This is SO long in coming and trust me when I say, I feel TERRIBLE it has taken me this long to get…read morehere. Months ago (about 3 now), I moved back to Champaign after being gone for 15 years. While I awaited repairs to the new home I bought, I stayed at Comfort Suites in Urbana, a brief four day sojourn, but LET. ME. TELL. YOU!
Okay, so firstly, am I right on this or am I right?! Like, have you ever seen a Comfort Suites so highly rated? Maybe I'm unfamiliar with the brand, I admit, I think that might have been my second or third one (Chicago being my first and that one had windows that shook with the wind ;)), but not only was the room lovely (spacious for sure!) with all your typical amenities, but for me it was the STAFF. THE STAFF in this place (and yes, it deserves a shout) is like.... PHENOMENAL. STELLAR! OUT OF THIS WORLD. Now, before you think I'm over-exaggerating, let me tell you why...
I'd not only returned to Champaign after being gone for 15 years, but I'd returned home after the dissolution of a 30 year marriage! On my own again, alone! Not only had I come back without a husband, but I'd returned without the awesomest use of my legs (after a tragic accident), so with two huge suitcases and a house I'd only seen through a videocam, I'd made a lot of big moves. Especially for someone with a pretty massive handicap!
Well, Sales Manager Laura was there ALL. THE. WAY. She helped me physically, she sat down in my room with me, she like actually listened to me share my tale, she took GENUINE interest (there was no -hand out- or even an *ask*, I assure you!, (the only mention of money was my own, stating that I wished I could give her staff more for all *their* help (and her comment was only to say that they were hardworking and deserving, which they were!)).
Laura was professional, but she made no effort in hiding her heart of gold, and I'm here to tell you, friends, it burst from her! She was professional, like I said, but she was so compassionate and caring and she shared her life with me in return! It made the whole thing feel like she was a friend! And, honestly, there was something really revelational in that (in that it was so rare, but sweet and earnest!).
When my time was up, Laura helped me pack my bags, get the car around, and she hoisted those two huge bags into the my trunk like she'd been working life-long at the airport! From there, she bundled me up, sending me on my way, out into the great unknown! With a lot of hope, a lot of heart, and a huge smile! All of this hospitality -- yes, there's the word! -- all of this work in the name of care and concern for her customer! A stranger she'd just met! A person who, in the span of a couple days, made feel like family.
Comfort as a brand, at least for a while, was using the slogan "Rested. Set. Go." but it was Laura who truly made me think of a real oldie. Something that felt more applicable to my time spent there... and like an old pair of jeans warm from the dryer, a real comfort classic, it was a staple in that industry -- "We'll leave the light on for you."