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LODGING

access in all rooms; and furnishings throughout that enhances NGIS is also working to eliminate smaller facilities that are
the building decor. no longer efficient or needed to right-size their inventory.
Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout the building and in “Rather than putting large amounts of money into renovating
the common areas, and the on-site Business Center is equipped smaller buildings, we will look heavily at the replacement and
with both NMCI and non-NMCI computers to allow guests consolidation [of NGIS buildings] on an installation where
to check their e-mail and browse the internet. it makes financial sense,” Aurland explained. “If we can take
an installation that has three NGIS buildings and consolidate
INSPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE them into one, it’s a cost savings for the program and a savings
Coyne said, “We spent a lot of time crafting all aspects of of land usage ... it brings all of our lodging operations into a
the facility, from the clerestory (a high section of wall that campus-style environment for our TDY travelers.”
contains windows above eye level) check-in area, the individual
guest rooms, to the two-story lobby/lounge where sailors can NGIS PROGRAM
relax by the fireplace, as well as an outdoor patio where guests NGIS provides lodging for official travelers and families
can barbecue or relax by the water,” and he noted that he felt of the DoD military and civilian workforce worldwide, and
that this project will serve as an inspiration and platform for offers lodging on a space-available basis for the leisure trav-
additional projects in the future. eler. The NGIS program utilizes a combination of installation
“If we can do it here, let’s do it everywhere,” he said. “Our lodging and local community lodging for overflow that cannot
sailors deserve a quality guest experience. This is a shining be accommodated on the installation, to handle the needs of
example of when we put our best effort forward, we can really the official traveler.
get great results!” NS Newport is the Navy’s Center of Excellence for Of-
Although this is the first hotel built by the Navy from the ficer and Senior Enlisted education and development, with
ground up, it will not be the last. There are projects in the more than 17,000 students attending schools on board the
pipeline to build similar facilities in Mayport and Jackson- installation annually.
ville, Fla., and Dahlgren, Va., funded by the all-NAF concept. Story by David Todd, Navy News Service.

Lodging Office Saves Attack Wing Dollars

enior Master Sgt. Robert Keyes, 147th Attack Wing Ser- year, and we’ve always had to request more.”
Svices Superintendent, Ellington Field JRB, Texas, was
given the job of reviewing and lessening the budget allocated IMPROVING OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS
to base lodging for the airmen stationed there. The attack wing From contract agreements with hotels to unused reserva-
is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard. tions, Keyes and Major looked for ways to improve overall
Keyes and his team proved that the various subtle changes effectiveness, coordinating with unit lodging representatives
made to this lodging operation could reduce those monies by to make immediate changes when possible, and comparing
more than $20,000 per year, and their results to those of the previ-
the hope is that with these changes ous six years.
now firmly in place, the savings “Two years ago, we spent
will likely increase in future years. $15,000 on lodging for rescheduled
Keyes was tasked by the Con- training weekends alone,” he said.
tinuous Improvement Management “When airmen make last-minute
Board with reviewing how the cancellations, or do not use their
wing coordinates lodging for its room, the wing still pays for that
airmen. With the help and expertise bed. We began requesting con-
of Tech. Sgt. Bianca Major, lodg- firmed individual reservations from
ing program manager, they began units a month in advance to help
monitoring the lodging process minimize paying for unused beds.
through fiscal 2018. We also improved accountability by
Keyes reported their progress Senior Master Sgt. Robert Keyes, 147th Attack Wing Superintendent, shows a adding unit lodging sign-in sheets
each month to Mission Support bar graph to the Wing Commander explaining how the Lodging Office found to compare to the hotels’ invoices.”
Group Commander Col. Timothy ways to save the wing thousands of dollars at Ellington Field JRB, Texas. PHOTO: Keyes expected the wing’s sav-
SENIOR AIRMAN RENEE CRUGNALE
Pertuis, and when the commander ings for the entire fiscal year to
saw continued significant success from their efforts, he knew exceed $26,000.
he could not wait until the end of the year to highlight their Col. Gary Jones, 147th Attack Wing Commander, was im-
progress to the Continuous Improvement Management Board. pressed to see both such strong results and how the team’s efforts
By the end of fiscal 2018’s third quarter, Keyes showed matched wing priorities. “These results and changes embody
his team’s seemingly subtle changes had already saved the our responsibility to be good financial stewards. My hat’s off
wing more than $23,000. to Sgt. Keyes and his whole team. The savings we’ve already
“Lodging probably seems like an afterthought to many realized can now be passed on to meet other needs in the wing
people in the wing,” he noted. “However, it’s a benefit the to benefit the quality of life for our 147th Attack Wing airmen.”
wing provides, and the money comes from the base operating Story by Master Sgt. Shawn McCowan, 147th Attack Wing
funds. Since 2012, we have budgeted for about $180,000 each Public Affairs (Texas National Guard).

14 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2018