I want to personally thank Monica, Susan, Amanda, and the entire staff at La Quinta in Hillsboro,…read moreTexas for the incredible hospitality, kindness, patience, and love they showed me and my family.
We originally booked rooms for a family event, and from the beginning, Monica and her team worked with us and gave our family a great rate. Then the weather came in and completely changed our plans.
What happened next is something I will never forget.
We had well over 100 family members and guests coming together--far more people than the hotel could reasonably be expected to accommodate for an event. But instead of making us feel like we were a burden, the staff opened their doors and welcomed us.
And when I say they welcomed us, they welcomed us like family.
The kids took over the lobby. Family members were everywhere. Plans were changing because of the weather. There was food, laughter, conversation, and a whole lot of people. Through all of it, Monica and her staff handled everything with patience and grace.
I even saw one woman working and cleaning rooms with her children there with her. Everyone was doing whatever needed to be done to take care of their guests.
That kind of dedication stays with you.
I have traveled all over the world and stayed at some incredible hotels and resorts--from the W in downtown Seattle, to Disney's Animal Kingdom with giraffes outside the balcony, to the Wynn and MGM, New York City, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and many other places.
But I can sincerely say that I have never experienced hospitality like my family received at La Quinta in Hillsboro.
And there is another part of this experience that means even more to me.
We are a large African American family, but more importantly, we are a family made up of all kinds of people, personalities, backgrounds, lifestyles, and experiences. We had family and friends from different places and walks of life, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Not one person was made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, judged, or out of place.
Instead, we were shown compassion, respect, acceptance, patience, and genuine love.
That matters.
They didn't just tolerate my family--they embraced my family.
They laughed with us. They talked with us. They even ate dinner with us. And if you know country folks, you know we're going to offer you a plate--and probably aren't going to take no for an answer!
For those hours, there wasn't a line between "hotel staff" and "our family." Everybody was simply together.
Monica and her staff helped save our event, but they gave us something even bigger than that: they gave us a place where everyone in our family felt at home.
I will never forget it.
From this point forward, whenever our family comes back home to Hillsboro, there is no question about where we're staying.
La Quinta is where we will stay.
To Monica, Susan, Amanda, and every employee who worked, cleaned, helped, smiled, answered questions, dealt with our kids running around, shared a meal with us, and showed patience when things got hectic:
Thank you.
You showed my family what hospitality is supposed to look like.
You didn't simply provide us with hotel rooms.
You gave us a home when we needed one.
And after traveling around the world and staying in some of the finest hotels imaginable, I can say without hesitation that the service and genuine kindness my family received in Hillsboro, Texas, ranks above them all.
I will forever be grateful.
For me and my family, La Quinta isn't just a hotel anymore.
La Quinta is family.
La Quinta is home.
Thank y'all for everything.
With love, respect, and gratitude,
Kirk Mathis & Family