0:01

Hello , welcome back to the

0:03

Flower Files . We are

0:06

joined

0:08

by a very special guest

0:11

today

0:17

, but you have today myself

0:20

, Amber , Lizzie , and Liza is

0:22

on her way back in .

0:23

And Cynthia is in the background for the first time

0:25

, so she can add in a thought or two if

0:27

you want it . She is here

0:30

, Amber

0:32

, continue please .

0:33

We have a very special guest today from the Hyatt in

0:35

Ken Island . She

0:37

is in charge of all things special

0:39

events and event

0:42

coordination and we're very excited to have her

0:44

here .

0:45

So , so , so excited I feel like we've been talking

0:48

about it for like about a month

0:50

now . I think is when we met with you , because we went

0:52

in March , right yeah ?

0:54

yeah , okay , do the walkthrough . Well , as soon as we met

0:56

, I definitely knew we

0:58

needed to talk to you on the podcast .

1:00

Yeah , I am so honored and happy

1:02

to be here today . So I

1:05

am Hannah Warsh , I am the director

1:07

of sales and marketing for Hyatt Place , kenton

1:09

Arrows and Marina , and

1:12

I felt the same way about you guys as soon as you

1:14

asked me to come on . Well

1:16

, as soon as we met , I knew that there was a connection

1:18

there , and then to find out all

1:21

the different elements that you guys do

1:23

at Wildly Native is

1:25

so much fun . So , then , I'm happy

1:27

that this is my first ever podcast .

1:30

You can check it off your bucket list that you didn't

1:33

know that you needed .

1:33

Yeah , absolutely

1:35

, absolutely .

1:38

Very cool . So I

1:40

would love for you to tell us a little

1:42

bit about your background and history

1:44

and kind of how you got to be

1:46

where you are today , because I

1:49

feel like in the event world there are so many times

1:51

that people just automatically think

1:54

of weddings , as you

1:56

know , tented events , and

1:59

I feel like some of the focus on

2:01

some of these don't

2:03

want to say finer buildings

2:06

, but different , like my

2:09

gosh , I can't speak specialty venues

2:12

, hotels , things like that , because I I feel like

2:14

the the hotel to like venue

2:16

ratio has kind of like shifted

2:18

over the years , but it you guys

2:21

are still like separate in

2:23

your own way . Yeah .

2:24

Like so .

2:27

It's a clean space . Yes , it's

2:30

got cool carpet , which you know I'm always

2:33

like , ooh .

2:33

Yeah , it does . And the chandeliers , of

2:35

course , Super cool chandeliers

2:38

yeah .

2:38

But I would love to hear a little bit about

2:40

how what you do is different

2:43

and how you got to be where you are

2:45

.

