After our daughter’s beautiful beach wedding ceremony directly off the boardwalk, we experienced a fantastic reception at the Marriott. From the planning stages to the set up and take down of the reception room under the direction of Brandy, the experience was absolutely wonderful. Our guests were very impressed with the delicious food. Everyone there was so accomodating we are so very grateful. Thank you for the wonderful service.

The Turner family (Turner/ Hill wedding August 2011)

I drove to Carolina Beach for an overnight for my 50th birthday on June 23 – just to relax by the ocean. I didn’t have a reservation, but called in route just to be sure. I spoke with Natalie (I believe that is right) and she was wonderful. Not only did I get a nice room looking out at the ocean, but at a great rate and she also had a card and chocolate covered strawberries (loved them) for me for my birthday. You made my day…what a way to make a guest feel special! This hotel has some of the best staff and I definitely will visit again. Thanks for helping me celebrate my birthday.

Tanya Johnson

I am writing to inform you that you have an amazing General Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.

My wife and I and our two sons, ages 22 and 23, have stayed at this Courtyard several times each year since it opened about five years ago. It’s the most modern, larger hotel in this small, quaint, beach town on our coast. Our family likes to get away for long weekends several times during the warmer months and we really like the location, the beach, and the amenities at this hotel. We are longtime Marriott Rewards members. In each of our past stays at this hotel, we have encountered a few issues. For example in one stay, we had to change our room twice on check-in because the room was not cleaned thoroughly enough, and we have noticed in the past that the breakfast at the hotel was not totally up to par. In past stays, we have also noticed that the indoor pool and hot tub do not appear to be clean, as well as the bathrooms where we change out of our bathing suits on the first floor. Also in past visits, we have noticed that no one ever went out of their way to welcome us and our business.

Last week, my family and I stayed at this Courtyard for the weekend and we noticed many very surprising changes. First and foremost, we noticed a new manager, Doreen Turgeon. Doreen was vibrant, friendly, enthusiastic, passionate, welcoming, and she was doing her job and doing it very well. At the front desk, she was interacting with guests and staff and was warm and welcoming. When we got to our suite, it was clean and in order.

Later in the day, we saw Doreen again and she approached us and asked how we were doing and if everything was going well for us during our stay. She took a genuine interest in us as guests and she interacted friendly and kindly with her staff. The following morning, we again saw Doreen in the breakfast area, and we were amazed that the breakfast was wonderful, with fresh eggs, omelets, and waffles made to order by a great chef. The waffles were the best I have ever tasted! And Doreen was nearby, again, interacting with guests, assisting, picking up dishes that guests were done with, and speaking kindly while managing her staff members. Shortly thereafter, we noticed Doreen out by the pool, speaking with guests, interacting with staff, and making sure everything was going smoothly for your guests. In everything she did (and she did do everything!), Doreen’s contagious smile and positive attitude never dwindled. She was a prime example of what a manager should be, and she has completely changed this hotel for the better. In fact, it was obvious to us that everything was different about our experience this time at the Carolina Beach Courtyard.

I wanted you to know that in a world where excellent service is dwindling and where attention to detail is scarce, you have a true gem in Doreen Turgeon. She has turned this hotel around for the better by serving your guests in a manner way beyond their expectations. She treats her staff with love and respect. She smiles all the time, and she is passionate about her job and performing it to the highest degree. As I stated in the beginning of my letter, she is amazing. If you could duplicate Doreen (which I know is impossible), and put her in every one of your hotels, your guests would never stay in another hotel and would never want to leave.

I hope that you will have an opportunity to personally meet Doreen and see for yourself what a wonderful person she is and what a wonderful job she is doing in representing your namesake. In the meantime, I hope that you will extend the special recognition that she deserves for a job beyond well done. Because of Doreen, my family and I will continue to stay at the Carolina Beach Marriott for many years to come.

