The July Tourism Leadership Council luncheon was held last Thursday at the Hampton Inn and Suites Savannah Midtown. Thank you so much to Paul Kennedy Catering for the delicious lunch! The speaker, Shawn McBurney, Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs, spoke on federal issues affecting the tourism industry. It was a great time of networking for Savannah tourism professionals. I snapped a few photos.
Chat with you soon!
Stacy
If you are planning a wedding in Savannah, you have to check this out! The Springhill Suites Savannah Historic District is now offering a suite for brides to get ready for their big day! Imagine how relaxed you will be if you have a space where everyone can come to you. No running around to the hair salon, make-up artist, and back to your room. You can have your hair and make-up artists come to the hotel. Your photographer can capture images as you get ready. There is room for your bridal party to be with you while you prepare for this special day. The room can be set to your specifications and includes a large mirror, a make-up table with lighted mirrors, rack for dresses, round tables and chairs, sparkling cider or champagne for mimosas, and anything else you may need! We can even have some snacks catered in for you and your girls! The hotel is convenient to all of the most popular wedding spots in Savannah’s Historic District!! Mothers of the bride: you can purchase a Honeymoon Basket from Byrd Cookie Company! It is stocked with snacks, sweets, and champagne for the happy couple to have on their honeymoon. I added some bridal shots around the hotel, too! Want more information? Email Melaina at melaina.jaudon@marriott.com! Thanks to our preferred partner, Teresa Earnest of Memories n More Photography for the photos!
Chat with you soon!
Stacy
There is nothing better to me when the partnerships that I help build between StayinSavannah.com and other Savannah businesses lead to more partnerships. When I sat down with Lynn of Spa Bleu a few months ago, the possibilities were overwhelming! We are working on new spa packages, they offer a discount to the guests of our hotel partners, and so much more! When I told Teresa Earnest of the Savannah Wedding Studio, who is also a partner of StayinSavannah.com (and if you are planning a Savannah wedding you should check them out), about the spa she realized what a great addition the spa would be to the Wedding Studio! Out of their partnership comes and amazing giveaway that I wanted to share with our audience!!! Just by sharing the spa with your friends, you can win a fabulous Fusion Package!!! Check it out!
Chat with you soon!
Stacy
I unfortunately was unable to check out this amazing event myself, but a friend in the Social Media industry, Allison Mol of Island Networking, was there and snapped some pictures for me to share with my blog audience. These creations are absolutely AMAZING! Hopefully it will entice you to come visit next year and check it out!
Chat with you soon,
Stacy
Apr 14
While working in a hotel, you always strive to deliver great customer service to your guests in every way possible. It’s always great when your guests are appreciative, love their hotel experience, and plan to come back. I enjoy working with our guests on a day to day basis, but I don’t think I have ever had a guest make my day in such a big way as this one did…and she came in such a small package!!
Meet Harmony! She and her Mom are staying with us at the Hampton Inn and Suites Savannah Midtown. Harmony is 1 year old and came with her Mom to the front desk to ask for a pack of paper for the business center. Our General Manager, Felton Clark was so taken with her, that he brought her back to introduce her to all of us. She climbed up in my chair with me and stole my heart. She looked at all of my pictures and tried to steal my son’s cup that is on my desk for an afternoon refill when I go to pick him up. I think I would have given it to her if it didn’t have milk from this morning in it. She was just that adorable!! I took her back out to her Mom who was making herself a cup of coffee, and she claims that Miss Harmony is like this all of the time. I got so many kisses on my cheek and hugs from her that I could not stop smiling!! I immedialtely got Felton to take a picture and made sure it was ok with Harmony’s Mom if I shared her precious face with my blog audience. I hope she brightens your day as much as she has mine.
Chat with you soon!
Stacy
So I know this is a bit late, but better late than never, right? 
StayinSavannah.com built a float and participated in the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade this year. Some of you may have seen us in the parade. Yes I know it looks like tons of fun and so very glamorous, but here is some insider information on how things really go. 