2:45

Yeah , absolutely . I think it comes down

2:47

to my personal experience

2:49

in the hotel world that has

2:51

really cultivated

2:54

my love for hotel sales and marketing

2:56

and events as well . I

2:59

joined Hyatt Place

3:01

, dewey Beach . I actually live

3:03

in Lewis , delaware . I was born and raised in Delaware

3:05

, went to University of Delaware , moved

3:07

to New York City for a short stint where

3:10

I worked in the men's fashion industry and

3:12

then was like you know what , I'm

3:14

coming home . But I wasn't ready to go

3:16

back to Newark , delaware . I

3:19

decided I'm going to move

3:21

to the beach for a temporary job and I landed

3:23

at the front desk at Hyatt Place Dewey

3:25

Beach and through years

3:28

of experience and mentorship with the

3:30

wonderful company that I work for , which is

3:32

called TKO Hospitality , I

3:35

have found a path

3:37

and career in hotel sales and events , so

3:41

worked for those properties at the Delaware

3:43

beaches for the past seven

3:45

years and in October I

3:47

was promoted to become the director of sales

3:49

and marketing here in Kent

3:51

and narrow so um . We have

3:53

this beautiful 120 room

3:56

hotel with 7,000 square

3:58

feet of indoor and outdoor event

4:00

space , which is pretty unique to a Hyatt place

4:02

. Yeah , it is event

4:05

space , which is pretty unique to a Hyatt place . Yeah

4:07

, it is . Hyatt places traditionally are smaller select service

4:09

hotels that don't have square footage to host wedding

4:12

, weddings and events like social

4:14

, social gatherings kind of like

4:16

the one down in Cambridge right , because the Hyatt

4:20

is , it's the Hyatt Regency

4:22

, so a much , even bigger product

4:25

. And that's what ? Because that's massive

4:27

, massive and they're awesome . The team over

4:29

there is fantastic and they

4:31

have their specialty markets as well

4:33

, and the cool thing about them is a Regency

4:36

is a full service , and so full service

4:38

hotels are used to having that type of square footage

4:40

, culinary teams and

4:42

we are lucky to share a similarity

4:45

and just a much smaller scale

4:47

. So our space and we kind of talked about

4:49

this , lizzie , at our bridal show this past

4:52

weekend we had a

4:55

smaller amount of people , because our ballroom really is meant

4:57

to accommodate 130 to 150

4:59

people . So when you have

5:01

these events , it really gives you a nice intimate

5:04

feel . Yeah and so

5:06

. So that's kind of where we we fit

5:08

into our world here . We're the first

5:10

Hyatt place in um

5:13

Kent Narrows , which is awesome

5:15

. It's a small little hotel market

5:17

. We don't have too many um in this

5:19

in this small vicinity , but um

5:22

, the product has been a great fit

5:24

for both social guests

5:26

, transient guests , just the

5:29

everyday traveler to large

5:31

groups and special events like weddings

5:33

.

5:33

so well , the most in

5:35

like intriguing part about your

5:38

hotel is the fact that , like

5:40

you , have a view that's not just

5:42

a view of like the highway or

5:44

the road , but like the water next to it .

5:46

Because , I feel , like .

5:46

Sometimes people say like oh , there's a waterfront view

5:49

, but then you have like a highway and

5:51

like a peak of the

5:53

of like the water next to it . You have like

5:55

not only the water , but you have like

5:57

the water and the natural

5:59

beauty with it , because you have watermen

6:02

like right up the street from

6:04

it , but you don't have like this city in the background

6:06

, like you are truly in

6:09

an immersive space , and then on top of

6:11

it at the restaurants next door

6:13

, and then it's all connected and you've got like

6:15

flow and and all that . So it

6:17

was . It was really cool walking through

6:19

with you and getting that perspective

6:21

of like , because I remember when mom walked in we

6:24

were in the um where

6:26

the food is the lobby

6:28

. Oh yeah , like the lobby and gallery yeah

6:30

, where we had breakfast in the morning yeah

6:32

, it's not like a like . It didn't feel like

6:34

a hotel when we walked in like it

6:36

felt like like someone's

6:39

kitchen , but just massive

6:41

, I know I .

6:42

And that's the coolest thing is , the whole backside

6:45

of this hotel is water

6:47

view . So , half of our hotel

6:49

rooms all overlook the water and

6:52

it's exactly where the sun sets

6:54

every night . So we get to see that

6:56

every day you walk out . Let's say I

6:58

have a stressful day at work , which happens rarely

7:00

I'll say in events , right . But

7:05

let's say I have a stressful

7:07

day at work and I just walk outside and I

7:09

see that sunset every single night

7:11

like it's hard to replace .

7:14

It's an unobstructed sunset

7:16

view , exactly .

7:17

Yeah , and that's the best thing

7:19

. So , you know , thinking about

7:22

what we're able to offer our guests in

7:24

some kind of special experience

7:26

, whether it's a wedding , whether it's

7:28

a corporate meeting , it just really

7:30

gives you this retreat style feel

7:32

in a coastal town . So

7:36

I'm pumped to be here . It's

7:38

been awesome learning about Kenton Arrows

7:40

and all the surrounding areas . Kenton

7:48

Arrows and all the surrounding areas and this hotel hasn't even touched the surface

7:50

of what it can do and where we can go , with the team here

7:52

and everyone working together

7:54

for the big picture of creating

7:57

this awesome retreat town

8:00

. That is , like you said wonderful

8:02

restaurants in walking distance . We have the crab

8:05

deck . Right next door we have Fisherman's Inn . Walking

8:07

distance On the other side of

8:09

the bridge is Dock House and all of that

8:11

is this big picture of Fisherman's

8:13

Village and creating a destination

8:15

for people to come away and enjoy

8:18

and , you know , really see

8:20

what Maryland has to offer .

8:22

Yeah .

8:24

It's a true Maryland feel

8:26

.

8:26

It really is and I'm lucky . So , like

8:29

I said , born and raised in Delaware , but my mom's

8:31

from Maryland , so I've grown

8:33

up with my mom's has huge admiration

8:35

for her hometown and my

8:37

parents met at the Naval Academy and it's

8:40

just I think I told you this when we did

8:42

our tour . It's hysterical to my parents

8:44

that I've somehow landed 25

8:46

minutes away from where they met

8:49

and I live in Lewis

8:51

, Delaware , so it's funny . But it makes me

8:53

feel connected too . It gives me

8:55

the little peace to make me feel

8:57

at home

9:00

in this new area to me .

9:01

So it's cool .

10:16

It's cool . I know I think the question was about the ballroom , but here we are . No , so it's cool . It's cool .

10:18

I know I think the question was about the ballroom , but here , no

10:20

, this is what it's for it's a podcast

10:23

, so yeah , that's

10:25

it , just

10:27

it's a different vibe like

10:29

and even watching you guys within the short

10:31

time that we were there on sunday , like your

10:33

team communicates really well with each other , like

10:36

you could tell that you guys have like a like a little

10:38

family there . Even the people at the front desk like

10:40

it wasn't like , oh

10:42

, you can't go talk to them , it was

10:45

all like level-headed and you guys are very put together

10:47

.

