Inn staff earns AF-level recognition

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Excitement and a sense of satisfaction filled the air when the Southern Pines Inn staff received the news that they earned the small base category Air Force-level Innkeeper of the Year award Sept. 10.

"I was in tears," said Master Sgt. Linda Meza-Romero, Southern Pines Inn assistant manager. "This is not an activity, it's a family. I have watched them grow and achieve unbelievable tasks. I could not be more proud of their accomplishments."

The feelings of other inn staff member's mirrored those of Sergeant Meza-Romero.

"(I was relieved), elated, satisfied and humbled," said Charles Wilson, Southern Pines Inn lodging manager. "This is huge, there are a lot of lodging managers who have been in this game much longer than I have who can't claim this victory."

The Southern Pines Inn is a lodging facility located on base that hosts servicemebers from across the country who are visiting the base for training purposes, a temporary duty assignment, conducting a permanent change of station move and occasionally vacationers. If room is available, personal guests of Airmen are also allowed to stay in the venue. In preparation for the inspection, the inn's staff - including 45 military and civilians - ran the innkeeper inspection checklist multiple times. The team pushed harder by running extra internal inspections as well.

"We do these things year around," Mr. Wilson said. "We have a responsibility to our guest to provide the very best service possible. The team wanted this award and that's the bottom line. It can't be won without a total effort from the staff. It's an honor to work beside a team with such a commitment to excellence."

Staff Sgt. Jackie Rose, Southern Pines Inn maintenance supervisor, felt elated when she heard the news.

"Every single department here put forth so much effort, we are so proud of our accomplishment," she said. "It is because of the exceptional staff working at the Southern Pines Inn that we won this prestigious award. All of our personnel are phenomenal."

Sergeant Rose is not the only person on the staff who recognizes the receipt of this award is a reflection of the team's effort toward providing their customers excellent service.

"This team has been preparing for years," Sergeant Meza-Romero said. "You cannot win an award at this level without maintaining the highest level of cleanliness, Air Force standards and guest service."

The pride the staff members take in this recognition radiates across all levels of their leadership chain.

"Words cannot express the honor that they brought to the 4th Fighter Wing," said Col. Anne Winkler, 4th Mission Support Group commander. "As leaders, it is imperative that we take the time to recognize our Airmen for the hard work they do everyday. Winning an award of this magnitude is not done individually but as a team which includes our active-duty Airmen and civilians. It is a culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people during a long period of time which is a testament of their pride of service and professionalism."

The receipt of this award is not the end of the staff's pursuit of excellence in everything they do.

"You are at the top," Sergeant Meza-Romero said. "Now you have to work even harder to stay there."