CIBC Run for the Cure

On Sunday, October 5th, the CIBC Run for the Cure takes place in downtown London.

This year again I am organizing a team to participate in this fun 5km run, the team is called "Strikers" and is mostly made up of my daughter's soccer team and their parents.

However, the good news is that ANYONE is welcome to join the team AND we have a whole 2 months to practice and build up to a 5km jog !

If you are interested in joining our team, drop me an email and I'll get you signed up, running 5km is a great achievement for anyone and if you don't want to run, you can walk the course and still raise funds for a worthy cause.

Neil

Team Meeting July 31st 2014

Wedding on Friday Aug 1st, ceremony on site.
Wedding on Saturday, Aug 2nd, off site ceremony.
Wedding on Sunday, Aug 3rd, ceremony on back lawn.

Cafe will be closed for lunch and dinner on Monday, August 4th civic holiday.

Wedding on Friday Aug 8th, ceremony on site.
Wedding on Saturday, Aug 9th, on site ceremony.
Bridal lunch shower on Saturday Aug 9th.
Wedding on Sunday, Aug 10th, day wedding, on site ceremony.

Hannah working with a local coffee supplier to produce our own "honey coffee"

Brenda on vacation next week, Sarah the following week.

New uniforms have been orderd for the kitchen.

Chef working on a lobster menu to implement after LondonLisicious.

Rooms for July ended 80 rooms more than last July.

Hotel sold out over this weekend.

Yearly fire inspection taking place next week.

Hannah and Julia working on new wording for catering contracts.

Will have a first quarter financial meeting towards the end of August.

We now have this year's honey, jars will be here next week.

We are working on handheld terminals for the Cafe with Five Star, should have them in 2 or 3 months.

We will be painting all of our hotel rooms and suites over the next 3 months as well as renovating 3 or 4 suites or rooms on the third floor.

Thursday July 31, 2014

Rogers TV is on-site for day two of filming a show outside, weather permitting. Their rain location is in the Atrium.

This Day in History:  In 1498 Columbus arrived at the island of Trinidad

 

By, Sarah

Wednesday July 30, 2014

Today and tomorrow Rogers TV will be on-site filming a show outside, weather permitting. Their rain location is in the Atrium. There is also a meeting in the Smallman room this afternoon as well as two off-site catering orders.

Brenda has a tour today with Tourism London, and will be meeting their new Business Development Manager. Brenda also will be having lunch with London Life to follow-up on their recent 5 day retreat that we hosted for them in June.

This Day in History:  In 2002 Lisa Leslie became the first woman to dunk in a professional basketball game.

 

By, Sarah

Friday July 25, 2014

It’s a busy weekend at The Windermere Manor. There’s a wedding on Saturday with the ceremony on site for 115 guests as well as a birthday celebration in the North Meeting Room. On Sunday we have a Bridal Shower in the Grand Hall with over 50 guests attending.

The hotel is almost sold out on Saturday with only 10 rooms left to sell.

This Day in History:  In 1946 The United States tested the first underwater atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll.  

 

By, Sarah

July 24, 2014

There are two day meetings at The Windermere Manor today, both enjoying the Grand Hall Buffet for lunch.

The Chef’s are prepping for another busy weekend ahead. 

This Day in History:  In 2002 nine coal miners were trapped in a mine in Pennsylvania. All were rescued 3 days later!

 

By, Sarah

July 22nd

Today Izabela and her housekeeping team are on a mission, with the help of a specialized window cleaning company they are cleaning every window in the hotel and Grand Hall, inside and outside of each window !

Also today the company will be cleaning and dusting the ceiling and beams in the Grand Hall.

Also over the next few days Izabela will be overseeing the window cleaning at Mogenson, Stiller and CVG.

Monday July 21, 2014

A Note About Our History:

 

THE WINDERMERE MANOR

 

Built in 1925 by John Smallman, The Windermere Manor is a faithful architectural reflection of Tudor, England and a fitting tribute to John’s father Thomas, a founding member of The Imperial Oil Company.

The Smallman family had a passion for breeding and racing horses. Down the path between the hotel and Manor House there are remnants of an old stone bridge that was once part of a horse run that wound through the property. The original farm was a horse farm and cash crops were also grown.

Although slightly altered, the Manor’s interior retains the feeling of a by-gone era of warmth and luxury. The baronial splendor of the Grand Hall, with its lofty ceilings, hand-hewn beams, oak balcony and welcoming wood-burning stone fireplace all echo a by-gone era of pageantry and privilege. The hotel is built atop of what was once the large in-ground swimming pool.

