November 2006

E-Gazette: Thank You

Thank You from Paradise

steer and cowboy outside near hay bales

Just a typical day in Paradise at GCR. The conference center can be seen in the distance.

We want to thank all of our clients for helping to make 2006 a banner year for Garrett Creek Ranch. Occupancy numbers, return business and customer satisfaction are at an all time high. This has made us all very proud yet humble at the same time. We have taken the time this year to focus on what will make your meeting more successful and you have provided the information for us to mutually benefit. Thank you for your continued partnership and trust in our facility. We are forever grateful for your business.

Call our Sales Office today to book your meeting at our 2006 rates.

These rates will expire December 22, 2006. See our 2007 CMP Rates or 2007 Day Rates.

Call 972-680-8679

2007 will bring:

  • The Resources page of our new website which will serve as a planning tool for our clients
  • New photographs
  • More Client Appreciation events
  • Continuous property improvements
  • More ideas from you!

Thank you again!

"Cache In" at Garrett Creek Ranch

group of happy geoteamers outside

Excited geoteamers capturing "cache" with the aid of handheld GPS devices.

Our first client appreciation event held September 20 was a tremendous success. Forty enthusiastic corporate clients came to the Ranch to have a taste of a new teambuilding concept offered at Garrett Creek Ranch called "geoteaming". Geoteaming combines the best of technology and team building in a really fun activity using GPS devices and strategy development.

Kari Wendorf, with Combined Insurance Company, recently booked a meeting at the Ranch that included geoteaming and had the following to say about the experience:

"The geoteaming facilitators are training experts who hid caches around the ranch. The goal was to discover as many of the caches as possible. The harder ones to find were worth more points. Each person had a GPS, each team had a personal computer and a walkie talkie. Also, each team got a clue about a personal item, then needed to figure out the rest. It was crazy, amazing."

"You can talk about leadership all day long, but with geoteaming, you see who organizes people, who develops plans, and who really leads the teams."

"It's structured with a strong orientation, explaining what's going to happen, with individual goals and collaborative goals, similar to regional and corporate goals."

For your next dynamic team building adventure call 972-680-8679 so that Garrett Creek Ranch can deliver a geoteaming program to your company.

GCR's New Chef: Patricia Knighton

Patricia Knighton

Patricia Knighton, Executive Chef.

"Our family was always in the kitchen. Every holiday started, centered and ended in there. It was about being together," says Garrett Creek Ranch Conference Center's new Executive Chef, Patricia Knighton. "Any time I'm in a kitchen it feels like home," said Patricia who recalls in many of her childhood memories, the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of her history.

Patricia's career began at Walt Disney World where she created culinary specialties in Cinderella's Castle, the Grand Floridian Hotel and at the Disney Institute. With the "happiest place on earth," as your classroom, you can be sure to enjoy the experience. "Coming from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, with an AA in culinary arts, I was ready to be busy… and I was. The kitchens at Disney prepare to meet a great variety of dietary needs and thanks to my time there I have a lot of experience in meeting vegan, vegetarian, health-oriented and other requests. The need to be flexible in this business is important and I enjoy the challenge."

Our new Executive Chef—and free-time artist—is inspired by the surroundings at Garrett Creek Ranch. "It's absolutely beautiful here, and incredibly peaceful and quiet," said Patricia. "In my time off I enjoy going outside to paint and find myself just listening to the 'nothing' that exists, interrupted only by the sounds of birds and other elements of nature. It's very special here."

Patricia Knighton

Knighton's individual pecan pie, another form of Paradise!

"Special" is also how Patricia, who joins us after five years as senior sous chef at the convention center of the Stark Campus at Kent State University, describes the staff at Garrett Creek Ranch. "I've been welcomed here from the moment I showed up, and we've learned to exchange ideas and to listen to each other. We click very well." she said. "Everyone who works at Garrett Creek Ranch seems to really respect each other, as well as our guests, and there is definitely a spirit of teamwork."

New to Texas, Patricia is finding the area a great source for fresh ingredients. "I love that I can get fresh produce almost throughout the year," she said. "Finding strawberries in late summer is rare in many parts of the country. I'm able to allow our guests to enjoy a great variety of fruits, vegetables and more, and the freshness is just exquisite."

Patricia's favorites remain the homemade macaroni and cheese, lasagna and Stromboli recipes that "Aunt Margaret" shared with her. "I still love to make the mac' and cheese with my inch thick pork chops," said Patricia. "It's always well received by my guests and I love bringing my home into any kitchen." Individual pecan pies, an original recipe from Patricia, are a delectable dessert touted by guests since Patricia's arrival.

As friendly and sweet as Chef Patricia's personality is, it's certain to rub off onto whatever is delivered to your table. Bon Appetit!

About Garrett Creek Ranch

interior of meeting room with chairs and water bottles

Conestoga, our largest meeting room, seats 110 guests.

Meetings are our business

Garrett Creek Ranch Conference Center is likely the only conference center in the United States designed and owned by a professional meeting planner. From location to staffing, every aspect of quality meetings was considered in the creation of this unique facility. The key measurement for everything we do is customer satisfaction. As a result, we have an extraordinarily high record for guest satisfaction, which means that the meetings held here are productive and positive, the two key goals of meeting management. This is proven in the 85% customer return rate we humbly enjoy.