KEY Magazine Fort Worth

GUEST SERVICES

Home Grown Hospitality
by Don Patterson

Randi Long brings Texas-bred hospitality to visitors at the Best Western Inn on Fort Worth’s west side. Born and raised in Graham, Texas, Randi moved to the city five years ago, while exploring career opportunities. “I tried several business avenues,” Randi said. “I worked in the medical field, served as a business office manager, and worked at a local bank. Each venue required different skills but I was attracted to the hotel and tourism industry because of its endless opportunities to learn and grow professionally.”

Greeting and serving Fort Worth area visitors comes naturally to Randi. She applies a courteous personal approach derived from her small town upbringing. “I like interacting with our Best Western patrons,” she explained. “Learning guests’ likes and dislikes, special needs and interests, makes my job exciting and fun.”

As a new Fort Worth resident, Randi has had to thoroughly acquaint herself with area attractions and amenities. “Key Magazine is a helpful tool,” she said. “It’s listings of dining, entertainment, and shopping outlets help our patrons find just what they need. The handy maps help them navigate the area with ease.”

Randi takes special enjoyment in her front desk position at Best Western. “There is so much to learn about people and where they come from,” she said. “I enjoy meeting and serving visitors of different cultures and tastes. You have to discover their needs and make them feel comfortable in our environment. Anticipating their wishes, learning and remembering their names, what rooms they like, what they appreciate and don’t, are essential. You need to treat each guest on a case-to-case basis. Greeting and knowing them as individuals rather than customers is essential. I think a good guest relations professional needs to learn that element foremost.”

Randi Long’s “person to person” approach has earned her high marks in her new career field. Giving her best at the Best Western Inn has become a daily goal.

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