Turumi competes for Air Force Innkeeper Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephenie Wade
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea --  Voted the best lodging facility in the Pacific Air Force's for 2009, Turumi Lodge will now compete for the most prestigious lodging award in the Air Force: the Innkeeper award. 

The Air Force Innkeeper award is presented annually to recognize the lodging operation that provides the most outstanding hotel-type lodging and customer service to Air Force travelers. 

With a staff of 93 people, Turumi Lodge accommodates more than 120,000 thousand guests a year. Constance V. Roderick, lodging general manager, says their key attribute to winning is "our genuine care and respect for one another and our lovely smiles. No other base has this staff." 

The Turumi Lodge offers its customers a wide variety of unique features while they are here including: wireless internet in all the rooms, 24-hour ATM and store, conference room, computer room with common access card reader, free shuttle service to contracted hotels and more. 

"What I like the most about Turumi Lodge is everything here is very thought out. Each room is equipped and ready to go to support both the folks doing military operations and those ready to go home," said Senior Master Sgt. Francis Dailey, 607th Air Support Operations Group superintendent, who has stayed at Turumi Lodge more than seven times in the past five years. 

While customers only stay at Turumi Lodge for a limited amount of time, Senior Airman Margrette Wilson, a guest service representative, says their goal is to make every customer comfortable and have them feel at home while they are here. 

Turumi Lodge has a total of 363 guest rooms including 16 suites, which places them in the large facility category of the competition against two other stateside bases; Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz., and Kirtland AFB, N.M.. 

As a nominee, Turumi Lodge had to go through intense inspections. The Air Force Innkeeper inspection team spent three days guided by a 26-page inspection standard check list to evaluate all aspects of Osan's lodging operation and programs. 

"They paid close attention to the little things," said Airman Wilson. "For example, with customer service, they wanted to see if we answered the phone within the first three rings and if we acknowledged a customer while they were waiting in line." 

Added Sergeant Francis Dailey, "Turumi Lodge is one of best kept secrets in Air Force lodging system, it is even better than some of the resorts we have."