(I mean it is tons of fun…and sort of glamorous I suppose…all of the waving like you just won a beauty pageant…but there is some hard work that goes into it behind the scenes.)
After all of the weeks of meetings, planning, and preparation, when the day finally arrives, it starts at 6am. No, that’s not when you get out of bed to get to the float. That is when you are there and ready to go! The DoubleTree Hotel Savannah Historic District was the meeting place and was gracious enough to provide breakfast for all of the participants.
After breakfast, the finishing touches have to be put on the float. Shamrocks don’t hang themselves, you know. (That’s me holding a shamrock!)
At 7:00 am, it’s time to load the float and take off to the line-up site. But not before some group picture. I promise there are good reasons for the costumes and that we matched the float theme.
Once we arrive at our waiting spot, then the waiting begins. You know how we left around 7am? The parade doesn’t start until 10:15…..and we are in the very middle of the parade. So we wait…
…and wait…
and go on a Red Bull and snack run…
and wait…
FINALLY it is time to go!!
Needless to say the crowds are very interesting at Savannah’s St. Pats Parade. “Paula Queen” was on our float and accepted our participation plaque. Yes those are butter earrings and a butter necklace.
And that’s how it goes when you participate in the parade….I almost forgot to mention…the most important lesson I learned was not to drink so much Red Bull. There are no restrooms handy when you are in a parade.
Last night we celebrated the grand opening of our newest Preferred Hotel Partner, the Hampton Inn and Suites Savannah Midtown! It was a great event with fabulous food and entertainment. Our Executive Chef, Chris Chalmers and his staff cooked up all of the savories and Paul Kennedy Catering provided a yummy chocolate fountain which of course was a HUGE hit! The Equinox Jazz Orchestra provided music all evening and Teresa Earnest of Memories n More Photography photographed the event.
Were you there? You may find yourself in some of the photos. Here are a few. You can find more on our Facebook page later today.
Thanks to all of our sponsors for donating the raffle items. They were a big hit!
Chat with you soon,
Stacy
The President visited Savannah today. His first stop was Savannah Tech where he addressed a select group of students and community leaders. It just so happens that Savannah Tech is right across the street from the Hampton Inn and Suites Savannah Midtown and the Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Midtown. So what did I do? I perched myself at the top of the parking deck to see what I could see. Of course there were protesters and demonstrators, but no one got out of hand….well that was until one person got excited and bolted across the street toward the college until the police and secret service stopped her. You can see that in the video below. My brother-in-law just happened to be in the crowd and captured video of the President arriving and the excited citizen.
I have no idea what is in this truck, but it looks serious.
...and some interesting characters.
Gina, Johanna, Anna-Marie, and Amanda braved the cold with me to catch a peek at the President!
Rick, the Chief Engineer and Kim, the Accounting Coordinator for the hotels were a floor below my perch on the parking deck.
That's the President's limo. I only know this because a guest said they showed him get into the second limo on the news.
We ate lunch and watched the President address the group at Savannah Tech live on TV.
Feb 15
So it really did snow on Friday night. We actually got enough to play in at my house. My husband got in a snowball fight with the neighborhood kids. I stayed out of the fight and just photographed it for blogging purposes…and because it may never happen again. I was 7 the last time it snowed like this in Georgia. My husband and son built a tiny snowman on our truck then realized there was enough to build a real one. We also took the lid off a Rubbermaid container to use as a sled, except our yard has no hills, so Mike pushed Ashton around with a shop broom. Enjoy the pics!
Chat with you soon,
Stacy
We shall see. Everyone is forecasting 1 to 3 inches of snow in the Savannah area. I live in a suburb a little west of Savannah and I am supposed to get 3-5 inches. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. The last measurable snowfall was .2 inches in 1996 and we had several inches in 1989. Most people around here are a little beside themselves. I am not, however, looking forward to driving home in the mess. I expect it to be a little crazy as no one is used to driving in those conditions around here. I promise pictures to prove it next week if it happens.
Chat with you soon,
Stacy
