Blog

Hello there,

To those of you who do not know me, my name is Adam P. Dotson, and I have been familiar with the Blennerhassett Hotel & Spa since a very early age. Let me take this opportunity to tell you all about myself and my career history in the food service/hospitality industry. I started here at the Blennerhassett Hotel in the summer of 1997, which was my first job ever. I worked in the hotel’s kitchen washing dishes, peeling potatoes, cutting French fries and pies, and assisting with plate-ups for hotel dinner events. My entire career has revolved around the food and beverage/hospitality industry from a very early age.

I graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1999. Before starting my four-year culinary journey through college in the fall of 2002 at Johnson & Wales University, I worked at Bob Evans as a busser/host. I attended the Norfolk, Virginia campus for my first year and then transferred to the North Miami, Florida campus for the last three years of my schooling. During my first two years, I primarily worked in the kitchen, and in my last two years, I focused more on classroom studies, although some of the classes took place in the kitchens as well. I graduated from Johnson & Wales with an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Food Service Management.

After graduating college in September 2006, I returned to the Blennerhassett and worked as a supervisor before becoming an assistant food and beverage manager. In the spring of 2012, I left to take on a job as a supervisor at the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

I came back to Parkersburg a little over a year after starting at the Greenbrier in the summer of 2013. I moved back to my family farm after losing both of my grandparents in January 2013. I rejoined the Blennerhassett Hotel in the fall of that year, and now I am approaching my tenth year back here at the Blennerhassett Hotel & Spa. My current title is Hospitality Guest Services Specialist.

The following are some of my job duties here at the hotel. Everyone is always wondering what I do, so this may help to clarify a few things. First and foremost, I am the Hotel Historian and Tour Guide. I also serve as the Hotel Librarian, Outdoor Gardening Coordinator, Hotel Florist, High School and Middle School Etiquette Class Instructor, Hotel Archivist, Entertainment Director for the Hotel’s Music, Historical Showcase Designer, Tour Bus Greeter and Guide, Room Renovating Specialist, Seasonal Haunted Ghost Tours, and the list goes on. Yes, I know that is a lot, and I wear many hats around here at the hotel.

I believe that my career in the Hospitality/Culinary world and the experience I have gained in the past have prepared me for where I am today in my career in Hospitality. I have always enjoyed talking with older people. Since my grandparents pretty much raised me, my social skills and behavior align with the generational norms of my parents and grandparents to a certain degree. I never got along much with people of my own age while growing up.

Another special thing of significant importance that I thoroughly enjoy doing here at the hotel is teaching Etiquette classes to middle school and high school students. I took over these classes and made them my own when our former general manager left. Classes can range from 10 to 125 students in groups. The classes usually last around 2 ½ to three hours, during which students receive a four-course meal. The meal is a significant part of the class, as they learn proper eating etiquette habits and cutlery skills. I instruct them on business and social etiquette practices, as well as formal social graces of dining with others. Knowing the dos and don’ts while dining can be an asset for them when they graduate college and enter the real business world. First impressions still last a lifetime, and having knowledge of basic business and social dining etiquette skills can sometimes make or break a deal when interacting with clients or potential employers.

Now that you know a little bit about what I do here at the Blennerhassett Hotel and Spa, I hope this better clarifies my job title to a certain degree. I look forward to seeing all of you whom I know personally again here very soon. For those of you who have never been to this magnificent hotel yet and may be planning a trip in the near future, I am excited to meet you. Make sure to sign up for a historical tour of the hotel through the front desk either before checking in or at check-in time. The historical tour is currently offered most Tuesdays through Saturdays. It begins in the hotel library, which is one of my favorite rooms, and the duration can range from 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the group.

Most sincerely,

Adam P. Dotson