News
Blue Bay Inn Offers Free Stay To Unemployed
By Eleanor O'Sullivan
TAKING A PAGE out of a Frank Capra movie, The Blue Bay Inn and the Copper Canyon restaurant in Atlantic Highlands will do their parts to help families who have been struggling in the last few years' tough financial times.
The day after New Year's, the hotel will offer two free nights, plus a cocktail gala at the restaurant, and more events to be announced, to 23 people who have been laid off recently and are currently receiving unemployment benefits.
"In an economy like this, kindness to others is paramount," said Dido Krikorian, co-owner of the hotel with Sark Krikorian.
Those eligible should submit a letter, which must be received by Dec. 1, to the hotel, explaining why they want to participate in "Hotel for the Holidays," and include their name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, a current resumé and a notarized copy of proof of unemployment benefits. Letters should be sent to Hotel for the Holidays, 51 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands, N.J. 07716. Eligibility requirements include being laid off during the last 120 days at time of entry.
"We've already received quite a few letters, some of them are enough to make you cry," says Robert Hilton, general manager of the Blue Bay Inn.
"One person wrote that their relative had been laid off and now needs open heart surgery but doesn't have insurance coverage anymore."
Hilton said that the Krikorians decided to offer the free getaway to thank the community for five years of support. The Blue Bay Inn opened in the summer of 2004 as one of the first boutique hotels on the New Jersey shore. Hilton underscored that it is also "an affordable boutique hotel."
"I have to give credit to the front desk staff because they actually came up with the idea of the free stay," Hilton said.
The 23 hotel guests will be asked to arrive Jan. 2. Events for Saturday are still in the planning stages.
On Sunday, Jan. 3, a Copper Canyon cocktail party will be given for the guests, courtesy of the restaurant's chef-owner, Michael Krikorian.
Additionally, Sylvia Allen, president of Allen Consulting, Inc., Holmdel, will conduct job training workshops for the guests.
"Sylvia will talk about how to write a resumé, how to conduct a successful interview, how to dress for success, how to network," Hilton said of Allen's participation.
Hilton is also at work with various merchants in town to provide gift certificates for goods and services to the guests.
"We will announce the winners during Christmas week," Hilton said, adding that participants must provide their own transportation to and from the hotel.
Participants who are planning to attend the gala weekend, some free of charge, include the stilt walker at the Tropicana resort hotel in Atlantic City, and the current Miss New Jersey, Ashley Shaffer, Millstone Township.
"I'd like to get 2,000 entries, then whittle that down to 100 and then pull the 23," Hilton said. "We hope through our 'Hotel for the Holidays' promotion, we can encourage other communities to give of themselves and help those whose lives have been altered due to the economy."
Michael Krikorian added, "These days kindness is the only investment you can really be sure of."
More information is available from (732) 708-9600 or www.bluebayinn.com.