After extensive renovations on the existing Manor House, The Windermere Manor opened it’s doors in 1991 as a component of the University of Western Ontario’s Research Development Park offering meeting/conference facilities food and beverage, and hotel accommodations. Windermere Manor is a hotel, restaurant, banquet hall, and conference facility– all with a resort-like atmosphere.

More recently, additions and renovations have allowed for meeting space and a guest room wing that were designed to gracefully blend with the original structure and convey a sense of period continuity. These annexes provide today's guests with all of the comforts and conveniences of a modern hotel and meeting facility.

Proposed centre attracting jobs, businesses | The London Free Press

Proposed centre attracting jobs, businesses | The London Free Press

Thursday, July 17th

The hotel is sold out again tonight, no room at the inn !

We'll be spending most of today preparing for tomorrow's big BBQ, Tech Alliance hosts this BBQ once a year and we are expecting around 270 guests in the Grand hall and outside patio tomorrow lunchtime.

Tomorrow also see the start of another LondonLiscious festival, Windermere's Cafe is participating, check out the LondonLisicious website for our fantastic dinner menu.

This Saturday, as we do the third Saturday of every month, we will be preparing and serving a breakfast at All Saints church at Adelaide and Hamilton, the breakfast is served from 8.45am to 11am, I'll be there and as always, anyone is welcome to come down and volunteer for a couple of hours.

Tuesday, July 15th

We only have 6 rooms left to sell for tonight, only 2 rooms left tomorrow night and sold out Thursday night, way to go Front Desk crew !
We have a BBQ lunch going on in The Grand Hall today for around 30 guests.
A reminder that both Dell and Kristian are on vacation this week.

The monster, deformed looking chappie you might see wandering around today is me, it's not my Botox treatment gone wrong this time, I just had a couple of nice bee stings to the face yesterday !

Today's the day our Mayor learns his fate in court, we don't take government cheques for weddings at Windermere !

Ending on a happier note than bee stings and court dates.... this little guy was hanging about outside the Cafe yesterday.

Monday, July 14th

We have 7 rooms left to sell for tonight, 9 tomorrow night.
We welcome Elli to the Windermere team, Elli started this morning on the front desk, pop by and say hello.
In the Grand Hall this afternoon we are hosting a celebration of life for around 60 guests.

Only four more years until the next world cup, it's in Russia in 2018 but did you know that Canada is hosting the women's world cup next year ?

The big news today is that we welcome back to work Chris Innes, Chris spent his recent time off in Vancouver at the Special Olympics, coming back home with 2 silver medals earned in the 200 m freestyle and 200 m backstroke.

Congratulations on this fantastic achievement Chris, we're all very proud of you.

Friday July 11, 2014

Have you made your reservations in the Cafe for Jazz Night tonight, featuring Sonja Gustafson (vocals) & Oliver Whitehead (guitar)? It’s from 7:30pm – 10:30pm.

Tomorrow there is a Wedding with an on-site ceremony.

Kristian and Del are on vacation next week. Enjoy your well deserved break!

Don’t miss the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final at 4pm on Sunday, Argentina vs. Germany

This Day in History: Babe Ruth made his major league baseball debut as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.

By Sarah

Team Meeting 20

Wedding this Saturday, ceremony is on site, 99 guests.
Possible memorial service function this Monday, waiting on confirmation.
Off site catering for World Discoveries on Wednesday, Mogenson Building.
Tech Alliance BBQ next Friday
Next Friday, World Discoveries dinner, press conference before dinner.
Wedding next Saturday, 120 guests, on site ceremony.
Bridal shower in North Meeting room next Saturday.
Private brunch party next Sunday in Grand Hall.
Western Fair has invited front desk staff to a dinner and slots night on July 22nd or 23rd, be great if front desk staff could make it down for a free dinner.
Weddings - this July 5 weddings, last July, 5 weddings. This August 13 weddings, last August 5 weddings !
Biz after 5 is at Lone Star next Thursday.
Teresa off tomorrow. All required cheques are at front desk.
Rooms at 790 for July, last July was 702 on same date so rooms are in good shape for July.
Allan from banquets is cross training on front desk.
Christina is looking after linen ordering for Hannah.
Dell is working on hotel hallways this week, is on vacation next week.
Chef Kristian is on vacation next week.
Cafe gearing up for London Liscious promotion.
Cafe at number 7 on Tripadvisor, Hotel at number 13.
Andrea to look into required new chairs for Grand Hall.
Window cleaning for Grand Hall and hotel will take place over the next 2 weeks.