With best wishes, I am
Very sincerely yours,
Howard K. Ross

Paul E Sams, NC Federation President, NARFE

We just completed, by all accounts and conversations, one of the best conventions we have ever had at your hotel. To begin with the views were magnificent, the service and hospitality from your entire staff was great. The rooms, the service, the food, just all around everything was great. Some comments from our members, the food was great, the reception food was wonderful. I have never been to a NARFE banquet where the service was as good as we had last week. Within 45 minutes we were served, salads, entrees, tea, coffee and dessert. Just wonderful to participate in this
event.

Amy it was pleasure to work with you and your staff and if all the other Marriott’s were as good as your’s the system would be just great. Look forward to working with you again in the future and we would recommend the Courtyard By Marriott at Carolina Beach to anyone group wishing to have a successful meeting. Thanks again for all your did for us.

P/R/C Sarah McCurry, U.S. Power Squadron District Meetings Chairman

The United States Power Squadron District 27 meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott 25-27, March 2011 was great success. I would like to compliment you and your entire staff for this success. The planning and continuing all the way through the week-end was extremely stress-free. I have planned many meetings for our group throughout the state of North Carolina. This was the easiest. I have received more good feedback from the members about the staff’s attitude, the food quality, the service and the value that we received.

I would like to thank you. It was a pleasure working with you and your staff. I will recommend the Courtyard by
Marriott Carolina Beach as often as I can.

Sheila W. Sammons, Manager of Administrative Operations, NC Association of County Commissioners

I wanted to write this letter commending the excellent job that your staff did during the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ Board of Trustees’ Retreat, September 8-10, 2010 at Courtyard by Marriott at Carolina Beach, NC. I have dealt with many conference service staff over my thirty year career and bar none; your staff is the best.

Not only were they professional but their attention to detail, flexibility in last minute changes, ease with which they handled our attendees really impressed me, NCACC Staff and our Board of Trustees.

I would be remiss if I did not single out several of your staff that went above and beyond our expectations. Amy Johnson, Director of Sales was very knowledgeable and helped NCACC work out a contract that was well tuned and workable for NCACC as well as the Courtyard Marriott. I was in the middle of working on the NCACC’s Annual Conference Risk Management Program and Amy continuously handled our retreat meeting details which made our retreat very successful. She supported our two day meetings and was available morning, noon and night to make sure our program was flawless. What can I say about Genia Artis, Catering Sales Manager? She is a true asset to your organization not only in knowledge about your resort but in working out all the fine details that are needed to make a conference successful. Every function was set up correctly, on time and exactly as I had requested. She was a joy to work with and made my job so much easier.

Courtney Paugh, Food/Beverage Supervisor and Shelly Shuart, Banquet Server – I must say are the most knowledgeable, hardworking, accommodating catering staff I have ever met! Not one lunch, break, set-up or break-down escaped their keen eye for excellence. It was a pleasure to work with them.

Last but not least was the wonderful food that was prepared for us. Anthony Green is a wonderful chef and this was one of the few meetings where everyone raved about the food.

Thank you so much for your hospitality and hard work. We look forward to returning to your facility in the near future. 

Johnny Wilson, Associate Executive Director of Fayetteville Urban Ministry & Find-A-Friend Program Director

Congrats to hotel for setting up a great conference! Food and hospitality was excellent! Hotel staff was friendly and caring! Hotel staff and amenities were terrific for the rates! —These are few comments from the evals that we collected. As a board, the feedback that I was told to relay to you all was “Johnny, the hotel and its staff completely wowed us”! Another member stated that she didn’t have one thing that she could’ve complained about. My own personal comment and yall know corny I am…”if I had 8 more thumbs I would give you all 10 thumbs up”! We had great time and look forward to the next. Have a great week and let me know if you need anything else.

Dear Doreen and Donna:

My daughter Allison, and her groom Tyler, started to plan their wedding, along with the help of her parents and her sister Cate.

