In today's increasingly techno computerized, microwave, done now society, it becomes harder and harder to find any business that actually cares more about customer service than their website or Facebook.
Well I found it!
Nestled in on a cliff between South beach and Nye beach in Newport Oregon you will find The Hallmark Resort Newport , a nautical themed hotel with jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces in most rooms. Sure there is a string of corporate generic cookie cutter hotels and condos, planted on the same stretch of cliff overlooking the beach. But this is the place. This is the place for smiles, for good mornings, for how is your day, for how is your room, for what can I help you with, for good old fashioned genuine niceness, and that is the difference.
Plain and simple, the entire staff, from maintenance techs , to house keepers, front desk personnel, bar tenders waiters/waitresses and Management have the same unified goal. Genuinely making you feel like an old friend and therefore happy.
Sitting in the bar sipping a cup of coffee on a calm Sunday afternoon, the staff jokes with patrons, takes pictures of smiling customers sitting by the window with the glorious pacific rolling steadily in the background, and a hint of sunshine poking through the clouds and lighting up the waves like lighthouses. Yes I feel comfortable and happy.
Talking to Mike Locke (front end manager) and Jeff Orn (house services Manager) their goal is to be the most personal, friendly and customer oriented hotel possible. That dynamic is shared throughout the entire staff due to their lead by example practice.
Citing that he was at a recent resorts management conference, Mike states "One of the highly pushed topics was letting people check in with their phones to save the front desk time and personnel". By the look on his face you would think they stabbed him in the temple with an icepick, "That defeats the entire purpose of why we are here, to be friendly people" , "To make their time with us memorable, and make them want to come back" chimes in Jeff. "We have an incredible staff that can see the big picture, and supports us in our mission".
They do have an incredible staff, trying to keep track of how many staff members smiled at me and asked how my day was or how I was doing, or if I needed anything was next to impossible, I think I lost track in the 20's !
The rooms are clean and modern, the view (Yes from every room !) is outstanding, through the sliding glass doors, and the lower level rooms are pet friendly. The housekeeping staff keeps your linens fresh, and beds drawn tight daily. Toiletries, kitchen needs, and coffee are replenished like clockwork.
Back to the bar, or more importantly, the fantastic restaurant/bar attached, Georgies is easily a 4 star restaurant with 2 star pricing, good old fashioned, treat you like a local, service. The food is Exquisite, and in a coastal town where practically every restaurant claims to have "award winning chowder". There is no boast at Georgies, just (in my opinion) the best chowder in Newport, OR. The seafood is fresh, The beef is outstanding, the preparation, Presentation, and palette are perfectly delicious, all the way to the deserts. The bar staff is friendly and as one staff-member confided, "I have worked in other places here in town, and I am here because they are good...period".
Yes , folks in today's techno-computerized, microwave, done now, society there is a refuge from the stone cold corporate stay. I suggest you take time to check it out for a couple days, kick back, be comfortable, turn on the fireplace in your room, leave the slider open at night and be lulled to sleep by the mighty rolling pacific. The refuge is called The Hallmark Inn Resort, in Newport, Oregon.
http://www.hallmarkinns.com/index.asp?property=3&rec_id=38
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