Meeting room at Normandy Farm Hotel and Conference Center in Blue Bell, PA
Independent boutique hotels, resorts and banquet facilities host a wide range of events and rely heavily on referrals as opposed to name brand recognition. For these properties to truly succeed, they must provide superior customer service and an unrivaled attention to detail driven by their staffs and owners.
Most meeting-oriented chain hotels can accommodate virtually any type of event, but it’s a nice change of pace when a planner is able to find a location that seems as if it were designed specifically with their occasion in mind.
The function spaces within independent properties provide a myriad of one-of-a- kind backdrops from which planners can select the absolutely perfect setting to fit their specific theme and needs.
Reasons abound for planners to select such locally owned and operated proper- ties, highlighted here by event profession-
24 July August 2011
als who accommodate corporate meet- ings, events and social functions daily.
User Friendly
Domenick Savino, CEO of Drexelbrook Catering and Corporate Event Center, has been told that his venue is very “user friendly” due to the straight forward nature of its policies, procedures and contracts.
Located in Drexel Hill, PA, Drexelbrook is one of the largest independently owned and managed banquet facilities in the area. Its ballrooms and patios have been hosting events for over 60 years and it is ranked as a premier wedding venue.
Without a corporate office to answer to, Drexelbrook and other independent properties can make decisions within their own four walls. Such autonomy allows for a faster response time and greater flexibility as each situation arises.
Savino says that planners can create events in person or over the phone, and Drexelbrook’s staff is able to provide them with the exact services they need. The planner doesn’t have to buy a set package or inflexible bundle of services that might include some they don’t want or need.
This is helpful when it comes to negotiat- ing pricing to meet the client’s budget. After all, the bottom line always impacts an event, so it is important to negotiate a bill without a lot of extra expenses that simply aren’t necessary for it to succeed.
Warren Breaux, director of sales and mar- keting for Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, VA says that independent properties want their staff to focus more on the total bot- tom line results instead of individual departmental profit percentages.
This whole look at the business creates an environment where staff can focus on the satisfaction of the customer in order to
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