On The Road to Washington, DC and the VRMA Conference, October, 2009

After returning from my most interesting visit to Moscow in mid-October, it was wonderful to have a full week in the office to get caught up before my next journey.  This was especially helpful since my team had just moved us into a new and bigger office space in the same building, and I was able to get settled in.  But soon enough the road was calling again, and the irony that my next trip after Moscow was to be to the Capital of our own country was not lost on me.  Even in the taxi I found myself snapping pictures out the window on my camera phone of the Washington Monuments to send to my children.

What a beautiful fall day it was to be arriving too, especially since the Ft. Lauderdale weather was still hot and muggy this time of year.  The leaves were just about at the  peak of their glory of fall colors.  Here’s a picture of the courtyard outside the Omni Shoreham where I was staying:

                             
Although every engagement on my journey seems to hold special meaning, this was an especially meaningful one as I was headed to DC to be a speaker for the Vacation Rental Manager’s Association (VRMA) conference.  Although I had been a guest speaker from 1996 through 2004, it had been four years since I had participated.  How exciting it was to hear from Cort Rousell, Chair of the Conference Planning Committee, about their interest in bringing me back.  I had told them as I do all clients that my fee is per day, not per hour or per person, so use me for as many sessions as you can.  Boy, did Cort ever take me up on that as I did 7 presentations in 2 days!  Although by the end my voice was a little hoarse, I have to say it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a conference speaker.  Not only were 4 of my 5 break-out sessions standing room only despite 150+ chairs, but 30 people signed up for my post-conference add-on workshop.  Most of the attendees even showed up for my opening keynote session on the morning of the last day, despite that the VRMA had hosted one of the most fun conference events (a Halloween costume party):

                                

What was most moving was the fact that dozens of the most senior “legacy” members of the VRMA personally attended every session I presented, despite that they have heard me so often before.  Here are pictures from the VRMA conference:

                                     
(Above) Here I am with my friend Betsy LaBarge, President of Mt. Hood Vacation Rentals, who runs one of the best lodging industry reservations operations in the business. 

                                                  
(Above) Here I am with my dear friend Lucy Kawaihalau, President of Kauai Vacation Rentals, who understands what the hospitality industry is all about on a deeper level than almost anyone I know.  I was deeply honored that Lucy, who is a legacy member of VRMA and recent past President, sat through all my presentations and also attended my post-conference seminar.  

                                          

(Above) This is a picture of me with Norris Sanvold, owner of Hawaii Beach Homes vacation rental, who also attended my post-conference seminar.  I've had Norris in my programs several times over the years and I always enjoy his participation, especially since he has been in sales most of his adult life even before vacation rentals. 

                                  

(Above) Here's a picture of me at the costume party with Cort Roussell, Owner of Franconia Notch Rentals, and the chairperson of the 2009 VRMA conference planning committee.  When I last saw Cort at the 2004 conference I predicted he would be up there leading the organization soon enough, and there he was doing it!

                                    

(Above) This is a picture of me with - front left - Nathan, Jamie, and Julia Wax, owners of Emerald Isle Realty, which operates over 800 vacation rental homes in Emerald Isle, NC, and who I'll be seeing in February to conduct some company-wide hospitality excellence training.                              

                                    

(Above) Here is a picture of me with Pedro Mandoki, President of Mandoki Hospitality Group, and a past President of both the VRMA and also the prestigious American Hotel & Lodging Association.  Yet another legendary hospitality superstar of our industry.

After leaving the conference and heading to National Airport, I was standing by an open gate talking on my cell phone when I noticed there were several volunteers decorating the gate with red, white and blue.  At first I thought I was about to witness soldiers returning from the Middle East.  After speaking with a volunteer, I learned that in a few moments a group of World War II veterans would be coming through security to board their flight home after a day of touring Washington, DC, and in particular the WWII memorial.

Having just lost my father (See On The Road, June 2009), who was himself a veteran of the Navy from WWII, I was very moved by thinking what an exciting adventure this must have been for these elderly gentlemen.  So I asked my volunteer friend if she could ask explain that I wanted to have a picture with them, which they seemed happy to oblige.  What an interesting time I shared with those vets!  One had been a Naval commander in the Pacific, one an infantryman, but the one I found the most interesting of all was the gentleman who had been with General Patton’s 3rd army as it raised across Europe to rescue the 82nd Airborne Division that was bogged down in France by the Battle of the Bulge.  He explained how Patton’s army was one of the first to discover the concentration camps and to free the prisoners.  He eagerly asked if I wanted to see some pictures, which I agreed to view with him.  They were not pretty and I can pray only that humanity gains enough wisdom to continue to say “NEVER AGAIN.”  Here is a picture of me with those heroes that day:

                                   

To see a WXII Channel 12 news link about what is called the Triad Flight of Honor program, which sponsored this field trip for these very special vets, click here:   Link to Television News Story

Best of all, The Road brought me home in October just in time to spend Halloweeen Weekend with the kids, carving the best Jack-O-Lantern yet!

                                  
Posted by Doug Kennedy at 10/31/2009 12:57 PM
Categories: uncategorized
 

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