An insider’s view of the hospitality industry

BY MORIAH SACCARDO

Participating in the hospitality industry in New England is a passion for me. I find myself feeling so much enthusiasm for the Plymouth, Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts region. I have the opportunity to brag to people nationally and internationally about all the amazing historical and culturally enriching attractions, restaurants, beaches, golf courses, bike paths, hiking trails, shopping and of course many fantastic hotels to retreat to at the end of a long day.

Traveling has always been one of my favorite things to do. To this day, I still get butterflies in my stomach every time I get ready to get on a plane because I know there is some new adventure ahead. I use this same type of enthusiasm when discussing our region with prospective visitors.

When asked for suggestions on itineraries for our region, I always refer visitors to the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Web site and the Massachusetts Cultural Coast Web site, as well as the many local convention and visitor bureau sites. These are great tools to research local attractions, event calendars, restaurants and so on.

As a Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hilton Garden Inn Plymouth and the Holiday Inn Rockland, I am of course a tremendous supporter of the wonderful accommodations I represent. I find that these two hotels have the ability to offer the perfect "Hub and Spoke" locations for travelers to visit these three regions and stay in one location. There are so many hotels in the market place and sometimes prospective clients want to know what makes one hotel so different from the others in my area. I always make sure to mention Trip Advisor as being a great place to research our offerings and true feedback from past guests. Another good source of reviews is yelp.com.

I also remind travelers to utilize the loyalty programs offered by various establishments, and keep that in mind when booking travel or events. In our case, the loyalty programs that both brands offer are Hilton Honors and Priority Club. As someone who personally uses loyalty rewards points, I know that these programs can go a long way when deciding between various lodging options.

But ultimately the proof is in the hospitable experience provided and how people are made to feel when staying in a hotel. I come from a company that has a core philosophy of making all guests feel right at home, thanking all guests for their business, and showing how much we appreciate the opportunity to provide a wonderful hospitable experience. These are things you should expect from any hospitality interaction, which you will likely encounter as you move about our friendly region. ■

Moriah Saccardo is Director of Sales and Marketing for Linchris Hotel Corporation’s (linchris.com) Hilton Garden Inn Plymouth (plymouthma.stayhgi.com) and Holiday Inn (holidayinn.com/bostonsouth) Rockland. She can be reached at (508) 591-1029 or moriah.saccardoroscoe@gmail.com.


Published in Cape & Plymouth Business May 2010