As the holidays approach, many local residents are frantically preparing for out of town guests. The burning question: where will everyone sleep? Futons are fluffed, and cots and sleeping bags are dug out of storage.

But what if you were expecting 1,500 guests?

That's how many athletes, coaches, chaperones and family members Cherie` Gwinn is expected to find beds for during the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Gwinn is the Convention Services & Housing Coordinator for the CVB (Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau).

However, the 27-year-old dynamo is not unprepared for the daunting task. "I was an intern at Star USA in 2007," Gwinn said. "I was a jack of all trades." That firsthand experience when Spokane hosted the U.S. Championships in 2007 is coming in handy now. Gwinn understands just how much preparation is involved in hosting an event of this magnitude.

The Davenport Hotel and Tower is the official host hotel for the athletes, while the Doubletree Hotel will house the media and any overflow.

Matt Jensen, director of marketing for the Davenport said, "The US Figure Skating sponsors and athletes will pretty much occupy the whole Tower."

Housing them all is a challenge the hotel staff is thrilled to tackle. "We're so excited to have the event back in Spokane," Jensen said. "We've designated certain people just to manage these rooms."

He said partnering with the CVB has been very effective in make the process for the athletes as streamlined as possible.

For both Gwinn and Jensen, the past few weeks have been a nonstop flurry of activity. "My biggest challenge has been returning calls in a timely manner," said Gwinn. Lately her voicemail and her e-mail inboxes overflows.

Jensen said his staff is busy too, adding that after the holiday many hotel staffers traditionally use some vacation days. That won't be happening this year. The hotel will be fully staffed and then some.

"We're also helping with the transportation piece," Jensen said. "We'll be doing the pick-ups and drop-offs at the airport, while the STA handles the rest."

The Davenport isn't making any major changes to the rooms, other than ensuring that plenty of in-room refrigerators are available. They learned during the 2007 event that most of the athletes request them. "We may have to buy a few more," he said.

In spite of the influx of guests, Jensen wants to be sure to let folks know that rooms may still be available at the Davenport Hotel and Tower as well as the Hotel Lusso throughout the Skating Championships. He explained that not all skaters stay for the duration of the event and that room needs fluctuate.

The hotel maintains a waiting list and Jensen encourages prospective guests to call. "We'd love to have you," he said.

He and Gwinn take a great deal of pride in what they do. They're hearing a lot of wonderful things about Spokane from folks who visited during the 2007 championships. "When they talk about how much they enjoyed their stay in 2007, it truly gives me goosebumps," said Gwinn. "It makes me proud of my city and it reflects well on all of us."

 

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