Want to Improve Room Scent?

A great tip from Jason Gretzula, our newest GM in Hilton Head!

Jason says: "When I first started at the Hilton Head Red Roof Inn earlier this month, I noticed a bit of a funky smell in the lobby. I decided to try a few air fresheners that I had ordered from HD Supply. They are placed in the Ptac unit under the front cover and they last for 30 days or more. They come in all different scents. I ended up choosing a multi berry scent and I have to say… it smells absolutely amazing! I just want a WOW every guest with first impressions when they walk through our door and welcome them home."

HD Supply Part # 125527

Web Gardenia Air Filter Freshener

Thanks for your awesome tip Jason!

A few additional fun facts about our sense of smell, from www.cleanlink.com.

1. Everyone has a unique odor identity like a fingerprint — no two people smell the same way except identical twins.

2. The human brain can process roughly 10,000 different smells in an area the size of a postage stamp.

3. A woman’s sense of smell is much stronger than a man’s.

4. A person’s sense of smell is weakest in the morning and the ability to perceive odor increases throughout the day. (so your check in experience should be awesome 😉)

5. Approximately 80 percent of what we taste is actually qualified by our sense of smell. This is why our taste is diminished during a cold or flu.

6. Prolonged exposure to unpleasant smells can actually impair your ability to smell. Wearing a mask over the nose and mouth can help lessen the effects of malodors.

7. Smell has a very powerful link to memory and links to the emotional regions of the brain more directly than other senses.

8. Our sense of smell is strongest in the spring and summer because of the added moisture in the air. (Spring? Summer? Hello! Our busiest time for most of our properties!)

9. Scent works in the opposite direction of other senses. With sight, sound and taste, we identify the information first and then react emotionally. With scents, we have an emotional reaction first and then identify the scent shortly thereafter. (with Jason’s tip… we can make an immediate emotional connection with our guest)

10. People can remember smells with 65 percent accuracy after a year, while visual recall is about 50 percent after three months. (your guests will remember the pleasant smell when they leave!)

Contracts & Agreements SOP

The contract must meet the below requirements to be signed. Going forward ALL contracts will be signed by Brianne Austin, her title on the contract should be listed as “Authorized Signer”.

New Service Contracts MUST be approved by SVP before being submitted. If there is not an existing contract in place and the service has not been previously or currently being performed it is a New Service Contract and must be approved.

Contract Requirements:

• The contract/agreement is between the contractor and the “Ownership Group Name” i.e., BW RRI II – NOT RRI West

• The term must not exceed one year

• There is no automatic renewal

• Payment Due Date should not be less than Net 30

• Contract must include a contract terminations clause “Contract can be terminated for any reason during the contract term.” Including if the asset is sold

• No penalty or liquidated damages (as in COVID-19, we have many contracts we can’t exit due to penalties)

• COI must meet minimum coverage amounts and list Ownership Group as the certificate holder with additional insureds listed (Please contact your RVPO if additional clarification is needed)

• Contract must be signed by the contractor before submitting for approval

Contract Signing Process:

1. Contract must be emailed to Jon Baaske, jon.baaske@rriwest.com for approval

2. Once approved Jon will send the contract to Brianne Austin “Authorized Signer” for signing

3. Jon will then return the signed contract

Contracts-Agreements SOP.pdf

Download PDF • 96KB

On the Move

Team RRI West I am excited to report back to everyone again this edition with some new changes in the WEST team.

Brittany Burch: Brittany, started with us in in 2012 as a GSR in North Carolina then moved up to an AGM position at Boston Saugus. She was later promoted to GM at Oxon Hill MD in 2017, and is now on the move, relocating back to NC and taking the role of GM at #256 Raleigh NCSU – Convention Center.

Kendra Robinson: We welcome back a former COE winner. Kendra started with us in 2005 as an AGM at Baltimore - Timonium. She later went on to become the GM at Baltimore Columbia/Ft. Meade in 2016 where she remained at this location until it sold earlier this year. We welcome her back to WEST as GM of #181 Washington DC-Oxon Hill.

Peter Perillo: We welcome back another GM as well. Peter started with us in 2011 at Milford CT and remained at Milford until it sold in 2020. Peter had remained with the franchisee until recently accepting a position back with WEST. We welcome him back now taking over the role as GM of #150 Secaucus-Meadowlands, NJ.

Michael King: Exciting news with an internal promote from Laundry GSR to Executive Housekeeper at #262 Columbus Downtown Convention Center. Michael started with us in July 2021 and has worked his way up to Executive Housekeeper. Prior to WEST, Michael worked at the Hyatt Regency doing Porter, Houseman, Housekeeping, and Guest Requests from 2019 to present. Prior to that he worked at the Westin performing similar duties from 2017 to 2019. Congrats to Michael on his promotion.

So who will be next??? Currently we are looking to fill the GM roles at #035 Rockford IL and #146 Asheville NC. What AGM wants to step up and take on their own inn? Reach out to your RVPO and/or HR!

RRI West Region Alignment

RRI West Alignment 8_16.xlsx

Download XLSX • 43KB