Lynn Salsi: Author, Storyteller, Teacher, Historian, Speaker - Lynn's Blog - A Clean Pool Gives A Hint...A Lesson from Steve Smith

Monday

Aug242009

A Clean Pool Gives A Hint...A Lesson from Steve Smith

Monday, August 24, 2009 at 02:50PM |

With all the talk about the flu season, I have given a lot of thought to cleanliness.

I've stated to visitors for years that my house may be cluttered, but the linens on my beds are clean, pillows are regularly replaced, and between whiles, they are spun in the dryer to remove dust. The food I prepare is clean and I practice safe-food-handling. When my children were little, my husband turned up the heat on the dish-washer to hopefully ward off bacteria that cooler temperatures might miss.

Therefore, why in the world would I, or anyone else, leave home and stay in a hotel that is dirty? Murky hotel pools are also an indication that management lets every other cleanliness in a hotel slip...sub-par is how I describe these types of conditions. I refuse to eat in a hotel restaurant if any place on the premises is neglected and dingy. (Quick note to managers with a dingy concrete deck. Clorax cleans it and so does a high-pressure hose. If I can do it, you can.)

My children are now grown, but they can attest to the fact that they were never allowed to swim in a hotel pool that was murky. We sometimes checked out the pool before checking in. That's my thing.

I've received many e-mails about my blog about the Sheraton Imperial Hotel (see the blog posted on Thursday, January 8, 2009). After staying there more times than I can count, over a twelve year period and recommending it to everyone I've ever known who needed a hotel in the Raleigh/Durham area, it dawned on me that I have never seen a cleaner pool.

I asked Veronica Jones (evening Club Room manager) who the "pool boy" might be. She laughed and said, "He's not a boy. Steve Smith is the chief pool-cleaner and you can tell he takes his job seriously."

Lynn Thomas (morning Club Room manager) verified the following morning that "Steve Smith is a special person. You should meet him."

I was introduced to him in mid January and told him I was amazed the pool was so beautiful in winter, even though it is outdoors and not heated. "I love looking at the water and seeing the sun reflect the surroundings, even if I can't swim in it," I said.

Steve said that world-famous Sheraton General Manager, Michael Martino, must share my ideas about the beauty of the pool. "In a few months, probably by mid March, folks visiting from Canada will probably be out swimming," Steve said.

This month (August) we've stayed at the Imperial three times. Each time there is a meeting to get to, so I've only gotten in the pool twice. It is clean! It is sparkling! It is dazzling! And, all thanks to Steve Smith.

No one would ever hesitate to allow their children in. Everyone staying in the hotel should arrange a picnic beside the pool, even if they don't want to swim.

So, a week or so ago, I was staring out the room window looking down at the pool. "You know I don't think I've ever seen that pool anything but sparkling," I said to my husband who joined me to survey the scene.

He agreed and as we mused about the hotel pools we wouldn't be caught in, Steve Smith walked up and started cleaning. My husband grabbed his camera and dashed for the elevator.

Back in January I told Steve we'd see him at the pool one day and we'd take his picture. He smiled.

Imagine his surprise when Burke showed up with the camera. He smiled broadly and said, "I thought you were kidding."

It turns out that Steve has worked for the Sheraton Imperial for sixteen years. When I related that he had the cleanest pool in the hotel business (the one in the Munich Grand spa in Germany is a close second), he said he liked having things right. "It's good to work for someone, like Mr. Martino (Mike Martino, general manager), that likes things right. He wants everything clean to impress the guests. It gives me a good feeling to know I've succeeded."

"And, I want to relax in a place where things are clean, especially in times when we hear about the flu virus twenty times a day," I said.

Steve kept working during our entire conversation. The Sheraton Imperial pool must be at least 75-feet long and the spa is as long as a lap pool. He didn't have many minutes to spare, as the pool area is only one of many things he takes care of at the hotel.

"And, I don't think I have ever seen a stray leaf in your pool," I said.

"Well, I work at keeping everything nice as possible. I enjoy this...knowing that it is a beautiful and relaxing place where people can come," he said.

We see pools in Hampton Inns, Holiday Inns, and a few sister Sheraton Hotels that are less than half the size and look like pea soup. Some of the cleaner ones reek of chlorine to the point that no one can get in the pool for fear of dying from the gas-like vapors. (Once the chlorine was so strong it took the color out of my children's swimsuits.)

This pool is worth a night's stay just to take the family for a day of sunshine and swimming. That's a big plus, considering the hotel (near Research Triangle Park) is mostly a business hotel during the week. Sometimes they have special room rates if they are not totally booked. www.spg.com

I keep hearing about "stay-cations". This is the spot. There are fast food places close by for kid food. The hotel restaurant is nice with excellent food, but a little pricey.

Steve's pool gets an A-plus and so does Steve. He's a very pleasant fellow. My mother would have said, "Hail fellow, well met." That's southern for "he's one of the good guys.

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Reader Comments (4)

Hi Mrs Salsi !
I had to look up your blog once you mentoined it in class. After reading about Steve and the Sheraton I think my next short get away with the kids might be at the Sheraton Imperial. I can look at the pool and tell the kids about my Research Professor Mrs. Salsi and Steve Smiths sparkling pool. As a southern girl I truly appreciate the southern tone in your blog. The candid and hospitable candor is evident of the beautiful south and is so much a part of you.

See you in class Tuesday!

Dana

August 24, 2009 |

Dana Raper

Dear Mrs Salsi,

It is quite interesting to know that some people are still passionate about thier job. Mr Steve Smith, having worked in a place for 16yrs still takes pride in what he does and gives it his best. I strongly agree that one should always put in her/his best at what ever she/he does and I also believe that there are still a lot of people out there just like Mr Smith. I wish him the best and I wish I can have the chance to swim in that very clean pool.

Nneoma.

August 30, 2009 |

Nneoma

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A Clean Pool Gives A Hint...A Lesson from Steve Smith

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