10:47

So it was that means a lot , because I

10:49

firmly believe that this place

10:52

would not run without the people within it

10:54

, right like , at the end of the day , these

10:56

are just walls , and what

10:59

our job here , and what my job

11:01

is specifically , is to create an amazing

11:03

guest experience from

11:05

the first time that they pick up the phone and call

11:08

us and hope to host a very

11:10

special event with us , especially

11:12

if it is wedding related , like it's one

11:14

of the biggest days of their life , and what an honor

11:16

it is for us to be a part of it . But I

11:19

couldn't do that just by myself

11:21

. There's so many other team members

11:23

. I'm lucky to have a wonderful sales

11:26

team . I have a coordinator and a

11:28

catering sales manager , charlene and Jessica

11:30

, who helped from the conception

11:33

of the event all the way through . I wouldn't have been able to

11:35

do Sunday without them the bridal show

11:37

. And then , on top of it , we have a

11:39

wonderful operations counterparts from

11:41

a culinary executive

11:43

chef and a team , and then banquet

11:46

managers and a food and beverage manager

11:48

and then front office . And so , having

11:51

this large team , that where we all work together

11:53

and communicate , I just like you guys

11:55

, you couldn't do it without each other , right ? Yeah

11:57

? And and at the end of the day , like

11:59

that's . My favorite

12:01

part about working in the hotel industry is

12:03

just the is the human

12:05

connection and relationship

12:07

building .

12:08

So I think one of the neatest things

12:10

that I saw on Saturday was

12:13

watching Sunday , Sunday

12:15

weekend .

12:17

It's all a blur .

12:18

I don't know my name Some days . Today would be one

12:20

of those days . But

12:23

I think one of the neatest things is , I

12:25

mean , let's be realistic . We do flower installs

12:27

and some people view that as a very

12:29

oh

12:32

, I don't want to say , you know , you're a worker

12:34

kind of thing . But you

12:37

get to see people in different

12:39

spaces and how they treat each

12:41

other . The folks at

12:44

your facility , even

12:46

down to your waiters

12:48

who were walking through with hors d'oeuvres and all of that

12:50

kind of stuff they never skipped

12:52

a beat , they never . They

12:55

treated everybody with a smile . They

12:57

were kind to each other , they

13:00

truly enjoyed being there and

13:02

they were proud to describe what they were

13:05

carrying on their trays . And I'm not

13:07

talking about like nice little ladies

13:09

, I'm talking about like everybody

13:11

who they interacted with . They

13:14

were kind and polite . And you

13:17

don't , you don't always see that

13:19

. You see people who are annoyed . You see people

13:21

who are , you know , walking around

13:23

and just irritated .

13:25

Like it's there just for

13:27

the money ?

13:28

Yeah , they're in a paycheck , not there to

13:30

provide an experience , yeah , and

13:32

it was such a different sensation

13:35

this past weekend Good .

13:37

See , that's what everyone keeps saying too is the

13:39

. You know , the energy in the

13:41

room was amazing and everything

13:44

kind of just flowed really nicely

13:46

. And that's exactly what we wanted to create , because

13:48

I firmly believe that that's how we

13:50

manage all of our events here

13:53

. That was just another way of showing

13:55

what we can do on this

13:57

property and how the

13:59

team really comes together when it's

14:02

time to perform . And

14:04

that's our job , that's

14:06

what we're here

14:08

to do , and it's fun to us . And

14:10

I'm glad that it reads that way , because

14:13

at the end of the day , that's what it comes down to .

14:15

We actually do enjoy what we're doing

14:17

so , you've been at

14:19

other facilities and you

14:22

actually , I know , started kind of from

14:24

the ground up . What is

14:26

one of your favorite moments

14:28

that you've experienced in this

14:30

industry ?

14:32

Oh gosh , that's such a great question . That's

14:34

such a great question . Well

14:37

, I've been lucky enough to be a part of

14:39

a hotel

14:41

from the point where

14:43

it was . At one

14:46

point it was an event center and

14:48

that was there for 70 plus years

14:50

. And the lovely

14:53

people I worked for came in and did

14:56

a complete renovation of that event center

14:58

and

15:08

so I got to see a hotel go from 130 rooms to adding an addition to become 145

15:10

rooms and then adding an addition to have over 20,000 square feet of flexible

15:13

indoor and outdoor event space right so

15:15

that I was a part of Hyatt Place , dewey

15:17

Beach and the Lighthouse Cove Event Center for eight

15:19

years , of seven and a half

15:21

years of my life , basically , and it

15:24

was a really transformative time for me

15:26

in my young adult life . I

15:28

walked in the doors at 23 , and I

15:30

left those doors at 30 . And

15:34

I think about all that had happened

15:36

in that time and the people that I've met and the clients that I've walked away with . And I

