Sabers compete for Innkeeper Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathanael Callon
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Members of the Air Force Services Agency Innkeeper Award review team received a warm welcome from Airmen of the 52nd Fighter Wing during an inspection in-brief today at Club Eifel.

More than 400 Airmen from around the wing attended to show their support for the staff of the Eifel Arms Inn, who are being evaluated this week by the team.

"We want to show the Innkeeper team that our Eifel Arms Inn has been audaciously linking our mission, our Airmen, and their families for over 50 years. They are our wing's ambassadors, and the standard they emulate is the Saber Standard. Our lodging staff is directly responsible for how well we provide combat power around the globe, which is irrefutable. When your business is sending Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines into harm's way, how well you sleep matters!" said Col. Christopher Weggeman, 52nd FW commander.

During the briefing, Colonel Weggeman explained the 52nd FW's role in Europe and how the Eifel Arms Inn contributes to the success of that diverse mission by providing lodging services to more than 6,000 people every month.

The 52nd Force Support Squadron Eifel Arms Inn is competing for the 2011 Air Force Best "Small" Lodging Operation against facilities at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., Dover Air Force Base, Del., and Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

Every year, the Air Force Services Agency selects the best four large and four small lodging facilities for competition for the award. After the bases are selected, the review teams visit to verify the scores on paper accurately reflect daily operations.

While the review team is here, they will base their observations on a checklist that evaluates the essentials a lodging facility must be proficient in: housekeeping, maintenance, training, quality assurance, front desk service and accounting. The Eifel Arms Inn was selected as the U.S. Air Forces in Europe nomination based on a similar checklist and comment cards from the last six months, according to Capt. David Wilson, 52nd FSS Sustainment Services flight commander.

"As a wing, we are dedicated to excellence, and our lodging team is the best any wing could possibly ask for. Their pride and spirit are a beacon for all to behold," Colonel Weggeman said.

The Eifel Arms Inn has been a contender for the title of best small lodging operation before and has won the Innkeeper Award in 2000, 2002 and 2005.