It is really interesting to sit back and observe casually the way things play out with your life sometimes.  My work travel schedule is dictated randomly by demand, but it is interesting to watch how the streaks and trends play out.  Having until recently been to NYC only 2 times in the past 5 years, I was now making my 4^th trip back in 8 weeks.  The occasion this time was to train the reservations call center staff at Affinia Hotels/Denihan Hospitality Group, which has been a client of mine since 1991.  In fact, at least 20% of the agents I trained this trip had been through my first ever training back then. This was my second visit since launching my new company – KTN – and I was to conduct an advanced-level reservations sales class.  It was really great to check-in to the Affinia Manhattan and to walk into the hotel lobby that I’d originally traversed 16 years before. The only physical feature I recognized besides the layout was the mail drop slot. The place looked great!

Upon arrival I had one of the best check-in experiences I can recall, despite that it was an especially busy time in the lobby, delivered by Mr. Nino Diaz. He not only welcomed me upon arrival, but also remember to ask how my trip into The City had been this evening.  Little did he know this was a loaded question for me, and he even listened empathetically to my story which I have to admit made me feel just a little bit better.

The next day I was back in action training the team, and I am very grateful for their continued interest and enthusiastic support of their team, especially agents like Phillip, Kevin, and Marcia, among many others.  It was also great to see my main client contacts in Rob Van Breeman, who I met a decade ago when he attended a seminar, Beverly Raamsdock, their Director of Revenue, and especially Kevin Patton, their Corporate Director of Training, who was my original contact in setting up the training 17 years ago.  Kevin has done a stellar job of managing training and development for this group that has transformed its hotels into oasis’ of hospitality.   Here’s a picture of me with Beverly then one with Kevin and I:

  
   

Too bad I had to work in my room both nights at the Affinia Manhattan, especially the second night. Had I only looked up on the Marquis sign at laceName w:st="on">MadisonlaceName> laceName w:st="on">SquarelaceName> laceType w:st="on">GardenlaceType>, when I’d walked by earlier, I would have noticed that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were playing right across the street from my hotel!  Since Cathy had seen his second concert in this tour a couple weeks back in Philly when she was traveling on business, I knew what a great event it was and would have definitely been there. Instead I only found out at LaGuardia Airport when I saw a guy with a concert tee shirt and asked about it.

Although I have traveled a lot this month it somehow has seemed that I’ve mostly managed to be at home for life’s truly important events, as usually seems to be the case in my life.  In this case it was to see my Julia being inaugurated into the Student Council of Hollywood Hills Elementary for the second of the three years she’s been eligible. Whereas in past years they were appointed, her grade (4^th) was the first during which kids were choosing on their own to run for office. Her mom and I didn’t even know that she was going to run until she announced that she had won, and we were both so proud of her that day. Here’s a picture of Julia with her brother Adam and also the Mayor of Hollywood, FL, the Honorable Mara Guilianti.