15:38

think about all that had happened in that time and the people that I've met and the the clients

15:40

that I've walked away with , and the friendships

15:42

and mentorship that I've gained from everyone

15:45

that I've worked with over those years and

15:47

and really like the , the

15:50

overall picture

15:52

that I walk away with and what

15:54

keeps me going every single day . And I I

15:56

have found that here as well and I can't wait

15:58

to watch this property continue

16:00

to grow as as we all work

16:02

together as a team . But it's the , it's

16:05

the relationships that I've built . It's

16:07

, hands down , the favorite , my favorite thing

16:09

. I've been lucky enough to work with clients

16:11

in Dewey and Lewis that

16:14

I have now brought

16:16

over here and they want to do an event with

16:18

me here , and that's the coolest

16:20

thing is because they have they've

16:22

trusted me and my company

16:25

enough to to work with

16:27

us over and over again

16:29

and , um , that's

16:31

what it really comes down to . As

16:33

simple as it is , it's really

16:35

watching the client

16:38

see their event come to life

16:40

. So we get

16:43

to in the sales office , work with a client

16:45

for over a year . They might be

16:47

planning the biggest day of their

16:49

life , a wedding , they might be planning

16:51

a conference , but all that hard work

16:53

that they do over

16:55

X amount of time . We

16:59

then compile all that information

17:01

, get all that information from them , work

17:03

with our operations team to make their vision

17:06

come true , and

17:08

that's been the coolest thing is , I

17:10

wish I counted how many events I've been

17:12

a part of , but the

17:14

number is high and and

17:17

I can tell you there

17:19

is so many of them that I still remember

17:22

and have I have personal relationships

17:24

with to this day . So I

17:27

think that's what it comes down to . Is this , this

17:29

industry and what I

17:31

do for a living has brought

17:33

some of the best people into my life , and

17:36

I think that's my favorite part .

17:39

So if you had to talk

17:41

about an experience that you've had

17:44

over time and

17:46

you wish that your clients

17:48

knew about what's

17:51

something that you wish every client

17:54

knew before

17:56

working with you guys .

17:59

I think that I

18:01

hope that all clients

18:03

know that they are their

18:06

own individual to us and

18:08

their needs are just as important

18:10

as the next client , as

18:17

the next client , and and we will take that experience and replicate it with every single person

18:19

where we will we're going to continue to build a relationship with

18:21

you , we are going to it's

18:23

not just a transactional thing . We care

18:26

enough and we we want

18:28

to show our clients that we truly believe

18:30

in their vision and we want to make it happen and

18:33

and we're lucky enough to

18:35

to do that for our living . So

18:37

that's what's what's pretty cool .

18:41

Yeah , I feel like it does . I don't know how

18:45

do I want to word this . I'm mumbling . I

18:47

know that you're like in hospitality , but it's

18:49

like you have to have that kind of personality

18:51

to be able to be in that world

18:53

anyway , so it was . It

18:56

was very warm in there even though it's

18:58

, all cool colors in there , it's a very

19:00

warm feeling .

19:00

There you go . I like it . You have to go with the coastal

19:03

design , and that's what you all were saying when you came for

19:05

tour . It's just a beautifully designed hotel

19:07

. Yeah , but you're right , you're right , you have to have

19:09

that personality . And I'm back

19:12

to relationship building within in hotel

19:14

walls , walls . I met my husband in

19:16

this industry , right , so , and

19:18

he has . He's left the industry and he'll . He'll

19:21

be mad at me for saying this , but it is

19:23

. You have to have , you have to have

19:25

a personality type to work in in the

19:27

service industry , and Colin found out that

19:29

was not the route for him . He's in the exact role he

19:31

needs to be in and it's perfect for

19:33

him . And but , like , how

19:35

lucky am I that I got to meet

19:37

my husband by doing

19:40

my job ? And , yeah , and the people that

19:42

you come across every single day in

19:45

these hotels , and then I get to meet cool

19:47

people like you too . So you , you

19:50

build relationships with people

19:53

you never expect to , right

19:56

, we're both . We're both in our own line of business

19:58

and somehow , some way , and they've

20:00

crossed paths and we can help each other

20:03

, and that's what's

20:05

the coolest thing .

20:06

My favorite part . So so the

20:09

event industry is busy

20:12

, intense , demanding

20:14

, rewarding all

20:16

of the things Exhausting .

20:18

Exhausting .

20:19

What is your favorite way to

20:21

relax ?

