My first adventure of the new year found me in the tropical paradise of Marco Island, Florida. They were enjoying the same unseasonably warm winter that we Atlantans have been experiencing. The beach was stunning, and my early morning workout walks on sandy shores yielded sand dollars galore and even some collectible seashells.
Most of my time was spent in windowless conference rooms honing my keynoting skills with such luminaires in the speaking profession as Dr. Janet Lapp and Mark Sanborn. When will they ever either stage conferences outdoors in such a breathtaking setting or send us all to someplace we won’t yearn to enjoy! I did escape Sunday afternoon and went on the water cruise for shelling, dolphin watching and bald eagle nest viewing. We also got a view of a home built on the tip of the island back in the 1960’s that was leading edge architecture at the time and is now abandoned and falling into the sea.
I have to say I was fascinated by the hurricane shuttering so evident on unoccupied condos. My own hotel had hurricane glass that sealed out any form of noise or disturbance. The hotel was very comfortable. Marriott is usually good for consistency and maintaining a fresh look. The only challenge was the uneven service (surprising) with turn down once in 5 nights and no housekeeping on a couple of days! They are also wiring the tower I stayed in as there was no cell reception save for a roaming 6” square in the room that if you breathed too hard, you’d lose your call.
It was a good kick off to the New Year! Now I am more prepared than ever to deliver keynotes of value and substance with drama and punch (surely you’d expect no less!) In addition, I am maintaining my design clientele and transforming their lives room by room.
Travel well and beautifully,
MG
