Celebrating My Birthday at Camelback Inn
;)
It's birthday time again and I'm back here at my very favorite Marriott hotel. The JW Marriott Camelback Inn. We've had this hotel for over 40 years now and our family continues to come here for spring break every year.
We have a new member of our family coming this year - our newest granddaughter, who was born just a year ago. Last year her father came and brought the two boys and left the mom home to take care of the new baby.
It's always fun to celebrate a birthday with our children and grandchildren. Last year we had a big celebration because we had my mother-in-law's 90th birthday too. She didn't come this year but she's doing great living in Salt Lake, Utah. She's 91 now.
Camelback's undergoing a big renovation. People have asked me, "What would your father have thought of this renovation?" I said, "Well, my dad loved Camelback. It was special to him. He spent a lot of winters here. He never wanted to see it change."
But we have repositioned and rebuilt the entire public area of Camelback. We've got a brand new ballroom; we've got a beautiful new restaurant called Rita's Kitchen, which is going to be a 3 meal restaurant, and we've got the famous BLT Steak restaurant out of New York City. It's going to be the finest steak restaurant in all of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.
So, it's always fun to come back to Camelback. It's a great place. The weather's been beautiful - 85 degrees every day. And it's just wonderful to have family memories associated with such a lovely hotel.
This is Bill Marriott and thank you for helping me keep Marriott on the move.
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Posted By: Tricia Miller (4/16/2008)
Comment: Happy belated birthday to you, Mr. Marriott! You don't know this, but one of your staff members gave me a belated birthday gift I will never forget. You see, I called Krista ******** at your Blackstone Renaissance in Chicago to try to stay there for less than your listed price during my daughters' Sping Break. (which was the week following my 42nd birthday) We stayed at the Blackstone 10 years prior to that. (in fact that is where my youngest daughter who is 9...well you do the math.) This time, the situation is different, and due to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis which is affecting my kidney function, I do not know when a trip with my family will be my last. Ms. ******** made the trip possible for us, and lets just say the once forgotten Blackstone Hotel has been restored to its majestic state. The staff was wonderful, especially the bellman, Joseph, and we had a wonderful 3 days! Thnak you, Mr. Marriott, for hiring wonderful, caring and compassionate people who took care of my family so we could enjoy what maybe our last trip together! God's blessings to you!
Posted By: Preeti Alphonso (4/7/2008)
Comment: Happy Belated Birthday Bill Marriott.
My dad has worked with the Marriott Hotel for a significant part of his career. He speaks highly of the environment, culture and all things Marriott.
Wish you continued success.
Posted By: Paul Grabowski (3/30/2008)
Comment: Happy Birthday Bill Marriott !!!
Thank you for sharing you memories of your family and this Hotel.
You and your Father have made Marriott Hotel's the the "Best in the World" because of the family atmosphere your hotels and employee's generate.Its home on the road.
Thanks for the memories
See you at the next Marriott hotel I stay
Paul A.Grabowski
Posted By: Ronald Beaumont (3/29/2008)
Comment: Dear Mr. Marriott,
I read your excellent blogs each week and was particularly interested in your message originating from Camelback Inn. I lived on the property in one of the staff casas during the winter seasons of 57-58 through 60-61. I knew Jack and Louise Stewart and their 3 children and I worked for the concessioner that provided limos and rental cars. Mr. Stewart wanted someone to live on-property in the event transportation was required during the night. So I worked my shift by the front desk and enjoyed CBI, as we called it, during my off hours. Most employees assumed that I worked for Mr. Stewart during these years.
Mr. Lincoln, (Mr. Stewart's partner) which Lincoln Drive is named after, passed away during this period.
I heard from Jack Stewart's daughter Louise as recent as 2004, who owns the Grant Corner Inn in Albuquerque
After seeing the photos in your blog my goal now is to return to visit Camelback Inn in the future.
.Two of your blogs that I share verbally with others on occasion include your Saturday visits to a movie with Mrs. Marriott which delivers a family values message and "thinking outside the box" about a jail bird and his father which I use to motivate others.
You and I met on at least 3 occasions; speaking at a breakfast at the Chicago Marriott several years ago, at the Edinburgh Marriott at the ASTA Congress and at Purdue University when you were presented with an Honorary Degree.
Having been associated in our industry for many years including president of Preferred Hotels for 12 years I'm most proud that my son Roy followed in my footsteps and that he is associated with Marriott International in Bethesda.
