Officials for the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club have appointed a director of special services and promoted two members of its senior executive staff.
The only AAA Four Diamond hotel in Durham, N.C., the Inn & Golf Club, managed by WDI Durham Management Co., is owned by Duke University and located on campus.
Anna Lawson filled the role of director of special services when Peggy Baker retired after 25 years. Don Ball became director of operations: food and beverage after nearly 16 years of service, and Daniel Lotz is now director of operations: rooms division after nearly 10 years.
Ensuring all special guests receive exceptional, personalized and confidential service is how Lawson will manage the Inn & Golf Club’s special guest program, which is designed for distinguished guests ranging from Duke VIPs, corporate executives and government officials to well-known entertainers who have needs unlike the average guest. This includes everything from personal security staff and unique transportation to simple requests of flowers, gifts, child and pet care.
Lawson will also monitor and implement developing trends in the hospitality and service industries to maintain a superior level of special guest services.
She joined the inn in February 2006 and worked as a guest reception manager until her promotion. A graduate of North Carolina State University in Raleigh with a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management, Lawson also volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.
Ball and Lotz will assist Randy Kolls, the inn’s general manager. Specifically, Ball will oversee food and beverage services and its staff throughout the hotel and continue being creative engineer of VIP and holiday events. He was promoted from director of food and beverage.
Lotz has experience training, leading and motivating service-oriented guest services staff and has built a reputation of superior guest service and enhancing employee satisfaction. His career has taken him from the Steigenberger Parkhotel in Düesseldorf, Germany, to various Ritz-Carlton properties in Arizona and Florida, including The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Fla. He was promoted from director of rooms division. b
