The Framed Hotel Picture

I won't get a framed picture of the hotel when I leave, signed by friends and colleagues, despite having been here for four years. As tradition dictates, only those who move on to new properties within the same company get a picture. These pictures are hung with pride and fondness on the walls of hotel managers everywhere, as a testament to the years (and blood, sweat & tears) they've given to the company.

I only have one framed hotel picture, despite having worked in 5 hotels over the 13 years of my career after college. It's from the Waterfront in Baltimore where I toiled from opening in February 2001 until June 2004. The matting is covered in farewell messages written by friends I worked with at the time I left. I gaze at that picture (which hangs in full view on the wall just behind my computer screen)all the time. I don't read the messages so much as I get lost in the image of the hotel itself. Here's a little shout out to my girls Nancy, Jen and Debbie -- who left the Waterfront before me and didn't get to sign that picture!