Sincerely,
Ronald Beaumont
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Posted By: Marcela Ricciardi and Horacio Barcellandi (3/29/2008)
Comment: Happy Birthday Mr.Bill Marriot!!!From Argentina,South America.We had the pleasure to know you when the Marriott Plaza Hotel was opened.But we already knew about Marriott.We are owners of villas at 3 resorts(Orlando,Miami and Vail)We have 3 kids and we have the best moments with our family at Marriott,really our second home.Our kids enjoy so much your beaches ,mountains and cities hotels and resorts!!Now they are 24,22 and 18 and they love watching pictures and movies of our vacations,Olivia the middle one,once told me:mommy when I was little I thought it was really home ,people working at the place knew us by our names!!!We love Marriott and thanks you for all the good moments you gave us.Wishing the best for you and your family,and many more happy birthdays!!!Sincerely,Horacio and Marcela
Posted By: Hank Mancini (3/28/2008)
Comment: Happy Birthday Mr. Marriott!
The Camelback Inn is one of my favorite places. I have not visited nearly as many times, but walking the grounds on a warm summer evening is...priceless!
Posted By: Janine (3/28/2008)
Comment: Happy Birthday! It is always hard to find places to stay when visiting with family and friends or on business. I appreciate the welcome, comfort, and service provided by all of the Marriott motels/hotels especially when I need the quality and the security that they provide. Again, congratulations on your birthday and another grandchild! (They are "gifts" for our lives!)
Posted By: Ron (3/28/2008)
Comment: Happy Birthday Bill and good luck on many more happy and successful years.
Posted By: Anila (3/28/2008)
Comment: Belated Happy Birthday Mr. Marriott - here we had a big party in our office as well to celebrate a couple of Birthdays!
We wish you many many happy and healthy returns of the day!!
Cheers!
Anila
Posted By: Christopher Rizo (3/28/2008)
Comment: Happy Birthday Mr. Marriott!!!!
Posted By: Feras Werr (3/28/2008)
Comment: Dear Mr. Marriott,
Wish you many happy returns. A truly handsome gathering in a breathtaking setting. Nice cake work by the chef. Loved the selection of photos you shared with us. Many a times during the warm summer days, especially in the night time when all would be quiet in my household, I used to pick up our family albums and page through the photographs of the different happy occasions that our family witnessed through it's brief history. As my mother is very good and still is in organizing our albums all of them are well chronicled and taken care off. It commences with my parents black and white wedding photos in 1970 in the captivating green hilly areas of southern Lebanon, then with pictures of all five of us during our earliest childhood years. Our baptism ceremonies come after, and soon enough we are at the playgrounds jumping about and cheering our blissful childhood energy away. Birthday parties were a time to dance and enjoy the lavish buffets of sweets my mother used to prepare for us and our friends. Very soon it's graduation time from school and university. The frozen merry occasions and faces in the photos always would draw a smile on my face as I remembered the happy laughter and joyful hopeful faces of my colleagues at school. The delightful moments continue through the ensuing photos of my brother's and sister's university graduations and very soon our albums take a new dimension when a series of joyous moments are displayed while my sister Rose was recording her first musical video clip. She is a famous and celebrated singer here in Jordan. Then the pages suddenly go white and still with silence, awaiting the click of our family camera to capture new events in our up coming future days. Only the Lord knows what will be posted next in our family album and I truly pray that it will be nothing but happy moments. I wish you the same Mr. Marriott.
Posted By: mariana (3/28/2008)
Comment: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL!!!
...AND MANY MOOOOREEE
Posted By: Dawn (3/28/2008)
Comment: Mr Marriott...Happy Birthday! Thanks for keeping us informed! Glad to see Camelback is still on the "best" list.
Posted By: Luis (3/28/2008)
Comment: Happy Birthday to you Bill! Sorry, I'm late but I wish you the best of life and remember the best birthdays of all are those that haven't arrived yet and normally it takes a long time to grow young. Cordially, Luis (LuisB)
Posted By: Keith Ridley IV (3/28/2008)
Comment: Happy Birthday-2008 Mr. Marriott
Posted By: ARNOLD HESS (3/27/2008)
Comment: MR MARRIOTT, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUR FAVORITE HOTEL=CAMELBACK INN IS SO SPECIAL, YET MY FAVORITE MAR HOTEL WAS THE CITY LINE MARRIOTT,PHILADLEPHIA,PA.,WESTFIELDS MAR. IN DULLES ,VA
Posted By: Doris Good (3/27/2008)
Comment: What a coincidence! I just spent time w/ a friend of mine celebrating her birthday today too. She's a real perfectionist. Then I open this and it's your birthday too! And I think of you and your empire as being absolutely perfect. I have never been to a Marriott where you were not treated as being special! In fact, in Oregon my husband and I stayed at a Courtyard for 4 nights and when we came back through the lobby in the eves, we'd say, "honey, we're home"! What an experience, to say the least. Plus, the employees were so happy to be a part of such a wonderful organization and you don't hear that very often anymore. Keep up the FABULOUS job!!! Best wishes for a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY...you deserve it!!!
Posted By: kathawren (3/27/2008)
Comment: Thank you for sharing your wonderful memorys and "Happy Birthday" Marriot. I just returnrd from the Abq "New mexico" Marriot" The service was excellent. as was our stay.
best wishes
Kathawren
Original Folk Theater
