March Inn headed for new highs

  • Published
  • By Amy Abbott
  • 452 AMW/PA
The new general manager of the March Inn isn't exactly new - it's more like she is simply returning home. 

Helen Holm started working as a front desk clerk at the March Inn during the 80s. A decade and a few jobs later, she returned to be general manager, but then left in 1998, jumping across the pond to work at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. 

Now, 22 years after her first job at the Inn, Mrs. Holm has come back to the place she knows best. Earlier this month she again became the March Inn general manager and, with her new job, she brings new ideas and plans for the direction of the facility. 

"She has a quality that is not second to any five-star operation in the community," said Iris Alexander, services director. "She knows the criteria and knows the standards ... she knows we want to be the best. I think she will be a great addition to our team." 

One of the items on her agenda is entering March Inn for the Air Force Inn Keeper Award. March will fall into the large category (over 285 rooms), just as Mildenhall did - for which she won the Air Force-wide competition several years back. 

"A lot of good work has been done; it's just maintaining what my predecessors have established in place," said Mrs. Holm. 

Each base competes within its major command--for March it will be the Air Force Reserve Command--and the winners go against each other in the Air Force-wide competition. The judging takes place with the use of a 23-page checklist covering everything; including customer service, housekeeping, maintenance, financial management and facility improvement. According to Mrs. Holm, March Inn is more than
ready. 

"The rooms meet the criteria. There are things that often catch other bases that we have
in place. We actually have a mattress rotation program. We have a carpet cleaning schedule. We have an excellent quality assurance program. They're judging everything." 

The first step is getting the lodging facility accredited, which must be done before the base can run. Accreditation uses the same checklist as the award judging and facilities
have to score at least 85 percent in order to be contenders for the award. 

"Of course, my goal is for not only the AFRC Inn Keeper award, but the best in the Air Force. This is not just a services award; it is a wing award because another criterion is the commander's involvement." 

Another endeavor the Inn will be taking on in the near future is an Air Force initiative referred to as the triple bundle. This means that base lodging facilities, in order to make
them more compatible with outside venues, will be offering free high speed internet
access in all the rooms, Pay-Per-View and a video game system. 

"This will bring us up to the commercial hotel standards and it is actually an Air Force
standard also. People will want to stay with us and it will be by far the best price in town." 

An additional benefit of the triple bundle is that the customers will be able to do express check-out from their room. 

As far as renovations go, building 2418 is being completed and anticipated to be usable in a couple of months. Beginning in fiscal year 2008, building 2421 will be the next in line for an overhaul. 

One thing Mrs. Holm brought up is that even as a Reserve base, March is the host to several organizations and between the Army, Navy and California Air National Guard, who will soon be opening an MQ-1 Predator school here, the base continues to remain
very active. And because of its location in Southern California and the many near by attractions, she hopes to continue to get Space-A passengers and visitors staying at March. 

Further, along with the efforts being put out by the March Inn staff, Mrs. Holm said there is something patrons of the lodging facility can do to help improve services: 

"Always give us feedback and take the time to let us know where we're meeting your expectations and where we fall short. Please take the time to fill out the customer comment card and when we do actually get the Air Force Inn Keeper team in, rally around and give some really good praise and support."