Chart Your Course...to CHART Hotels and Restaurants

One of the benefits of being a part of CHART is the support we receive from one another. Our members teach their skills during conference breakout sessions, share best practices through both informal networking and established programs such as Ask My Peers, and donate money for new trainers to attend conferences with our Learning Legacy Fund. It seems like in almost every method possible, CHART folks are doing something to help out their fellow members.

Except in one way: patronage. When scrolling through the many posts from my CHART friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, I rarely see them say anything about dining at a restaurant or staying at a hotel from another CHART member. And when I have conversations with attendees at conferences and regional forums, I generally hear about their visits to local eateries or boutique properties, but nothing about their experiences at CHART businesses.

If it seems odd to me, it’s because I absolutely love visiting member hotels and restaurants, especially when I’m traveling across the country. If there’s a chance for me to get a California Bowl at Rubio’s, a Chicken Caesar Wrap at McAlister’s Deli, or some of those unbelievably delicious breadsticks at Fazoli’s, I will do everything possible to squeeze in a quick detour for those menu items. I also love staying at member properties, both the singular (like The Brown Palace and The Broadmoor) and multi-unit (Choice Hotels, Holiday Inn, Marriott, and Best Western), and I do my best to report back to the CHART members I know from those locations. I also come away with great new ideas from visits to these hotels and restaurants and am eager to share them with my colleagues back at Ivar’s.

My goal for 2017 was to have at least 75 dining experiences at CHART member restaurants (not including Ivar’s), and as of the end of November I was at 74, and to stay at least 25 nights at CHART hotels, and I hit 27 this past month. I’m going to shoot for 80 restaurants and 30 hotel nights during 2018, and I’ve targeted a few places that I’ve never been before, including Slim Chickens, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Drury Hotels. I’m excited about the possibility of trying new menu items, staying in new places, and learning what I can from these experiences.

So before booking your dining and hotel reservations for 2018, take a stroll through the CHART online member directory and check out our members’ amazing properties…and not just for personal visits, but for corporate events, too, such as lunch meetings, board meetings, or manager conferences. These companies care enough about guest experiences to have joined the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers, which means there’s a strong chance you’re going to receive excellent service and some amazing food. And if you do enjoy the visit, make sure to share your joy on social media and help these members continue to reach new audiences and grow their businesses.

I would love to hear about your 2018 CHART visit goals or your experiences at member locations in the comment section below. Bon appétit and bon voyage, everyone!