As we began our search in the Wilmington area, every venue, was either not large enough, or the space was not what we were looking for. Allison and Tyler wanted their toes in the sand. After an entire day in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, we were exhausted. We had a late lunch and decided to make the drive to Carolina Beach to check out the Marriott Courtyard Carolina Beach ..

This particular Saturday in October was sunny and warm. When we arrived, your front desk staff were pleasant and accommodating. We asked to see the ballroom and they directed us across the lobby. We were delighted with the room and the space outside. Knowing the sand and ocean were just steps away, the CMCB became a strong possibility.

First thing Monday morning I called the hotel and spoke with your Director of Sales, Amy Johnson. We set an appointment for the following day.

We met with Amy that Tuesday. She was gracious, knowledgeable, and fun to work with. She explained how the space could be used, gave us the wedding packet and patiently answered the 1001 questions we had. Within 2 days, we met with Amy again, signed contracts, left a deposit, and began planning Allison and Tyler’s wedding day, May 21, 2011.

Amy continued to be available; even if it involved the tiniest detail. This past winter Abby Federman, CMCB’s Sales Coordinator came on board to assist us as well. She was also professional, knowledgeable, and fun.

As our day approached and final preparations were underway, we moved to the hotel 2 days before the wedding. Your entire staff at CMCB were friendly, happy, and always there to help. I mean every employee. All of them, from the front desk, to housekeeping, to maintenance, kitchen staff and wait staff. Just everyone! No matter who they are or what position the hold, they all had a smile and helping hands. Friday came and I was just a tad nervous. Abby, Amy, and Chef Green were there with help, suggestions, and solutions. Friday evening, Amy Johnson stayed and attended the wedding rehersal on the beach; and helped to keep us focused and organized. She let the wedding party know when and where to meet prior to the ceremony and where to meet after the ceremony. She had a very long work day but continued to smile and to be enthusiastic.

Wedding day, magictime! The ballroom was made available to us early in the day. Set up was underway and the fellows (Chad and Clay)sweating the space were very considerate while they listened and positioned everything according to a very crazed mother of the bride. Brittini Drake, the food and beverage supervisor, was also on hand. Brittini had my husband Jo1m make a list of guests at each table and the menu items the guests had chosen. At Brittini’ s suggestion, the guest were asked to place their place
cards in front of their table setting. When all of the tables were set, and the decorations
were in place, the ballroom was perfection! Brittani and her staff went above and beyond
as the fmal touches were made.

Chef Green made his first impression early in the day when he prepared and served the bridal luncheon.

4:15p.m. Amy Jo1mson was on top of everything as the bridal party arrived in the lobby. She sent everyone of us off to the beach with a sense of excitement and a smile. Upon our return from the ceremony, our guests were treated to fabulous hor derve buffet created by Chef Green; and their cocktail of choice served by the incomparable Chad and Clay.

Abby and Chef Green made sure the bridal party had hor ‘derves and champagn prior to our entrance into the ballroom.

As John and I entered the ballroom, we were greeted by 100 of the happiest, well cared for guests, your hotel has ever served! The ballroom was picture perfect and we all partied on.

Chef Green’s culinary skills were again displayed as dinner was served Your staff was efficient and happy they effortlessly, placed entres according to what the guest had requested. Brittini’s plan went off without a hitch. What a nice change from wait staff walking up to a table, and asking “who has the chicken?”. Our servers, Selene, Peggy, Karen, Linda, John and Trevor are so deserving of hearing “job well done”.

Chad and Clay and staff behind the scenes kept the bar stocked and the guests thirsts quenched.

To say a good time was had by all would be an understatement. Allison and Tyler Ellis had the wedding of their dreams. John and I were very happy to have this event, so carefully orchestrated, exceed out expectations.

Kudos to everyone on staff at the Courtyard Marriott at Carolina Beach!

Sincerely,
Sally Gibbons