"Crafting Your Plan B"

Durham’s historic Greystone Inn & Conference Center was the host for the June 8, 2010 monthly Triangle NACE meeting. The grand front porch and lawn of this beautiful elegant estate were the setting for this relaxing summer evening event.

As members arrived they were offered an assortment of cool beverages served from a large mahogany bar nestled under a grand oak tree. Scattered across the lawn were cocktail tables as well as a couple of tables under white market umbrellas. Each table was draped with sky blue linens and tasteful floral overlays. 

During the networking hour members were invited to participate in lawn games consisting of cornhole, croquet and bocce, which were set up by Big Time Events. Members also enjoyed delicious passed Hors d’Oeuvres including Black-eyed Pea and Corn Fritters with BBQ and Slaw, Mini Cheese Grits with Sautéed Mushrooms and Sweet Pepper Garnish and Chilled Cucumber Dill Soup Sips...yummy!

President Mark Day gave the welcome from the front steps and invited everyone to go through the Hors d’Oeuvres Buffet which was displayed on one end of the porch. Members then took their places at long dining tables set down the expanse of the veranda. The tables were dressed in sky blue linens with yellow and blue floral napkins tied with natural raffia. Candles burned in black wrought iron lanterns lining the center of the tables along with arrangements of hydrangea and thistle. Décor was provided by the Catering Company of Chapel Hill and the arrangements were designed by Floral Dimensions. American Party Rentals provided all the rentals and linens.

JW Walton and his staff from the Catering Company of Chapel Hill prepared the food and beverages for the evening. The delicious Hors d’Oeuvres Buffet included Grilled Flank Steak with Horseradish Cream and Yeast Rolls, Blackened Tilapia with Citrus Salsa, Orange Muffins with Smoked Turkey and Chutney Butter,

Marinated Asparagus Salad on Bibb Lettuce, Bright Summer Vegetables, Goat Cheese Tart with Grilled Corn and Summer Squash and a Local Cheese Presentation with Sliced French Bread. The meal ended with desserts provided by Sweet Memories Bakery. The sumptuous desserts butlered to each seated guest were Mini Peach and Blueberry Cobblers served in demitasse cups and delicate Chocolate Tulip Cups filled with Assorted Mousses and Diced Fruits.

Our speaker for the evening was national award-winning culinary professor Don Sexauer. He has worked with numerous celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and David Tutera. The topic for the evening was Crafting Your Plan B. What happens when not everything that has been perfectly planned goes perfectly as planned? Don

shared some of his professional misdirections and how he and his team dealt with those last minute curve balls.
His overall advice when disaster happens is to call on dependable people. Professionals you know that will come to your aid at the last minute to make your client’s event as spectacular as originally planned. He put it all into prospective when he stated “no matter what goes wrong you just have to get through it. It’s up to you to make it happen.” All the while your client shouldn’t know anything went wrong.

President Mark Day announced that our chapter had 9 new members join during May’s membership drive. North Ridge Country Club and TCP Wakefield Plantation were each given framed composites showcasing the monthly Triangle NACE meeting that was held on their property. Door prizes for the night were donated by Mark Day Catering Company, Mark Day To Go, American Tobacco Company, Tribeca Tavern, Dogwood Tree Floral Designs, Brian Mullins Photography and Forever Bridal Productions. This monthly meeting was captured by photographer Brian Mullins.

Director of Catering – The Carolina Inn

WHO WE ARE:
Destination Hotels & Resorts began in 1972 with the development and management of condominium resorts. Since then, we have grown to become consistently ranked as one of the top ten hospitality management companies in the country (ranked by Hotel Business Magazine) with more than 7,100 employees, over 7,000 hotel rooms and condominium units, and more than $2.2 billion in assets under management. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Lowe Enterprises, a privately-held, national real estate organization active in commercial and hospitality property investment, management, and development. Since its inception, Lowe has been responsible for more than $8.5 billion in assets nationwide.

Destination Hotels & Resorts is unique in the lodging industry in that our primary mission is to create value for guests, investors, and associates in each of our hotels and resorts. We do this by developing an innovative, customized business plan for each property we manage and combining it with the sales, marketing, and operating resources of a company many times our size. This lodging industry expertise, together with the real estate savvy of Lowe, has allowed us to bring an owner's perspective to the hotel management business.

Destination Hotels & Resorts is one of the industry's leaders in the management and marketing of high-quality independent properties, many of which we successfully converted from major brand affiliations.

OUR CULTURE:
Destination Hotels & Resorts fosters a creative, entrepreneurial and energetic work environment where people come to work and have fun. We value passionate people who love to be challenged and desire the freedom to contribute to the overall success of the organization. Your role will be integral to the success of our company. We strive to create a work place culture that values family, work life balance and community. We help develop our associates and provide support for them to grow their careers with DH&R. Our associates are proud to work here!

THE CAROLINA INN, CHAPEL HILL, NC:
The Carolina Inn is a historic hotel located in downtown Chapel Hill, NC. Historic charm, modern amenities, gracious service, and memorable food blend beautifully at The Carolina Inn, a AAA Four Diamond Award Winner & Member of Historic Hotels of America.

We are conveniently located on the doorsteps of the University of North Carolina, in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The experience is one of world-class service, elegantly appointed guest accommodations, superb dining, outstanding meeting and banquet facilities, and an expert staff. The Carolina Inn is looking for a qualified individual to join our prestigious team as our Director of Catering.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:
Department leader who fosters a sales culture of driving revenues and maximizing property revenues. Strong focus on selling skills and a sense of customer urgency that meets the goals of the organization and surpasses customer expectations. Directs the day-to-day Catering department to achieve the property mission and revenue and service goals. Meets or exceeds department budgeted revenues, booking pace, and forecasting accuracy.

BASIC JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Guides department in the creation of a marketing plan and its deployment to discover new business opportunities in the social and corporate catering community. Develops tactics to find new customers and retain them. This includes tangible efforts in prospecting, sales calls, entertainment, and site inspections.
• Utilizes the tools of sales productivity reports, post-event surveys and letters, daily banquet event orders/pricing, set-up reports, manages night reports, to measure the effectiveness of training.
• Leader of Catering Sales with assigned markets, and insures both quantity and quality of sales and execution is commensurate with leadership.
• Ensures each member of the department executes all four business cycles (sales, pre-planning, execution, and post-event) at or above standard.

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