OWN ROW!

What I am about to post is a veritable anomaly in this day and age, but it DID happen to me on my recent connecting flight from Miami - I GOT MY OWN ROW! I will be updating more about my fantastic trip to Puerto Rico, but I just HAD to jump on here and write that, because I was flabbergasted.

I had a window seat, so I know that (typically) just because no one is in the row when I get there; they will be coming. I tucked myself away into my corner and began reading. As I read, I looked up from time to time at the front of the plane. There was a fairly steady stream of passengers that were still milling about and trickling in, so I just continued reading because I knew my luck wouldn't be THAT good; I expected and waited for at least another passenger to join me in my row.

Well, lo and behold, the flight attendants began their spiel and the cabin doors were locked, and guess what? I was in flying heaven! Now, it's not as good as First or Business class, but it is something wonderful. I can say that I haven't had a whole row to myself in well over ten years of traveling. Prior to 9/11, I would fly home from college or fly across the country on  a red-eye flight, and I can say that 50% of the time I could have a row to myself, or just shared with one other person; however, in this day and age, that is a rarity, even on a red-eye flight!

So, stay tuned for my post about my fabulous trip to San Juan and Rincon, Puerto Rico!

www.chicksthattrip.com

Freedom of a Passport

On one of the money blogs I follow, the blogger discussed the freedom that money offers an individual; so it got me thinking about the freedom of having  a (current) passport.

Money notwithstanding, when it comes to providing freedom, a passport offers a plethora of options. By having this funny little booklet with blank pages - you can travel the world! I think that's pretty cool.

I obtained my first passport when I was about twelve years old. I was supposed to go to Germany...but, that is a long story, so I won't digress; however, I will say that the whole process of obtaining (my horrible photo), and submitting the application made me feel so incredibly grown up. I think it's a special experience, and without even knowing exactly why, I knew that a whole other world had been opened up to me, and I wasn't wrong.

Traveling to far flung places in order to have my passport stamped is not why I go there, but it is an added bonus. It's a conversation starter, and it's something that you can add to your own "bucket list" of accomplishments. When I meet people and they ask me what I do, and I tell them that I am a travel professional with my own agency; it's amazing to me how many of them will say some of the following, "Wow, that's cool. Is it a good business? Do you get to travel all over the world? I would love to travel the world, but I don't even have a passport." I hear that phrase more than I care to think about. And of course, being in this business, my personal favorite is the individual(s) who want to go on a trip (next week or month) to an international destination, yet, they have no passport. Those are always interesting conversations, especially when you let them know how much a. a passport cost, and b. how much it will cost to be expedited. More often than not, their plans change and they travel a bit closer to home (read: within the United States).

I was fortunate growing up, in that, my parents liked to travel (primarily throughout the United States), and it provided me a chance to see a lot of diverse places while I was young; thus, increasing my thirst for travel as I got older. I guess you could say, I saw all the U.S. had to offer at a young age, so I had to branch out and travel the world! I am glad that I was provided the opportunity to obtain a passport while I was young, because to me, it's as essential as having a drivers' license.

If you don't have a passport, go apply for your own freedom.

*photo by digitalart and provided by freedigitalphotos.net

www.chicksthattrip.com

Site Launch: Chasing Women Chefs

The next best thing to eating great food is talking about it! So, it is with much excitement that I am sharing with you the launch of my new site: Chasing Women Chefs.

I have created a concept that marries my love for food and travel, while shining the spotlight on women in the culinary industry. Every month in the blog section of Chasing Women Chefs,
 there will be a featured interview on a woman chef or other woman in the culinary world (bartender, restaurant owner, etc), as well as information on new or most utilized cooking tools in the marketplace, Q&A, and so much more!

Check out the "Events" section, and for those who may be interested in participating in the sponsorship opportunities, there is a "Sponsors" page too!

www.chicksthattrip.com

Holiday Party Venue Ideas!

It's that time of year where there are parties galore! Most employers throw some type of party - whether it's a full scale, blowout event, or a low key potluck, you can be assured there will be a holiday party at your place of employment.

Unfortunately, it also means that (awful) game of "White Elephant," where you get handed off stuff that's been lying around in someones closet for several years. Can you tell that's not my cup'o'tea??? Suffice to say, regardless of the budget, there are great venues where an employer, family or any other group can hold an awesome event:

