For 51 weeks of the year, it is usually possible to find an empty room in at least one Downtown hotel.
With thousands of college football fans arriving in Jacksonville this week for the annual Georgia-Florida football game, this is the other week of the year.
There are not many who are more aware of the impact the game and its associated festivities have on Downtown’s hotels than Matt Graham, Hyatt Downtown executive assistant manager, rooms division.
“It’s the biggest weekend of the year,” he said.
More than 3,500 guests are expected to check in by Friday evening and there will not be an available bed in the 963-room riverfront hotel, Graham said.
Graham began his career in the hospitality industry while he was in college at Syracuse University. He said working at the front desk allowed for a flexible work schedule that he could adapt to his classes.
“I didn’t see it as a career, but I fell in love with the business,” he said.
Graham worked for the Hilton, Westin and Ramada brands before joining Hyatt in 1995. He has worked at the Downtown property long enough to know what this college football weekend has in store for the hotel and its staff.
“This is my fifth Georgia-Florida weekend,” he said.
Planning to accommodate a full house began six months ago. Graham said every member of the executive team will work this weekend to ensure the Hyatt experience for hotel guests.
Department heads and staff will be on-site from the time guests check in until they check out on Sunday.
All aspects are planned including security, amenities and facilities, Graham said.
“The biggest challenge is balancing safety and customer service,” he said.
Guests will be given wristbands when they arrive and access to the building is restricted to registered guests.
“We have to protect the experience for our guests,” said Graham.
Being on call 24 hours a day makes it a long — but rewarding — working weekend, he said.
“It’s a lot of fun and we see a lot of the same faces every year. Our guests are so happy to be here, it’s contagious. It’s exhausting, but it’s over before we know it,” Graham said.
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