20:22

Oh , we love it . Okay , I am a social butterfly

20:25

, so the way that I recharge

20:27

my battery is by surrounding myself

20:29

with my friends and family . My

20:31

mom's my best friend . We'll

20:34

go hang out , we'll go eat breakfast together and we'll

20:36

just sit , or catching up with some

20:38

of my friends that live at

20:40

home . That's how I recharge

20:43

. Going for a walk I

20:46

am a beach bum , so I'm lucky to

20:48

live at the beach , so I will . Every

20:51

single day I have off in the summertime , I

20:53

will be on the beach for at least two

20:55

hours , if I can whether it's just

20:57

like if I get a quick moment

21:00

in the morning and I can just go sit there for a little

21:02

bit , that's what I'm doing , so that's definitely

21:04

how I recharge . Um , but

21:07

I also I love eating

21:09

and drinking . I'm a big foodie , so I

21:11

love to go out and go to restaurants

21:14

with my husband , and

21:16

that's where I really find

21:18

the best way to like catch

21:20

up with your people . Right is usually over a meal

21:22

, and

21:25

I love having the opportunity

21:27

just to sit with my people and see

21:31

what's going on in their life and catch up with

21:33

them in that way .

21:35

Like focus all your attention , like towards them . It's

21:37

not like you're seeing them in the grocery store .

21:39

Right Right Something

21:41

social like that .

21:43

It sounds like , regardless of if you're working or just in your

21:45

social life , just enjoy making

21:47

connections and getting those people

21:49

with you , no matter where you go .

21:52

That's true , it's so true , and that's how

21:55

cool it is that I found an industry

21:57

and a career path , that that I get to do

21:59

that all day long

22:01

.

22:02

It is exhausting , though there was somebody who wanted

22:05

to get into that industry .

22:06

What advice would you give to 23

22:09

year old you ?

22:11

Yeah , oh , great question . Um

22:13

, don't be afraid to try

22:15

anything . I you know

22:17

where I came from

22:19

and the picture I had for

22:21

myself when I was graduating

22:23

college at 22 is

22:26

totally different than what I'm doing today , like

22:29

completely different . I studied fashion

22:31

merchandising . I worked in the fashion

22:33

closet at Esquire magazine for a short period

22:35

of time and I loved

22:38

it , um , but it

22:40

wasn't what I was meant to do , because

22:43

I I landed in Delaware and I

22:45

tried something completely

22:48

different , completely different . And

22:50

um it . It's

22:52

given me so much and it's been so

22:55

rewarding that I

22:57

don't , if you would have told me at 22 , when

22:59

I was graduating and walking

23:02

at university of Delaware , that I'd be

23:04

a hotel director of sales , I don't know

23:06

what I would think , because it's a totally different

23:08

career path , but it was exactly

23:12

where I'm , it was exactly the job

23:14

that I was meant to do and where I'm

23:16

meant to be , and it's like I said , it's brought me

23:18

so much and I owe a lot of that

23:20

. I really owe a lot of that to the company I work

23:22

for , right , and the

23:25

mentorship that I've found in

23:27

the company that I am

23:30

lucky to be a part of for so long that

23:33

they saw something in me and they

23:35

gave me every single opportunity to

23:38

grow and um and

23:40

and find my own path

23:42

, but also gave me all the tools

23:45

I needed to succeed .

23:46

Yeah , Like like they were there for you , but

23:48

you were also there from that minute sense .

23:50

Yeah , and you know what ? That's so funny too , as when you

23:52

say that , I

23:54

remember when I was making this decision to move

23:57

to Kent Narrows

23:59

and come to this hotel versus the

24:01

other team that I was on , the

24:04

president of the company said something like that to me

24:06

. It was like I was trying

24:09

to express my appreciation and it's hard

24:11

to put into words sometimes

24:14

when people have done so much for you and

24:18

I was trying to express my appreciation and I said something along

24:20

the lines of I'm so thankful for all the

24:22

opportunities you've given me and all everything

24:24

you've done for me . And his

24:26

response was you've

24:29

done the same for us and like

24:31

it's just a moment of , like , extreme

24:34

appreciation for each other . It's just

24:36

a moment of extreme appreciation for each other

24:38

and

24:45

, at the end of the day , the people you work for really can become your people

24:47

and your circle and your friends and family . So back to it the human connection

24:49

is really what keeps me going

24:52

and makes me proud

24:54

to be a part of something so much bigger

24:56

than just just me and and

24:58

the buildings that I work in .

25:00

Right , it's not just four walls

25:02

to you .

25:03

It's not just four walls , it's like home . So

25:05

, yeah , it's cool . And

25:08

then on top of it , like my job is to

25:10

sell that , like my job is to

25:12

sell that , and it makes it really

25:14

easy to sell a

25:17

property and a vision when you

25:19

care the way that I

25:21

feel , like I do , and

25:25

it's just been extremely

25:27

rewarding in a lot of ways .