• Restaurants -  Not the most inventive idea, but most restaurants can set-up a great spread and keep the food and drinks coming.
• The Zoo - In Arizona, they hold a lot of specialty events at their zoo. The lights are fantastic and you can have it catered by whomever you so chose. While this idea doesn't work for the colder climates, unless you want to be covered in snow, it's a delightful idea for those areas of the country where it's feasible to hold an event at the zoo.
• Rooftop Decks - Many hotels and restaurants have large rooftop decks that can accommodate groups for dinners and special events. Regardless if it's cold or not, there are tents and heating equipment that can be utilized to keep the guest warm and cozy while they party away.
• Street Parties - This may not work for an office/employer event, but it definitely could be something that a neighborhood could kick-off in order to get everyone involved. Street parties are great, because they aren't held at any specific house, so you are able to drift about and get to know the people in your neighborhood. It could be a themed event where each house prepares a different dish, and you  go from house to house trying out the different foods. Plus, I like the fact that there is minimal clean up!
• Convention Centers - While most companies would likely not hold an event at a convention center, if you have a large enough company, say, like a Microsoft, it's highly probable they could fill a convention center and really turn it into a fantastic affair with wonderful decorations, exotic food, games and more! This wouldn't be a low-key event, and would definitely be a pricey endeavor, but hey, aren't you (as an employee) worth it?
• Destination Party - What employee wouldn't want to get a package delivered to their desk saying they are invited to an all-expense paid trip to: Las Vegas, Hawaii, New York, New Orleans, etc, in order to celebrate the companies holiday party - on the boss! Destination parties may not be common practice, but there are some (smaller) organizations that can absorb the costs and feel it's a way to bond with their employees, as well as a little respite away from the day-to-day grind. 

*photo taken by Keattikorn, and used from freedigitalphotos.net

www.chicksthattrip.com

Relax and Float

Relax and Float

I am returning from a relaxing and laid back trip I took to the Southern California region, and I must admit it's been a nice respite to be able to chill out for a few days with my friends and do...nothing. I would be misrepresenting myself if I said I did absolutely nothing, but I can tell you that I did as little as possible.

Relaxation will take on a different look for each person, but it is critical to take that step back in order to maintain some semblance of sanity. I have spoken to a couple of my friends who are completely burned out, and their companies are even advising that they will lose their vacation days if they don't utilize them by the end of the year! This does not perplex me at all, because I worked in many environments and companies where tremendous lip service was given to respecting "work life balance," but to that point, it was just lip service. If anybody took any days off, when they returned they were overwhelmed by the work they had before they left, and additional work that was added to their plate while they were away. That doesn't make an employee feel good about leaving, when they know they will be penalized upon their return, by being inundated by work that was added while they were away.

R&R is an important time for us to be able to clear our minds, and refresh our bodies and spirits. While traveling is by no means the only way to get this much needed down time, it is one of the most beneficial to our psyche. When left to our own devices, we can say we are going to relax while we are at home; yet, the reality is that few of us do. Many people take that opportunity to repaint their homes; redo the siding on their homes, and other tasks that, while important, I wouldn't categorize as "relaxation."

Even though I didn't go away somewhere exotic (no offense to Southern California) and unknown to me; it was the much needed away time I needed to refresh my mind, in order to finish out this year on track to kick into gear for 2013! The removal of my day-to-day activities allowed me the opportunity to sit back and brainstorm some ideas for my business endeavors for next year. Also, being around my friends, I was able to bounce ideas off of people who really "get me" and are supportive in my efforts. 

Hopefully your company isn't mandating you to take days off, because I hope you have been refreshing your spirit throughout the year, but if you haven't been able to do that, and your company is threatening to take your time away, please do something good to and for yourself and - Relax & Float.

*Photo taken by Stuart Miles and obtained from freedigitalphotos.net

www.chicksthattrip.com

BEER, BEER, EVERYWHERE!

Anybody who reads this blog probably knows my passion and love for FOOTBALL! Well, what goes better with football than beer? Maybe some hot wings, but I think beer will always be number one.

This weekend marks 31st year of the annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. They have already sold out of their tickets, so needless to say, there will be a lot of beer flowing.

The Great American Beer Festival is the perfect showcase for the newer micro breweries that are coming in to the marketplace. As one entrant acknowledged in an interview, just by sheer virtue of being a part of this event is a wonderful opportunity to showcase his IPA.

It looks like Bavaria, Germany's 16 day festival, Oktoberfest, has some real competition here in the United States.

Bottoms up!

*photo used from freedigitalphotos.net and taken by Renjith Krishnan

www.chicksthattrip.com

Awesome Customer Service: Panera Bread

Awesome Customer Service: Panera Bread

Keeping in the same vain of my prior post about "making things right" when they go awry, I'd like to send an internet shout out to Panera Bread. I am not one to sign up for a lot of programs, because I prefer not to add to the high volume of my inbox, and furthermore, I rarely even remember to have the cards available when I frequent an establishment, so it just turns into a colossal waste of time, for them and for me. But, I've recently made an exception for Panera Bread.

I must admit that I have sipped and basked in the kool-aid of Starbucks. I tend to make them my "go to" place to post up and work on my computer, but now, they have gotten a run for their money, because I've been frequenting Panera Bread more often. Don't get me wrong, there are two Starbuck locations I frequent on a regular basis, and the team is just kickbutt! However, it's not the cleanest, they are ALWAYS busy, and the coffee, well, it's fine (since I'm not a coffee connoisseur), but it isn't wonderful.

