The people at this hotel should definitely be recognized for outstanding service. About three weeks ago, my wife's sister was tragically murdered by her childrens father. After taking my sister in-law's life, he then took his own. Leaving the 3 year old Makayla and 1 year old Zion behind, without a father and mother, my wife and I were given the great responsibility of raising our niece and nephew, along with my mother and father in-law.
So I had to work at the Holiday Inn Express - Jacksonville Beach this past week to co-facilitate a Stay Real Workshop. This is the new Service Culture that Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels are adopting, which focuses on driving memorable, exceptional guest experiences on a consistent, intentional basis across the globe!
I decided to bring my wife Ty, my 12 year old daughter Shalomar, my 10 year old god-son Will, Makayla, and Zion with me as an brief escape from all that has taken place in the recent weeks.
Upon our arrival at the property, I was greeted by the most friendly front desk staff you could imagine! I had a hassle free check in, gave my wife the keys, as I headed back to the car to get our luggage. When I walked through the door to our room (after my wife and kids had a chance to go in the room before I got upstairs with the luggage), the whole atmosphere was changed!
******-son runs up to me screaming, "There is a Play Station 3 in our room with Tiger Woods and a racing game!" Then I ball comes rolling over to me, with my little Zion chasing it. The hotel bought beach toys the kids could keep and they all ready ripped into them and scattered them all over the floor! His smile stretched across his face and I looked up into the room to see a kids suite!
The kids had bunk beds, Zion had a crib in the room, my wife and I had a king size bed, and the bathroom was fit for a king, a queen, some princes and princess'! (I think the kids spent several hours in the beautiful, spacious stand up shower!)
My wife handed me a card from the hotel and as I began to read it, I couldn't... Tears swelled up in my eyes and I walked out of the room to get the rest of the luggage. I was halfway down the hall way and I couldn't go any further. I was crying my heart out, so happy and sad, so grateful and blessed.
After we settled in, we went to a place called Joe's Crab Shack (highly recommend it) right on the beach. I told the family that this would be the night to splurge... so the kids got crab legs and we ordered ours too!
The kids watched the staff dance every 40 minutes or so and as we were getting ready to leave I asked for the check. The waitress said, it was taken care of. I thought my wife paid it or someone from the hotel, but the waitress said that a family sitting next to us paid for our entire bill. I couldn't believe it... So my wife and I went over to the table to thank them. Upon thanking them, we told them about the loss of our sister and they told us they just lost their father a couple days ago...
We were all in the restaurant hugging each other and crying together with strangers....
Then the hotel sends my family to the Adventure Land Waterpark with 6 tickets to the waterpark, 120 tokens, and 6 wristbands to ride all those rides!
As we checked out, the General Manager (Donato) and Josh and Mike and all the staff stayed in our hearts because they definitely made this trip the most memorable and valuable trip we have ever taken together as a family!
Thank you Holiday Inn Express - Jacksonville Beach for the best experience of a lifetime! You are forever in our hearts!