25:29

I will , I'll make a comment and don't think

25:31

in like a bad way about it . But

25:34

when we went and did the tour

25:36

in March , I really thought that it was just gonna

25:38

be oh , this is this and this is that . Meanwhile

25:40

I had no idea who you were , what you looked like , all

25:42

I know that we were gonna go meet you . And

25:44

then when we were walking outside and we were talking

25:47

about like the flagstone patio and the furniture

25:49

and like all the things that were going on , I was

25:51

like , wow , she really like , likes this

25:53

yeah , so it was like it it left a good

25:55

taste

26:00

in our mouths and like when we came

26:02

to you on Sunday I was like , oh , it's just , like

26:05

it's Hannah , like we're good yeah , it's like

26:07

old

26:07

friends dress , yeah , stress , yeah , yeah

26:09

, and that , but that's how . Again , like that's

26:11

just how I operate

26:13

, I think , and it's it's that

26:16

I . But it's easy to make connections

26:19

in that sense , like with people

26:21

like you , the same thing , like I feel like I've known

26:23

you three forever and we literally have

26:25

met three times

26:27

, and then Amber , we've met twice . So like

26:29

when you put it , that's in that crazy , but it's

26:31

so cool , you , you can , you

26:34

can come across people in your life that that

26:36

you just make instant connections with and then

26:38

you get to carry it into

26:40

so many different elements , like I'm bringing all

26:42

my friends to come see the farm at some

26:45

point yeah , yeah , when

26:47

it's blooming , make sure I know

26:49

when it's blooming . We'll . We'll plan to

26:51

plan it at a proper time .

26:53

That would be amazing I'd

26:56

love the excuse to steal you for a little

26:58

bit and be like okay , it's our turn yes

27:00

, yes , let's do it , we'll plan it , mom's

27:05

asked a lot of good questions .

27:06

I'm going to check this to make sure that there's anything that I

27:09

haven't missed yet , because we talked about

27:11

, like your personalization . Um

27:13

, you talked about how , like the Hyatt like

27:15

this Hyatt , specifically , is different from other ones

27:17

. Um , I

27:20

guess what are like . You

27:22

asked a question about like behind the scenes , but like what

27:25

do you think ? Like , if I came to you

27:27

and I want to start like the wedding process , what

27:29

are things that you would

27:32

tell people that aren't a

27:35

normal knowledge ? Yeah , like

27:37

advice or something to

27:40

your guests .

27:40

Yeah , I think it's just taking

27:43

your vision and finding the place

27:45

that fits it the best , because

27:47

the one thing you never want to sacrifice is

27:49

exactly what you're looking for . So let's talk wedding

27:52

specific . Um , when

27:55

you come to a property like hyatt place

27:57

, cat narrows and marina it is a one-stop

28:00

shop . You're gonna come in

28:02

on friday night , you're gonna park your car , check

28:05

into the hotel you have a room here and

28:07

then , whether the wedding is friday

28:09

or saturday , you'll walk downstairs

28:11

straight to cocktail hour . All

28:14

your tables , chairs , plates

28:17

, napkins , linen all of it's

28:19

included . You don't really think about that when

28:21

you're planning right a venue

28:23

like our hotel and the

28:25

event center , which we are in

28:28

the process of soft branding it and calling

28:30

it the Queen Anne Event Center . So

28:32

it's Hyatt Place , kitten Arrows and the Queen

28:34

Anne Event Center . So

28:37

you walk in and

28:39

we have everything set for you and that's all

28:41

included in your cost . There's no additional cost

28:43

for napkins and linen

28:46

and plates and silverware

28:48

, which is something you don't think about when you're planning an

28:50

event of

28:53

that large scale where your mind

28:55

is in so many different directions , because you're not

28:57

just talking to us as the hotel and

28:59

venue , they're talking to

29:01

you . They're talking to hair and makeup , they're

29:03

planning travel for family members

29:06

. There's a lot going on . And then

29:08

when you get hit with a bill that says you

29:10

owe X amount of money for a

29:12

fork and knives , you

29:15

don't really think about that . So there's something

29:17

special about a venue that can take care

29:19

of everything from the

29:21

start to finish . Yep , right

29:23

, so that's something

29:25

you have to think about , and

29:27

always the benefit

29:29

of going to a destination is

29:32

what you have to do on top of

29:34

that , right ? So , let's

29:36

say , the wedding Saturday night . You could have your

29:38

rehearsal dinner at one of the surrounding restaurants

29:40

, which have private dining right

29:43

on the water . How cool would it be to

29:45

have a crab feast the night before

29:47

your wedding for a rehearsal dinner at the crab

29:50

deck , or do something a

29:52

little out of the ordinary , because a

29:54

wedding , as much as it is for the couple and it's

29:56

the most important thing , you are also having

29:58

a day to celebrate with your closest

30:01

family and friends .

