With his huge smile and joyful attitude, Juan is lifting spirits one table at a time with his enthusiastic customer service at Assembly Food Hall. As a person with a speech disorder and disability, Juan’s ability and commitment to excellent, impactful service is center stage. He left a lasting impression on one patron who commended, “Juan makes picking up food trays look like the job of a lifetime… He is top-notch for me! From the finest of dining to the most casual, no one has topped him.” She said Juan is an inspiration.
Brett is bringing repeat business to Nashville after he helped a group from North Carolina during the 2021 Big Bash celebration on New Year’s Eve. His attentive service inspired them to return to Skydeck during a Titans Watch Party, when they dropped by to say hello. Brett unexpectedly arranged special seating and complimentary beverages. The guest said, “His level of customer service and genuine appreciation for our business is a model of what all in the hospitality industry should strive for.” They promised to bring guests back to Skydeck during their next visit to Nashville.
A visitor from Beverly Hills, CA was in Nashville to give an important presentation, and she was disappointed that the Hilton executive lounge did not have any green tea that she likes to drink before giving a speech. Mama T was working as an attendant in the lounge checked with room service but had no luck. A few hours later, Mama T showed up at the guest’s room with a gift bag. Inside was a box of green tea she purchased on her own with a personal note of good luck on the speech. The visitor said, “This woman went out of her way to make me feel special and cared for. She listened and then took action. In an increasingly impersonal world, this reminded me that it's the small things that we remember: the simple acts of kindness from a stranger.”
Alexander was recognized for his hospitality toward travel-weary visitors who came into the restaurant late after a long day on the road. They said that Alexander “took super good care of us even though it was less than an hour until they closed. He didn't rush us or make us feel like we needed to hurry. It was most appreciated after a long 10+ hour drive there.”
Cornelius was commended for always having a song to share and being especially helpful to a customer with a disability. A guest said that Cornelius was “outstanding and amazing. He was very helpful with whatever I needed and went above and beyond for my handicapped mom. No one has ever made her feel so special with a smile as him. His singing throughout the hotel is phenomenal, and he is just a bundle of joy.”
Taylor saved the day for a newlywed couple visiting from Australia. There was a mix-up with their hotel booking that could have meant no place for them at the hotel. Instead, Taylor helped secure a room for them, upgraded them to a suite, and personally brought them cake and champagne to help them celebrate. The visitors described him as “an angel that swooped down with a warm smile” and a “stellar representative of that warm Nashville hospitality.”
L.J. Whalen of Adventureworks quickly stepped in when a Wheel of Fortune contestant lost a trip to Nashville based on a technicality – she gave a correct answer but in the wrong format. Whalen took it upon himself to recruit local hospitality companies to give Kristen Shaw of Bangor, Maine, a new prize that includes hotel accommodations, transportation, meals and drinks, activities at attractions, and Nashville souvenirs. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, which had partnered with Gaylord Opryland Resort on the original prize, is providing airfare and an attraction pass as part of the new vacation package for Shaw.
Alex was part of the Music City July Fourth operations team and while helping set up the event site, he came across an elderly homeless woman underneath the Pedestrian Bridge. She was in a wheelchair – in distress and in tears. All her belongings had been stolen, including literally the shirt off her back. Without even thinking, Alex took off the shirt he was wearing to give to the woman, and she immediately put it on. “Alex jumped into action when a fellow human being was in need. We need more people like Alex in this world!”
We love it when locals recognize great customer service in their hometown. Gail was praised by a downtown worker who parks twice a week at Music City Center. They noticed Gail’s genuine smile and friendliness and said she treats everyone kindly, going out of her way to show visitors directions, hand out brochures, and talk about the city. They said, “She is the friendly face of Nashville.”
Liyah went above and beyond for visitors from Lynchburg, Virginia, who were stressed about their logistics for checking out of the hotel. The coffee shop server was able to confirm they could leave their van with the valet the rest of the day, which meant they could leave their luggage in the vehicle once they checked out. But that’s not all. Then Liyah sent a box of baked pastries to their room with a sweet note. The guests said, “None of that was her responsibility, but she felt like making our day better, and she truly did.”
Herman has received several glowing nominations this past year on top of already being named a Hitmaker in 2018. A Michigan guest praised Herman for his big smile and kindness. She also appreciated an upgrade into an SUV similar to the one she is accustomed to driving at home. Herman is also a favorite of a frequent flyer from Florida, who seeks him out every time she rents from Alamo. She calls him the happiest, nicest man you could ever meet. She appreciates his recommendations of fun things to do in Nashville. And she said, “When I walk in the Alamo garage … I literally go running to him to give him a hug. He’s one of the reasons I love this precious city so much.”
Lisa impressed a tour group during a trip from Nashville to Memphis with her enthusiasm and attention to detail. She highlighted points of interest and made extra stops as special requests to guests. But she really went over the top when she learned a guest from Indiana was staying in a hotel in Goodlettsville, quite a distance from where the tour ended in Nashville. The guest said, “Lisa kindly offered to take us there in her personal car since she was getting off work after our tour.”
As a concierge at the DoubleTree, Andrew went out of his way several times to help guests from Florida, including getting them a cab to the Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom. After the show ended, the Florida couple tried for hours to get a cab back downtown but not a single taxi would come to get them. It was after midnight and CabaRay was locking up, so, they called Andrew in desperation. Andrew got out of bed and without hesitation picked them up and drove them back to the DoubleTree.
Meagan offered encouragement and assistance to a Chattanooga visitor staying at the hotel for a month while her son was on life support at Vanderbilt Medical Center. She always had kind words and ran errands for the family, like buying a charging cord for their computer or taking them shopping for clothes – on her own time and not accepting any reimbursement for gas. The guest said, “She gave more than service. She gave of herself with love and kindness. She will remain in my heart forever.”
Nolan is what we call a repeat offender. He receives several nominations each year and last year was named the Hitmaker of the Year. Nolan’s most recent nominations praised him for great service and going the extra step to help visitors make their trips even more memorable. He’s often the reason why some visitors say they plan to come back to Nashville for future visits. And we couldn’t help noticing that every time Nolan gets a nomination, visitors say they have a new friend in him.
Robert helped turn a bad first impression into a good one for visitors from the United Kingdom. The elderly guests arrived for a 10-day trip in Nashville and arranged for a taxi to pick them up at the airport. When they couldn’t find the cab, they asked for help at the information desk, where Robert called the taxi company. He was able to help them lodge a complaint with the taxi service, get them another cab, and calm their frayed nerves.
Officer Valdez came to the rescue of a taxi driver on a cold, rainy night who had a flat tire after hitting what he called “the mother of all potholes.” The officer showed up on the scene after Steve called Metro Police to ask about damage claims and was told to file a police report. When the officer noticed Steve was walking with a cane, he insisted on changing the car tire in the mud and rain for him.
