January 26 , 2007
STARTING OUT IN HOUSEKEEPING
WAS STEP LADDER FOR
TWO EXECUTIVES AT
THE SPA AT NORWICH INN
NORWICH, Conn. – At The Spa at Norwich Inn, young mother of three Danielle Knerr of Lisbon was hired in 1997 to used to work nights, delivering irons and towels to guests, then moved to the crew that cleans the spa facility itself. Roberta James-Brown of Norwich started in 1998 in the laundry, washing and folding linens.
Today, both of these women have attained management positions at the nationally recognized spa. Knerr was recently named Assistant Spa Director, directly supervising 42 massage therapists and managing all spa operations and a workforce of 100+ when the Spa Director is away. James-Brown is now the Reservations and Direct Marketing Manager.
The mother of two young children, James-Brown moved from laundry after several months to a part-time reservationist position, then coordinated marketing mailings for a year. She was recruited to become Reservations Supervisor in 2000, with oversight of 12 reservationists and PBX staff, and was given back the job of direct marketing, both through the mail and over the Internet. Her new title recognizes the combination of those two jobs as well as her experience and skills.
“I had no idea I’d grow into my position here,” said James-Brown. “You can’t help but feel special when you work at this beautiful inn and award-winning spa.”
The property’s general manager, John G. O’Shaughnessy sad, “Both Roberta and Danielle are energetic, focused, talented people. We are proud to have help them advance in their careers.”
While both women have a seat on the property’s Marketing Committee, they also retain a deep respect for the work of housekeeping, particularly because that work can often have a greater effect on guest satisfaction than the work done by people who work in offices.
“We will get down on our hands and knees when something needs to be done, and we do it,” said Knerr. One day I was down on the floor, working to get a spot out of a carpet. A young spa employee asked me why I didn’t just call the maintenance staff. I said, ‘That might take some time, and I’m here right now. It’s not hard to do, and I wondered if you might like to help me.’”
Her goal, she explained, was to teach the young employee that everyone should take pride in how the property looks and pitch in when needed.
There is one more reason that keeps James-Brown happy with her job, but it doesn’t relate to housekeeping.
“When Danielle and the spa staff invent a new spa service, I immediately volunteer my body for them to practice on,” she said. “It’s a great treat.”
The Spa at Norwich Inn is an intimate, 100-guestroom retreat. It is home to an elegant, world-class spa offering a blend of fitness programs, nutritional instruction and beauty and body treatments designed to restore and rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. Guests are housed either in the 1930 Georgia Colonial inn building, or in villas with wood-burning fireplaces and balconies. It was named “Best Destination Spa in New England” by YANKEE Magazine in 2005, Best Resort in Connecticut in 2006 in New England Travel & Life, and has been rated “Excellent” in the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions of the Zagat Survey of U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas. The Spa has received awards from SpaFinder Magazine for its massage and facial skin care services and has been voted “Best Day Spa” by the readers of Connecticut Magazine for the last nineyears in a row. For information and reservations on a wide variety of weekend, weekday and overnight options, call 800-ASK-4-SPA or visit www.thespaatnorwichinn.com.
The Spa at Norwich Inn is a member of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For information, visit www.historichotels.org
Press Contact:
Peggie Cosgrove
Peggie Ford Cosgrove Public Relations LLC
860-447-9217
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