Gary Serino recently underwent a Triple Bypass and is recuperating well.  Although it may take a while for him to back to the old Gary, we certainly want to show him we care.

Please feel free to send get well cards, notes or messages to Gary Serino, MCHG, 15 Main Street, Suite 210, Freeport, ME 04032.  We will deliver them to him regularly.

We have visited him and he still has the GREAT sense of humor. He just can't laugh very hard right now.

MCHG Team of the Year

Congratulations

Yarmouth Muddy Rudder

The Muddy Rudder in Yarmouth was chosen as the MCHG Team of the Year for 2009.  At the Annual celebration, the teams outstanding achievments were shared. The Rudder lead MCHG in the highest increased profits compared to last year.  They also had significant contributions to the Yarmouth and Freeport communities.

Tom Schwaz, GM at the restaurant, commented on how the entire team was responsible for the award. He said that the other leaders, bartenders, servers and kitchen crew played significant roles in the successes this past year.

Congratulations to the entire team!!!!!!!!

GM Named for Bath Hampton Inn

Jenn Libby has been named General Manager for the Hampton Inn Bath Brunswick.

Jenn has been been part of MCHG for 10 years. She has started as a Front Desk associate at the Comfort Suites and was promoted to supervisor. She became Front Office Manager at the BW Freeport Inn and later came back to the Comfort Suits as General Manager.

Jenn has begun some work "on the side" for her new role but will become full time in a couple of weeks. Watch for exciting things happening in Bath. Weekly updates are available on the Face Book Fan Page.

New Hotel in Exeter

As you can see from the photo, everyone is chipping in to get MCHG's newest hotel open. With the expectation of opening the first week of September, this team is busy working 7 days a week. Landscaping is in, furniture is in place and guest-ready cleaning is in process.

It's wonderful to see the support from other people in our company. Dayna helped with preopening marketing, Mary and her team of 8 Blitzers from around our company, conducted one of the most successful Blitz's yet. Jamie Mulley, the GM had 6 calls and emails for corporate accounts and weddings by the time they finished the blitz.

Gordon heads up the FF&E procurement and organization, as well as his invaluable IT support. Kevin has recently taken on a role to assist in the organization of "getting ready." Training, coaching and moving lots of boxes (with Gloves on) is where you will find him weeks before opening.

The Trio of Jamie, Allissa and Nichole have pulled together an unbelievably strong team. Its amazing what they have accomplished in their short few weeks of being together.

For more regular updates on the excitng happenings at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Exeter, visit their blog at http://fairfieldinnexeter.blogspot.com/

For reservations; visit www.marriott.com/psmex

Best of the Best

What a site! I drove into the Econolodge in Augusta and saw it hanging there. The Gold Award Banner. Winning the Choice hotels gold award means that our Econolodge is one of the best in the country. You might say; "Ya but...." Not me. This means that the team at this hotel has risen to the top in their brand.

I recently sat in the lobby and watched guests as they came in. They are pleasantly surprised by what they find. Breakfast is far superior to other similar hotels. More importantly I hear Chris, Susan, and Virginia calling out to guests by their names.

As the old Ad used to say... "This is not your fathers Oldsmobile." Folks, this is not your typical Econolodge. http://www.augustaeconolodge.com/

I am proud of our team. Thanks for listening to me as I brag. This blog thing is cool like that.

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MCHG Joins Social Networks

Wow! I remember starting with Maine Course 20 years ago and being excited to use the new fangled FAX machine. I text friends, email from my Blackberry and now I Blog. Times have changed.

But have they? I still watch hosts open the door for guests, associates offer to carryout bags for seniors, leaders pick up butts in the parking lots....just like I did 20 years ago. I guess taking care of guests hasn't changed that much.

I see our leaders working side by side with associates and offering a shoulder to cry on during difficult times. I watch many of you working at soup kitchens, volunteering for Ronald McDonald house and donating so much time in our communities.

Have times changed? Are things tough right now. You bet! But if we keep doing the things that made us successful thus far, we will be the ones in front as we come out of the economic slump. Every one of us needs to take care of our guests and each other. If we do that, the enviroment will be positive, our guests will feel it and come back time and time again. I promise to lead by example and be with you every step of the way.

Cool! I just wrote my first Blog. Stay tuned................