by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The annual Georgia-Florida game is the busiest weekend of the year for the hospitality industry and there’s no place busier than the Jacksonville Landing.
Public Relations Director Rachel Kaltenbach said that it’s the culmination of months of preparation and planning everything from booking live bands to moving the planters off the property to issuing credentials for hundreds of media, employees and vendors.
It takes her almost two months to plan all the details.
“We have every detail broken down on a day-by-day list,” said Kaltenbach. “We have to move furniture and the planters and this year we’re taking down the stage in the courtyard to make room for more people. We change all the flags on the property and decorate the entire building.”
The merchants also go into high gear to get ready for the crowds.
“All the restaurants and lounges order more supplies and double their staffs for Friday and Saturday to make sure the fans can get what they want to eat and drink without standing in line,” said Kaltenbach.
The rest of the year will be one event after another, with the Georgia-Florida game followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree, then the ACC football championship, the New Year’s Eve party and the Toyota Gator Bowl.
She said her office will be her home during the two days of festivities. There will be so much happening at the Landing, she won’t have time to commute.
“I’ll bring Mozart, my Yorkshire terrier, and we’ll stay here for the weekend. I already have his dog toys here,” said Kaltenbach.