Almost exactly a year ago, a reporter for USA Today, Barbara DeLollis, wrote a fantastic story about the new Courtyard lobby.

A lot has changed for Courtyard and for Barbara over the past year, too. She just joined the social media revolution . Today Barbara launched her Hotel Check-In blog for USA right from the lobby of our Courtyard at BWI Airport in Baltimore, Maryland, where she wrote her first posts.

She set up shop, plugging in her laptop at The Bistro counter and using the free Wi-Fi we offer. Barbara made me laugh when she described the breakfast buzz in the lobby as “Starbucks on steroids.”.

I chatted with her for about 90 minutes and answered questions about the brand, the new lobby roll-out and even our Starbucks coffee offerings. But the heart of our conversation revolved around how both customers and our associates have responded to the new design. The lobby of the past was “transaction focused” space. Today the lobby stands on its own as a unique and refreshing “space to experience.” The lobby fully supports our guests’ needs for both business and personal travel. It was great to sit down with Barbara today and I was so thrilled to be able to take part in the launch of her new blog all about the hotel industry.

Thanks to you, the readers, and to Barbara for helping me keep Courtyard on the go.

Brian