How Herrington Inn & Spa offers a place to meet, stay & relax
An interview with Lisa Landers, director of sales and marketing and Jesse Mercado, hotel manager at The Herrington Inn & Spa.
Q: Tell us about the property.
A: The Herrington is located along the waterfront in downtown Geneva. We are within walking distance of over 150 boutique shops, galleries and restaurants. We are also near the Metra, so if you take the train to Geneva, we will pick you up at the station. All of our 61 rooms are uniquely appointed offering fireplaces, spacious luxury baths with whirlpool tubs and furnished balconies with incredible views of the river or our courtyard. We offer our nightly turn down service with cookies and milk, a European continental breakfast each morning not to mention we will shine your shoes. That's right, leave them out in our special bag for pick up at night and we will deliver back to your room the next morning.
Q: What does the venue have to offer when it comes to corporate meetings?
A: We offer unique executive space for meetings from 5-100 people. Director of Catering Deanne Mitchell has been with the Herrington for more than 16 years and offers the finest in menu creation and creativity with our space. She now is working with our new Executive Chef Kevin Gillespie who brings extraordinary culinary talent to our team.
Q: Describe the atmosphere.
A: The minute you approach the hotel and enter our doors you will immediately feel calm and pampered. The warm colors of our décor to the cozy lobby/bar furniture offer a comfortable elegance to our guests. This hotel has always been a personal favorite of mine says Landers and to be able to walk through these doors every day and to work with our corporate clients is a dream come true.
Q: Tell us about the history.
A: The name of the hotel comes from James and Charity Herrington, one of Geneva's first settlers in 1835 who owned the land the hotel is built on. In 1874 a small dairy creamery was built on the site of the family's homestead. Butter and cheese were produced here and milk was stored in barrels that were kept cold in the rushing waters of the Fox River. The once-tiny creamery became known as the Geneva Rocks Spring Creamery and is now our Pump House.
Q: What's significant with the name of the hotel and the restaurant, Atwater's?
A: Atwater's is named after John Atwater, a traveling actor and musician. When Atwater left California he, his wife, and their three children arrived in Geneva. They purchased two parcels totaling 41 acres at a cost of $16,700, and their home was built on a site near The Herrington. Atwater made a fortune with an invention. His name is still on a patent filed with the U.S. Patent Office for a "rifled projectile" that was widely used by Union forces during the Civil War. That invention made Atwater a millionaire.
Q: What attracts clients when booking meetings?
A: I continue to hear from meeting planners that they are looking for unique spaces. Well, you can't get any more unique than our Pump House. You will see exposed brick, high ceilings, lovely views of the river and experience top notch service.
Our corporate groups enjoy the upscale setting and personal touches. I have worked with groups that have incorporated the spa into their meetings as customer appreciation or part of their spousal events.
Atwater's, our restaurant, is intimate, comfortable and elegant without being stuffy. I see many business people use our dining room to entertain or to conduct business over lunch or dinner as our dining room lends itself to conversation. Our lobby bar is a favorite for the locals and corporate guests enjoying a snack and expertly crafted cocktail.
Our staff will pamper you from the moment you arrive. Don' forget about our High Tea that we do every quarter and our special wine dinners where we have winemakers talk to our guests about their craft while enjoying a wonderful 5 course dinner.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself. What is your past experience in the industry?
A: I have 30 years in the hospitality industry, working every aspect of hotels and restaurants says Landers. Jesse states he too has a genuine love for this business with 25 years and counting.
Q: Tell us one interesting fact about the venue that most people may not know.
A: Most people don't know the story of Beatrix, our cow from the Chicago's 1999 exhibit "Cows on Parade." Her name is "Unbridling Beatrix" and she is located in the lobby of our hotel. Beatrix is artfully spotted with Shakespeare's story of Romeo and Juliet. We could not think of a better place to carry on the tradition of this love story than the very romantic Herrington Inn & Spa.
Q: How is social media changing the industry?
A: Social media has made experiences totally transparent and "real time." We buy based on what we see online more than ever and by the experience expressed in the last post. This can be challenging at times. This is how we advertise.
The Herrington Inn & Spa
Address: 15 South River Lane, Geneva IL 60134
Phone: (630) 208-7433
Owner: The Shodeen Family
Number of employees: 75
When business opened: 1993
Web address: www.herringtoninn.com