30:02

So well , you're also close to a lot

30:04

of environmental things too so if somebody

30:06

wants to go kayaking or hiking or ride the

30:08

bike or any of those things

30:10

, just to maybe take a break

30:13

from all of the crazy . There's

30:16

so many different things for so many different

30:18

personalities there's a Sugar Doodles

30:20

across the street .

30:21

There's a Sugar .

30:22

Doodles , I know I follow

30:24

them on social media .

30:24

So for people who are not local , what's a ?

30:26

Sugar Doodles , lizzie , it is a ice

30:29

cream , everything you could possibly

30:31

think of , a food shop

30:34

, cafe kind of thing . They've got crepes

30:36

, crepes , milkshakes , yeah , um

30:38

, edible cookie dough which I always

30:40

get .

30:41

Wait a minute .

30:41

You have to explain the milkshake well

30:43

, the milkshakes are like those crazy extreme ones

30:45

. So , like you got your , like lucky charms and

30:48

fruity pebbles and like your rice crispy treat

30:50

in the top like it comes with a whole pop tart on

30:52

top yeah they're , they're beautiful

30:54

, they're like .

30:55

They're like pieces of art ? Yeah , they are

30:57

.

30:57

But then I don't want to touch it , and then my stomach hurts

30:59

.

31:03

I know I went . I walked over because it's been

31:05

so beautiful . The last two days I actually walked

31:07

over to dessert first and

31:09

got a coffee . This afternoon I was like , okay , that's gonna

31:11

. That's my new walk every single day . Yeah

31:14

, I don't need that much caffeine .

31:15

But but still

31:17

. I mean I know they they're

31:20

yeah , they're good people . We have one in

31:22

um Chestertown too , so it is the same family

31:24

that owns four or five stores

31:26

. I think they've got Centerville . I think

31:28

they've got Centerville , kent Island

31:30

, chestertown , I

31:32

think another one in Kent Island .

31:35

I think there's two in Kent Island I don't know what

31:37

the second one is , but they have them and

31:39

the ice cream itself is actually

31:41

good , like you know how sometimes

31:43

you can get ice cream and you're like okay , I had ice

31:46

cream and it was good . This is like I

31:48

don't know , it's the right amount of like cookie

31:51

dough in the cookie dough , the cookies and

31:53

cream . Like the right amount like , uh

31:55

, the butter toffee ? Like the toffee is

31:57

just so

32:00

good yeah , it's all . I'm

32:02

not an ice cream junkie at all I know I'm

32:04

I , I'm definitely my

32:06

choice .

32:07

It's always coffee . It's like my favorite thing

32:09

in the entire world

32:11

. But on top of it , like you said , there's

32:13

so much experience-driven

32:16

things that we can do here in Kent Narrows

32:18

right Like think

32:21

about charter boats , think

32:26

about all the fun that you can have

32:28

just being this close to the water . So there's lots to do , lots

32:30

to build here and it's going to be ever-growing

32:32

and I'm excited

32:34

to see what happens over

32:36

the next couple years .

32:38

Well , and I love the fact that you

32:40

mentioned earlier and we've talked about it a couple

32:42

times that sunset is beautiful

32:45

and all of that kind of stuff . But I just want to clarify

32:47

sunset there . There's

32:49

nothing in the way of your view

32:51

.

32:52

It's beautiful , there's no other buildings

32:55

there's , there's nothing sitting

32:57

in the background and there

32:59

won't ever be . Why do you ?

33:01

that's the awesome part of it , and

33:03

I I'm lucky

33:06

enough to be able to walk outside

33:08

and I'll I'll take phone calls on

33:10

the marina , I'll if I

33:12

want to get outside and it's a beautiful day , I'll

33:14

take my phone , I'll walk out

33:16

there and just sit for a minute . And

33:19

you know , think about that , think

33:22

about it through the guest's eyes . It's like I'm enjoying

33:24

it just as much . It's awesome

33:26

. Yeah , you've got firsthand

33:28

experience . Firsthand experience

33:31

and you all are welcome anytime .

33:32

I bet you it was cold in January .

33:35

It was cold in January . That wind can

33:37

kick your butt .

33:39

It can get you I know , but I did . I

33:47

went on a ski snowboard trip this January with very

33:49

good friends and my husband and we went to Banff

33:51

, canada , where it was a crazy cold front . I think the

33:54

coldest it got was negative 39 . So

33:56

I . I've never

33:58

felt anything like that before , so now , now

34:01

, when it was cold in January here it was , that was kind

34:03

of warm .

34:03

So when I came back .

34:05

It's true it's

34:08

one of those like again , it's one of those check

34:11

off the bucket list kind of thing .

34:13

Yeah now you can appreciate the cold and

34:15

exactly but I , and it's not your beach

34:18

it's not my beach .

