SHIPMATES:
Planning for the 2015 has been proceeding smoothly. It was
decided at the Newport reunion to have the 2015 reunion in Norfolk, VA. Carol
and I stopped by in August to evaluate the 4 finalist hotels and we found all
them to be reasonably acceptable. However, one stood out above the
group.
We selected the Holiday Inn Norfolk Airport
hotel. The Holiday Inn Norfolk Airport is not your
typical Holiday Inn. It is a more upscale version of the Holiday Inns that most
clients are familiar with and those who tour it are surprised how nice it is.
All rooms are charming and very spacious, plus all rooms have a microwave,
fridge, and coffeemaker on a complimentary basis.They hotel has an indoor pool
and hot tub, fitness center, a great little restaurant serving breakfast and
dinner, a lobby bar, business center, a sundry shop, meeting and banquet
facilities. Complimentary internet is provided to all guests.
Each morning there will be a complimentary full
breakfast buffet for up to 2 guests per guest room for our reunion
attendees. The hotel will provide a spacious complimentary hospitality
room during our stay. We will be able to bring in our own beverages and
snacks to the hospitality room. If you decide to have dinner in the restaurant
they have offered a 10% discount.
The military reunion banquet menu is only $35.00 per
person which includes tax and service charge.
There is complimentary airport shuttle 24
hours – 7 days a week to and from Norfolk International PLUS a courtesy
shuttle for guests to local shopping and dining within a 5 mile radius
of the hotel. There is also free self-parking.
All of this is available for only $95.00 net rate plus
taxes (14% –$2.00 flat city tax) per room per night. This rate will be available
for three days pre and & post the reunion dates which are April 26 – 29,
2015.
Now that the hotel has been selected, I will be working on the
tours. There are some very fine tours and as soon as I have completed the tour
schedule, I will send an email to all those with email service. When ALL plans
are complete I will make a mailing via USPS to all shipmates without email
service.
So mark your calendars for the reunion and I hope to see many
of you there.
Smooth Sailing, Jim Julian