A few months ago, in the early summer, I had a couple of meetings at various Panera Bread locations. I found that I loved the following about all of the establishments I frequented: the employees seem to actually LIKE their job, (for the most part) they were clean and easy to move around in, the coffee had times on when they were last brewed (which appeared to be pretty frequently), the food I've had has always been great, and it's just a nice place to be.

Well, I had forgotten about those experiences during the summer, and Panera Bread simply drifted back into the recesses of my mind, until recently. I was digging around in the little pockets of my checkbook, and I found the "MyPanera" reward card tucked in there; never having been activated or used. Now mind you, I still didn't activate it, but it was on my mind. Fast forward a few days later, and I read a fabulous story called, "It's more important to be kind than clever!" (http://blogs.hbr.org/taylor/2012/08/its_more_important_to_be_kind.html). I don't know WHAT it is, but I've been reading some great "feel good" stories lately, and this one was added to that list.

So, I decided to venture to a Panera Bread store that is close to my house. I went in, ordered a bagel with cream cheese, and a coffee. Well, the young lady helping me was quick, nice, funny and gracious. As I was standing there, another lady, a bit older, came behind the counter and began offering some breakfast items for free. She indicated that they were going to be "tossed" so they were giving them away. I politely declined, since I'd already placed an order, to which she said I was more than welcome to take it with me. I did let her know that was nice, but that I didn't need to be a piggy, and someone else could benefit from the free offer, but I thanked her profusely for the generous offer.

That just ROCKS to me. It was the early afternoon, they didn't have to give anything away, yet, they were offering items that may go to waste, gratis, to their customers. I don't know about you, but I like that concept, and it makes me want to support their company more now than ever.

The whole experience brought to mind a quote I read some time ago, but I keep it on my desktop as a day-to-day reminder, "People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel."  Tony Hsieh - Zappos CEO.

 When I am in Panera Bread, I feel good.

*Photo provided by freedigitalnet.com

www.chicksthattrip.com

When Problems Arise - Make it Right!

When Problems Arise - Make it Right!

I have worked in customer service types of organizations for my entire working career. Whether it has been: retail positions, insurance positions, managerial positions, or now, owning my own Travel Agency, I've ALWAYS worked for customer-centric organizations. With that being said, I am fully aware of both sides of the "customer is always right." 

Sometimes you simply can not give people what they want; however, if there is anything that is reasonably within your power to right a bad situation, then I think you should do it. People want to hear SOLUTIONS not, "NO." Plain and simple. Once you've offered solutions and options, then it is up to the individual to make the best decision for themselves, based off the offered solutions.

This brings me to a disturbing story that one of my travel colleagues has been working through now for well over a month. The short story, her clients were at an all-inclusive resort (I will not state the name; however, they are on my "do not sell list"). While the couple was there, they placed some cash in their hotel safe (this is already starting off bad. If you have cash -  keep it ON YOU). The next to last day before they were to depart, they left their room to enjoy their day, and upon their return, they found their safe open and their cash was gone.

Here is where things get ugly. They reported the theft to the hotel front desk, and then it was escalated to the MOD (manager on duty), and subsequently others were brought into the fray. The final solution: They did nothing. They failed to make the situation right.

I am not implying that the property should have necessarily reimbursed them their money, because it truly is a "word vs word" situation; however, every step the resort took, was to cover their own ...um, behinds; while leaving these people stranded, literally, with no money or other resources. And, to make matters worse, the couple felt as if they were the criminals. They were offered no compensation, and they were essentially left to fend for themselves (fortunately, they were offered assistance by a kind tour operator who took them to the police station to file a report). 

The resort failed in multiple ways:

• They failed to make the couple feel heard.
• The couple felt as if they were the guilty party.
• The resort offered no assistance in helping them get to the police station to file a report, nor did they conduct an in-house investigation of their staff (the couple felt that it was an inside job).
• The couple felt that the resort was trying to sweep the incident under the rug (the couple alleges that the manager directed them NOT to discuss the theft in the lobby area in front of the other guests).
• The couple placed a lengthy status on TripAdvisor about this property (and interestingly enough, there were others who reported theft of money, and other items from this property). The resort responded to the TripAdvisor report and, again, failed to "right" the situation. Their sole purpose was to show they did nothing wrong, and to save face.

This is just a snippet of what transpired, but where I believe the resort failed was their defensive responses. If they had listened, truly listened to the couple, and then made them feel heard and conducted their own internal investigation, as well as offering some sort of compensation (even if it was not the full amount of the stolen money), I believe that, while the couple wouldn't have been thrilled, they would not have been left with such a sour taste in their mouths. As it stands, this story has gone "viral" within the travel professional community, and many travel professionals have decided they will no longer sell, nor recommend this property, simply based on the mishandling of this couples situation. 

Theft from a property is nothing new, and it doesn't matter if it is a luxury property, or a 1-star budget hotel on the side of the highway; however, it is the way that situations are handled when something goes awry, that sets the stellar businesses ahead of their competition. Unfortunately, this resort failed in every step of the way.

*Photo used from freedigitalphotos.net

www.chicksthattrip.com