Guest Feedback

Hi Brenda and Hannah,

Mark and I wanted to Thank you for all of your help and work to make our day special and go without a hitch!!! Everything went perfectly at the Windermere for us.  Our guests and ourselves were so happy to celebrate & really enjoyed the venue, food and drinks.    The weather was great, and all the service we had was amazing we have no complaints and would recommend the Windermere to anyone having a wedding :)

The rooms also were amazing and Thank you for the special treat!

We can't thank you enough and really enjoyed ourselves and had no complaints from our guests! Everything was amazing! Mark wanted to thank the chef as the food was amazing - I am pretty sure Mark licked his plate! haaha 

We also wanted to check in & confirm when we would hear back about any additional costs, etc  as we wanted to get that closed off.  Thanks again for everything... we really had a great time & appreciate all of the help.

Julie & Mark

Thursday July 10, 2014

The Registrar's Office is in for a retreat today.

Windermere's Chris Innes won Silver in the 200m swim for the Special Olympics yesterday. Congratulations Chris! 

Gwen is back today from having 3 days off. I’m sure she missed us as much as we missed her.

 

Half of the bee hives have been transferred and Neil got stung 3 times in the process... Thankfully only on his legs so it doesn’t look like he got punched in the face this time, although he wore that look well.

 

The catering meeting is at 2pm today; all Windermere employees are welcome to attend.

 

This Day in History: The Battle of Britain began today in 1940.

 

By, Sarah

 

 

 

 

Wednesday July 9, 2014

There are four meetings at Windermere today, one of them being PON in the Grand Hall. PON started meeting at The Windermere Manor for lunch 4 years ago as just 5 members and since then they have grown to be over 40 members. They meet bi-weekly on Wednesday’s.

 
Our Banquet Porter Allan is cross-training on the Front Desk, if you see Allen today say hello.
 
Windermere’s Hotel has only 10 rooms left to sell tonight. Book a room for tonight by 5pm and mention the Blog and we will give you a complimentary upgrade to a suite!
 
Keep an eye on the Bee village, Neil and Rick will be switching some of the hives over to the new painted hives this afternoon. I personally don’t plan on getting too close for this task (consequently no one has asked for my assistance).

Argentina plays Holland at 4pm today, the Semi-Final world cup.  

This Day in History; Boxer Mike Tyson was temporarily banned from boxing for biting Evander Holyfield's ear in 1997.

 

By, Sarah

Rainy Day Bees

It's rainy and miserable today

but hopefully tomorrow is nicer

as tomorrow we hope to switch some of the hives over to our newly painted brand new bee homes

Went to let the bees know about tomorrow's big moving day but they are wet and grumpy, all they can do is hang out on a day like this and wait for the rain to stop so they can get back to work !

Chris is off to the Vancouver Olympics

Windermere's Chris Innes is off to Vancouver next week to compete in the Special Olympics, last night we hosted a reception to send off and congratulate Chris and his fellow athletes.

We're all so very proud of you Chris, enjoy your break from your regular kitchen duties for a while, compete hard and bring back a medal !

Bee Hive Village Painting

Or Bee Village is getting a paint job over the next few weeks, we're replacing some of the wooden hives with new state of the art bee boxes.
The picture above shows some local school kids working on the exterior painting !
We still have a few hives left to paint, let me know if your interested in showing your creative side.

Team Meeting 19

Special Olympics event tomorrow night, starring our very own Chris Innes from the kitchen, this event is a send off reception for the special Olympic athletes heading to Vancouver next week.
Wedding this Friday, on site ceremony, bride and groom are both police officers !
Catered event for Tech Alliance at CVG on Friday, Launch Pad will be closing at 12pm for this event.
Wedding this Saturday, ceremony on site.
Tango group this Sunday night, pop in and learn to tango !
Wedding next Saturday, on site ceremony
Sarah managing room yield on Expedia and Bookings.com
Brenda has new room package for Fall, overnight stay, dinner and breakfast.
Next Biz after 5 is at Lone Star on July 17th, we have 4 tickets.
Month end time for accounting, all invoices and expenses to Teresa this week.
New email spam legislation is in effect from July 1st
Hotel breakfast on Sunday 6th and 13th will be in Grand Hall
Cafe will be doing Londonlicious this Summer as a Summer promo
Heather's wedding this past weekend went very well, lot's of great feedback.
Bases for outside pillars will be here shortly.
Hotel is sold out on Friday and Saturday this week.
Rooms pace around 20 of last July.
Christina doing invoicing and linen ordering this week.
Kristian back from CCUFSA competition, went very well for Western's culinary team.
First quarter of the fiscal year is over, will have a financial review meeting in August.
New Cafe menus going over really well, positive feedback so far.

There's PIZZA in the staff room for anyone working Canada Day !