34:19

I'm so ready for summer . I am so , so

34:21

ready for summer , so , and I'm excited to see

34:23

this place in the summer . Like I said , I joined the team

34:25

in october here . I've been able to come

34:27

to this property before . I knew I was

34:29

going to be the director of of sales for

34:32

a training event to help the team

34:34

here with some of their other events when

34:37

we had a grand opening party back in June

34:39

, and I had no idea

34:41

that I was going to be here but , believe

34:43

it or not , I was taking people on tours of the

34:45

hotel at that point too . So

34:48

you just take your skills from another property

34:50

and bring it over here . But

34:52

it's , it's one of those things

34:54

that I can't wait to see it as the

34:56

seasons change , right , Because there's

34:59

so much to offer at different times of year

35:01

. So I haven't , I haven't seen a

35:03

beautiful spring summer season

35:05

yet , and I know , I know it's going

35:08

to be crazy . I'm looking out at the marina right now

35:10

and every day there's more boats .

35:12

So I know that's how it's going

35:14

to be full yeah .

35:16

I know the seasons are changing and summer

35:18

is coming .

35:20

Fourth of July . I would love to chat

35:22

with you then and be like okay , I

35:24

know .

35:25

I know Well , come over and we'll have

35:27

. We have this awesome bar , um

35:30

, that looks out towards the water

35:32

, and then you can take your drink out onto the veranda

35:34

and just enjoy the sunset .

35:35

So that's what we'll plan for our next get together

35:38

I like it , I like it , I like

35:40

it , I'm in that's

35:42

perfect , perfect .

35:44

Well , I think we covered all the questions

35:47

that we had listed out and other ones from mom

35:50

that we talked about ice cream yes

35:52

we always talk about ice cream . Um

35:54

, do you have any questions for us ?

35:57

no , it's just been so fun getting to know you all

35:59

. I think that I think

36:01

that makes it makes it easy

36:03

coming to a new area is meeting people

36:05

like you and and feeling

36:07

welcomed and , um , I just

36:09

appreciate all you have done for our

36:12

property and I mean we should tell

36:14

everyone that you were part of the

36:16

great wedding giveaway , right ?

36:18

Yes , yes , that was awesome .

36:19

We did give away a wedding this past weekend

36:21

here at Hyatt Place . Kintner , as a marina and Wildly

36:25

Native , is very kind to donate

36:27

their services to the winning couple as well

36:29

, so we got to watch an

36:31

extremely deserving couple

36:33

win a wedding this weekend on stage and

36:35

the dad that was jumping up and down .

36:36

Yeah , I was so excited .

36:39

It was just so cute , and his fiance

36:41

couldn't make it because she

36:43

was already on her second

36:45

12-hour shift at the hospital

36:47

. So we're

36:50

going to watch that all come together . So

36:53

maybe after the wedding takes place I'll hop back on the podcast

36:55

and we can talk about that .

36:57

That would be so much fun . I do have one question

36:59

that I don't think we've asked a guest in a few weeks

37:02

. Now , if you had to pick a flower

37:05

, what flower would you ?

37:06

be . Oh my gosh , that

37:08

is tough . Okay

37:11

, I feel like I should ask you all what

37:14

flower would I be ? I really I think daisies

37:16

are beautiful . I love tulips . So

37:20

just going off of what I like , we'll say

37:22

those two . That

37:25

would be fun . You guys can start like pinging your friends

37:27

for what flower they are . Yes can

37:32

start like paying your friends for what flower they are ? Yeah , all the time

37:34

too perfect , that's a good question .

37:35

I like that we always tried to add that

37:37

in on like the bottom of the blog post , so it's like

37:39

what flower do you think she ?

37:41

is yeah , so we'll have it listed at the bottom

37:43

perfect yeah

37:45

, well , we appreciate it . I'm gonna close

37:47

this out now . Alright , guys

37:49

, you can catch us on Facebook , instagram

37:52

, patreon . All the places

37:54

under Wildly Native Flower Farm .

37:56

TikTok .

37:58

Or the Flower Files .

38:00

Yes .

38:00

We are on Buzzsprout

38:03

Spotify Apple .

38:04

Podcasts .

38:05

Google Podcasts .

38:08

Audible . Yes , we're on .

38:09

Audible , you

38:11

can listen to us every tuesday . Sometimes

38:13

we might have 7 am in the morning

38:16

.

38:16

Well , I'm already in here for a half

38:18

hour . I'm like , okay , the podcast goes up in another

38:20

like a half hour I can get these things

38:22

done and then it's gonna go up and I gotta post

38:24

instagram . So just know before

38:27

it goes up . Lizzie has

38:29

been in the building .

38:33

We love you all . We hope to see you for audio

38:37

. We hope to talk to you again next week . Have a

38:39

great week . We love you . Bye

38:41

.

38:43

Bye . Have a good week , you guys

38:45

. Bye .