Maintaining hospitality excellence for the past 12 years

SEELEY LAKE - "We take pride in what we do," said Arrowhead Condos Head Housekeeper Amy Jorgensen. "I don't think you can go anywhere in Missoula and find as clean of an establishment as we [have] here."

While Jorgensen makes a bold statement, her claim is backed with the prestigious RCI Silver Crown Resort® award, a recognition Arrowhead Condos has received for the past 12 years after receiving ratings above 4.8 of 5 from visitors.

"The Silver Crown means we have met or exceeded the threshold for maintenance and cleaning," said Valerie Natale, Arrowhead Condos secretary/treasurer. "We consider ourselves a tiny little resort with huge hospitality."

RCI®, the world's premier vacation exchange company, offers the industry's leading vacation exchange platform to its 3.7 million members around the world, providing access to 4,200 affiliated resorts in approximately 110 countries. Arrowhead Condo was among a select number of RCI affiliated resorts to meet the requirements for this annual distinction as part of the RCI Resort Recognition Program®.

The RCI Resort Recognition Program highlights affiliated resorts that meet or exceed the program's high standards by providing exceptional vacation experiences to both timeshare owners and guests. Within this program, RCI has established three distinguished rankings, RCI Gold Crown®, RCI Silver Crown® and RCI Hospitality®, which are determined annually using the rigorous criteria established by the company. Resorts that receive these distinctions have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to quality and consumer satisfaction through superior performance as measured by customer feedback.

"We are thrilled to recognize those who have attained the RCI Silver Crown designation, and we are proud to be affiliated wit the Arrowhead Condos," said Richard Ruff, senior vice president and managing director of RCI North America. "As the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, RCI holds high standards for our affiliated resort properties. The RCI Resort Recognition Program helps ensure these resorts consistently deliver fantastic vacation experiences to RCI subscribing members."

Arrowhead Condo employs seven part time employees with a five-member board of directors. The four-person cleaning staff meets every Friday and can clean eight one- and two-bed/bath condo units with a fully stocked kitchen in six hours. They also will spot clean during the week when needed. Curtis Gehrke, owner of CRG Handy, LLC, is the maintenance manager.

Jorgensen has been with the Condos for five years. When she started, the head housekeepers did a lot and she learned from them. She and now Assistant Head Housekeeper Mercedes Richards left for a year. When they returned they took on the head housekeeper positions and have been shorthanded every since.

Jorgensen said the RCI recognition is important because the past leadership can see the tradition in cleaning excellence carried forward.

"To hold the standards in which they cleaned and to get this [award] when some days we only have two girls, it means a lot to us," Jorgensen said. "I'm proud of my girls and everything they have done to still hold up that standard."

Jorgensen considers the rest of the staff her family. While the adjustments for COVID were minor since they already had a high standard for sanitation and cleaned the condos top to bottom, the worker shortage has been the biggest challenge. Jorgensen said they all pull together, work hard and fill in when needed.

"We are pretty fussy about the sanitation before anyone new comes in," said Rickley Goodan, Office Manager who has been with the Condos for 10 years.

The cleaning staff agreed that the knowledge and high standard that Goodan and Natale hold them to has taught them a lot. They said everyone thrives on constructive criticism because it makes them better at their jobs.

"If anyone says they know how to clean, come work with us and we will teach them how to clean," Jorgensen said. "I say that from my own experience from when I started."

Although cleaning is physically demanding and sometimes they are rushed for time, Jorgensen said they have a lot of fun and "we have a bunch of good girls."

"This is the most fun group I've ever worked with," Goodan said.

"We all just try and help each other out as much as we can," Jorgensen said. "These are my girls. They all work hard and all work hard for me and take pride in what they do."

For more information about Arrowhead Condos visit aoacondos.com. For more information about the RCI Resort Recognition Program, please visit http://www.rciaffiliates.com.

 

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