One on One

MARRIOTT VIRGINIA BEACH OCEANFRONT

ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: After a short flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Norfolk International Airport, I enjoyed a 20-minute ride to my hotel in Virginia Beach. When I told my driver I had never been there before, he decided to take the scenic route instead of the highway so I could see more of the destination. When we got to the hotel, the friendly staff greeted me and led me inside to the front desk to check in. My room wasn’t quite ready, so I took the time to check out the stunning beach chic-themed lobby. I received a call when my room was ready, and the rest of check-in went smoothly.

GUEST QUARTERS: My room was located on the 22nd floor, the highest floor of guestrooms. When I entered my room, I was in awe. To the left I noticed plenty of closet space, with a decent-sized bathroom with a full walk-in shower to the right. As I continued into the room, a king-sized bed sat to the right and a smart TV to the left with a screen saying, “Welcome, Mary.” Other amenities included a desk, a chair for relaxing, storage drawers and a coffeemaker with a selection of decaf and regular coffees and teas. Although the room itself was great, the main feature, the balcony, provided a stunning view of the beach and ocean. I didn’t spend much time in the room, but I was glad it had a smart TV so I could watch Netflix each night before I went to bed.

SERVICES/AMENITIES: The hotel, much bigger than it looks, offers plenty of guest services and amenities. Two adjacent pools include an indoor/outdoor pool (most of it indoors, but not fully enclosed) and an outdoor infinity pool located right off the beach and surrounded by lounge chairs. Although it was a little cool, people were swimming. I didn’t get a chance to take a dip, but I did test the water, and it felt like a heated pool. If you aren’t into swimming, a lounge area offers turf and lounge chairs where you can sit and relax and enjoy the warm weather.

Located off the lobby, Tulu Seaside Bar & Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as cocktails, wine and beer. This restaurant is a laid-back place where you can order appetizers, burgers and more. For a more sophisticated dining experience, the 23rd floor features Orion’s Roof, where we enjoyed an amazing dinner our first night. Our table had an incredible view of Virginia Beach as well as the beach and ocean.

Guests can rent bikes from the hotel to explore the surrounding area and boardwalk. Virginia Beach is a big bike-riding destination where people cycle all over. It is the perfect way to explore the town.

REVIEWED BY Mary Melnick

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

The location of the hotel is perfect — walking distance from the boardwalk and right on the beach. -------------------------

Orion’s Roof offers delicious seafood dishes, a great atmosphere and stunning views. -------------------------

The two pools (indoor and outdoor) provide more space for guests to enjoy the water without being on top of each other. -------------------------

Guests can walk across the street and visit the historic Cavalier Hotel and tour Tarnished Truth, the in-hotel distillery.

MARRIOTT VIRGINIA BEACH OCEANFRONT 4201 Atlantic Ave. Virginia Beach, VA 23451 tel 757 937 4200 marriott.com

Jamie L. Rhee

Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation

THE BASICS

Name: Jamie L. Rhee Title: Commissioner Company, city: Chicago Department of Aviation; Chicago, Illinois First job: I started working at The Deck, a truck stop off of I-80, when I was 16 years old. Where to next: I have a 7-year-old daughter, so next up we’re taking her to one of the Disney parks for the first time!

A LITTLE BIT MORE

What actor or actress would play you in a movie of your life?

Geena Davis; I really like her down-to-earth, graceful, funny, hometown demeanor.

What would you be doing professionally if you weren’t in

your current industry? I have a law degree, so I’d be a lawyer. I was actually general counsel on the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP), which allowed me to dabble in a little bit of everything. I loved law school; I’d do it 10 times over if I could. What is your favorite book, movie or television show? The American President because I loved all the characters and thought the drama was nicely done.

What historical figure, dead or alive, would you love to have

dinner with? I admire Josephine Baker’s bravery. I could sit and listen to her stories for hours.

THE BUSINESS

What is your most recent project, and what

was the inspiration behind it? I was with the airport in 2005 when the Federal Aviation Administration approved the O’Hare Modernization Program. After 16 years of construction, we are now done with runways and we’re moving on to terminals. We’re modernizing terminals and turning Terminal 2 into a new global terminal. I’m also proud of our new coloring book, available at the airport, that complements the work of First Lady of Chicago Amy Eschelman. It was designed to spark interest in aviation careers among children traveling through Chicago’s airports. What is your favorite aspect of the job? The people

What’s the biggest business risk you’ve ever

taken? I grew up in Geneseo, Illinois, about 2.5 hours from Chicago. The town was home to 5,000 and had one stop light. I always knew I would get out of there at some point, and at 17, I left home with everything I owned and moved to Chicago.

Who is someone you admire professionally

in the travel industry? Angela Gittens, the former CEO of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Miami International Airport

AS A TRAVELER

Tell us about a travel nightmare: I was locked in the bathroom on a Eurail train from Amsterdam to Paris. Share a comical travel experience: In Spain, I spoke to someone in French for 30 minutes before we realized we were both Americans!

What is your preferred method of travel — planes, trains, automobiles, cruise ships —

and why? Planes

What has been the best example of customer service you’ve experienced during your trav-

els? Here, at O’Hare Airport — I like to visit the terminals and ask for directions. I started at the airport as a customer service representative in 1994, and it’s important to me that we are welcoming at this gateway into our city.