Meet Our People 2024 Roundup: Memorable Experiences in Hospitality
Over the past year, we enjoyed getting to know some of our amazing Memphis hospitality professionals. We often ask them about a time they’ve been able to create a memorable experience with their guests. Here are some of our favorite stories from 2024!
Lorne Green, Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous: I've waited on some children who were patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital before. We take care of St. Jude patients – we don’t charge them at all. Knowing that their families come in here, and they are in good hands, and that we treat them like family – that means a lot. We understand what they're going through and we wish them the best.
Simon Sutton, Shelby Farms Park’s Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park: When people are generally a little more afraid, of course we encourage them to give it a shot anyway, and I want to be there to encourage them the whole time. The very first zip line that you do on our Treetop Adventure course is also our longest, fastest, and tallest. So it can be tough when folks get through the course and get to that first zip line. They look and see that they're going out across the lake. It can be very intimidating and folks need some encouragement. I have had to make my way up there and talk a guest through it. And it is so rewarding to be up there with them and to tell them, hey, this is the hard part. You're just going to take that one step.
Allison Morrow, Incredible Pizza: There was a lady who came with her husband and their younger daughter for the girl’s sixth birthday. We were pretty slow that day, and they were scared of the rides. They had never really been on a ride. So I slowed all the rides down for them and personally took them to each ride. I had fun! I got to talk to the family. It is a good memory. It's one of the reasons I like working here.
Tina Minor, Holiday Inn Express & Suites: We have a regular customer who has been coming here for five years. He is blind, and the last time he came here, his wife wasn’t with him. So I was his assistant while he was here for ten days. I would go check on him every morning and make sure his medication was lined up properly, I made sure he ate, I checked on him at the end of the day to make sure he didn’t need anything before I left. I taught him how to use Uber Eats. He was here for Elvis Week, so I made sure that the associates checked on him in the lobby, that he had an escort to help him come and go. I really put in the time with him. He has been loyal to us. He comes back each year because of the experience he’s had here.
To read more of our interviews with Memphis hospitality professionals, visit the Meet Our People blog. Know an amazing hospitality professional? Nominate them for an Annual Pick Award! Looking for a job? Check out our Jobs Board and our Training Opportunities.
