Friends of the Grand Hotel, Weddings
Portland Couple to Receive Wedding of Their Dreams from Wish Upon a Wedding
One of the benefits of being in the hospitality industry is getting to know so many couples and hearing their story. Our Group Sales and Catering Manager, Amber Templeton, brought this very special story to our attention and wanted to share with you.
Patti Furrow and Phil Sedgwick are a Portland, Oregon couple whose 12 year relationship has been tested beyond belief. The couple has faced numerous challenges that includes a cancer diagnosis for Patty, a cancer diagnosis for Phil’s mother, job losses for both, chemotherapy, and overwhelming hospital bills.
Despite these circumstances, Phil proposed to Patty on Valentines Day this year- and the couple became engaged after a 12 years together.
Patty contacted our hotel looking for space for her reception and spoke with Amber. Her original wedding date was set for 10/10/10. Once they began chatting about the space here, Patti informed Amber of the reason for her quick wedding and shared her story.
Little did Patty know she was speaking with the Vice President on the board for the Portland chapter Wish Upon a Wedding, a nonprofit wish granting organization providing weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness and serious life-altering circumstances.
“It was at that moment that I knew the ‘planets had aligned’ and that she was meant to call me that day.” says Amber. “I told her about Wish Upon a Wedding, we went through the process and here we are, about to provide a very deserving family with the wedding of her dreams.”
It is with great pleasure to tell you that Patti and Phil will be married on November 12, 2010 and they are Portland’s first Wedding Wish Recipients. To learn more about this wonderful couple, read their story: Cancer Takes a Backseat to Love For Two Racecar Junkies in Portland, Oregon
Since opening in August of last year, many of our guests have praised us for providing Free Wi-Fi. I have heard time and time again how they are fed up with being charged extra fees so they may access their wireless Internet (sometimes as much as $14.00 a day!!). In fact, we are hearing more and more that Free Wi-Fi is one of the services our guests value the most.
The costs of providing wireless Internet have come down- it simply does not make sense to nickel and dime our guests….or make them join some Loyalty program or jump through hoops. From the beginning, our hotel has been committed to providing our guests with the most luxurious and comfortable accommodations in the area- and this means Free Wi-Fi .
The article Business travelers winning battle for free hotel Internet access in USA Today by Barbara DeLollis posted last month addresses this issue:
More business travelers are getting what they say they want most from hotels: free Internet access in their rooms……Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Forrester Research, says that it’s time for hotels to drop Internet charges. ”Hotels realize that companies and individuals are fed up with paying extra for Wi-Fi,” he says. “Consumers are smart enough to know the cost of providing it has come down.”
Traveling during the holidays can be exciting, eventful, memorable and a good time to reconnect with your loved ones- without worrying about the cooking. I came across this article on OregonLive.com and wanted to share with our guests. We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and hope that you will let us know if there is ever anything else we can do to make your stay more comfortable.
Eating out on Thanksgiving – Restaurants open in Portland By Alley Hector, OregonLive.com
Not all of us want to deal with the family drama that generally ensues when Grandma and little sis’, who recently became vegan, fight over the 12 lb bird on the table. Leave the stress behind and let yourself be served.
Thankfully, many Portland area restaurants are open for Thanksgiving. Generally, you’ll to have to shell out a few bucks and make reservations as soon as possible. Here are some recommendations. Post yours below.
Jake’s Thanksgiving Buffet at the Governor Hotel
All McCormick & Schmick’s restaurants will be open for your seafood needs but if you want a buffet that will surely send you into a tryptophan coma, head out to the Governor Hotel (614 SW 11th Ave., 503-224-3400). Reservations begin at 11 am and end at 3:30 pm. $29.95 adults, $7.95 children 6-12, 5 and younger free. Call 503-241-2125 to make your reservation.
Rheinlander German Restaurant
Nothing says Thanksgiving like lederhosen. Special (meaning traditional) Dinner served 11 am-8 pm, reservations recommended.
The Heathman
This pricey Portland staple is a nice sit-down option that will please every member of the classy family. Prix fixe dining room service 11 am-9 pm. Holiday buffet 11:30 am-6 pm. The Heathman, 1001 SW Broadway., 503-790-7752. $46.50 per person ($18 for kids under 12). Call to reserve seats.
View Point Inn
For a more intimate dinner outside the city, the View Point Inn to the east with a panoramic Columbia River Gorge view is the place. And when you’ve stuffed yourself silly, you can just nab a room. At $65 a person it’s not the most frugal option, but the menu takes the traditional fare and adds significant flair, which should be worth the extra cash. View Point Inn is on the Historic Columbia River Highway, 503-695-5811.
Thanksgiving at McMenamins
Local favorites McMenamins will have a plethora of buffets at all their major locations. And at $24 per adult they’re really quite the bargain. Perhaps not as fancy as other restaurants, McMenamins always provides a warm atmosphere and plenty of room for the kids to run around in. 1 pm ’til 7 pm; reservations required | $23.95 adults; $18.95 senior; $11.95 kids 6-12; free for kids 5 and under | All ages welcome
For more recommendations visit the folks of Willamette Week, Open Table and Gayot.
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