Courtyard Marriott High Point Wins 'Hotel of the Year' Award

Furniture World Magazine

Marriott International, Inc. announced that the Courtyard by Marriott in High Point is a winner of its prestigious annual Hotel of the Year award for 2008. The hotel was chosen out of 754 Courtyard properties nationwide to be the national winner thanks to both its top-notch guest satisfaction scores from surveys and equally impressive scores from semi-annual, unannounced Quality Assurance inspections. The global honor represents the hotel's efforts in achieving high levels of customer satisfaction and operational excellence. The surveys revealed that 9 out of 10 guests rated their stay as "very satisfying." Guest satisfaction surveys are provided to all guests and rate customer service, business amenities, in-room comfort, cleanliness, location, and overall experience. Under General Manager Kevin A. Archer's leadership, the team has embraced the importance of customer service. "We have been successful in creating a work environment that allows our associates to feel empowered, enabling them to have a sense of ownership and great pride in all they do," says Archer. "Attention to detail, commitment, dedication and loyalty are some of the characteristics that each of our associates showcase while providing exemplary customer service to each and every one of our guests." Hotel owners Reg and Pat Poteat of Laurinburg are very involved. "They have taken great strides to provide our team with all the necessary assets and direction to making our hotel the very best possible," says Archer. "Reg and Pat stay actively involved, making sure all aspects of the hotel conveys their personal high standards, while truly caring about our well being and success." The Courtyard High Point is no stranger to community service as it makes regular donations to area organizations. The hotel donated towels to the High Point Swim Club, who were providing free swim lessons to the children of the Boys & Girls Club, and partnered with the Arc of High Point to allow area high school students with developmental disabilities to explore different types of employment during a six-week program. The hotel was selected by the Guilford County Board of Elections as a site for Early Voting and welcomed over 5,000 voters during a one-week period. "Community involvement is part of 'The Marriott Way'," says Archer, who serves on the board of directors of the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Jamestown Youth League. The Courtyard High Point employs 32 people resulting in a ratio of nearly one employee for every three rooms. In addition to contemporary guest rooms with complimentary wireless high speed Internet access, the hotel offers an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, outdoor patio and gazebo, meeting room facilities, breakfast buffet, cozy lounge area with fireplace, business center, and a 24-hour market with a variety of food and beverages including beer and wine. "We hire for attitude and train for efficiency," notes Archer. "Each of our team members knows that you seldom have a second opportunity to make a first impression, and we take that to heart." The 107-room Courtyard Marriott is located at 1000 Mall Loop Road in High Point.