Ansbach's Brainard Hall wins Army's Lodging Operation of the Year

ANSBACH, Germany -- U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach's (USAG Ansbach) Brainard Hall Lodging facility won the 2017 Lodging Operation of the Year Award for its group in a worldwide competition of Army Lodging facilities. Mr. Michael D. Formica, director of Installation Management Command Directorate-Europe, presented the award to the assembled management and staff officially July 18, 2018 in the packed hotel lobby to the applause of more than 40 community leaders and well-wishers.

The hotel facility, located in the Urlas military community between Katterbach and Ansbach, won in the category of small-sized facilities (60 rooms or less).

"Thank you all for joining us today to acknowledge this exceptional achievement by a truly exceptional and outstanding team," said Formica. "As a frequent guest of the facility it gives me great pleasure to present the 2017 Army Operation of the Year Award in the Small Facility category to the Brainard Hall team."

Presenting the trophy to Tracy Deikun, Brainard Hall Lodging facility manager, Formica reminded those in attendance that over the past two years the Ansbach lodging facility had achieved the remarkable score of 99 percent customer satisfaction with nearly 500 comments submitted through the ICE service assessment website.

On hand to witness the award presentation were several of Deikun's colleagues from Army Lodging facilities across Europe, who had made the trip to congratulate Deikun and her staff personally.

During competition Installation Management Command critiqued Deikun and her staff on-site, judging the Ansbach lodging facility against similar-sized hotels worldwide in areas such as customer satisfaction, reservations, cleanliness, friendliness of staff, guest amenities, continuous improvement, and even accounting and bookkeeping, according to Deikun.

"I simply cannot say enough good things about the staff here at Brainard Hall who worked so hard to win this award. It's theirs, they earned it, and they deserve the credit for this win," said Deikun.

"Albert Turner, George Psaila, Oliver Foster, Donald Strack, Shawn Hurst, Jeff Jordan, Deborah Murphy, Nathan Clark, David Unogu, Valentina Schusslebin and Bernadine Sitcer: eleven people that are mission-driven and dedicated to customer satisfaction, operating this facility 365 days a year," said Deikun. "The average guest stays in the facility 3 days, but many stay more than 30 days. It comes as no surprise that with a team like this so many of the customer comments are clearly about the employees and their professionalism, friendliness, and willingness to serve." she said.

In addition to being nominated for Lodging of the Year Award, Deikun's team had nominations for Lodging Operation of the Year, Manager of the Year and Employee of the Year, but did not take home the top title in those categories.

"Tracy is one of the most knowledgeable, can-do and dedicated people that I have had the pleasure of working with in my long career with FMWR." said Dan Riley, Ansbach Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Operations Division chief. "She's not only a manager of exceptional ability, Tracy and her staff thoroughly understand the unique needs of Soldiers and families on the move; that's so important -and reflected in this first-place award."

To see more photos from the event, visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usagansbachphotos/albums

To learn more about the people and facilities of the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach (USAG Ansbach) and the people they support in Ansbach, Katterbach and Illesheim, visit the community website at www.ansbach.army.mil

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY LODGING FACILITY BRAINARD HALL

The U.S. Army lodging facility, Brainard Hall, is located in building 8152, Urlas Kaserne in the Ansbach military community. The facility was constructed in 2011. Ansbach Army Lodging offers mid-level hotel services for both official and recreational travel. Service members (active and retired), DoD Civilians, contracted workers with logistical support and their families are eligible to stay in the facility. The facility offers twenty six modern guest rooms, nineteen of which are family apartments with full kitchenettes and separate sleeping rooms. Seven rooms are standard rooms with limited hotel cooking capabilities, i.e. microwave and mini-refrigerator. All rooms include private full bath, internet access, Cable Smart TVs, and comfortable, quality furnishings. A daily healthy initiative continental breakfast is provided. Guests also have the use of laundry machines, storage area, and a modern, well-equipped fitness room. Reservations can be made via telephone (If calling from the U.S.): 011-49-9802-83-7014) or by calling DSN: (314) 467-7014.

For more information visit the website for Army Lodging Brainard Hall at https://ansbach.armymwr.com/programs/army-lodging

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNITY IN ANSBACH

The U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach (USAG Ansbach) Military Community is located in the Franconian region of Bavaria and is spread across six sites and nine kasernes dispersed around the city of Ansbach and the village of Illesheim: Barton Barracks, Bismarck Kaserne, Bleidorn Kaserne, Franken Kaserne, Katterbach Kaserne, Oberdachstetten Training Area, Shipton Kaserne, Storck Barracks, and Urlas Kaserne. Today, Ansbach is the home of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade (12th CAB), the community's largest tenant unit. The garrison takes pride in its support to more than 6,000 Soldiers, civilians, and family members, working and living within the USAG Ansbach area. To learn more about the people and facilities of the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach (USAG Ansbach) and the people they support in Ansbach, Katterbach and Illesheim, visit the community website at http://ansbach.army.mil

Related Links:

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Homepage

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach on Facebook

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach on Flickr