The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.
Area Director of Public Relations
Carol C. Godwin (CCG) developed and implemented strategic public relations strategies and events that positioned the 300-room Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. and the 86-room Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown in the luxury market and with local, national and international media, as well as supported the hotels’ marketing plans to drive revenue.
Mother’s Day Tea with America’s First Mother
To celebrate Mother’s Day 2006, CCG created “Mother’s Day Tea with America’s First Mother” at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. Historically, the popular, annual Mother’s Day Sunday Brunch was the hotel restaurant’s main source of revenue for the spring weekend. In May 2006, the well-attended Mother’s Day Tea garnered new Saturday revenue for the hotel and made Mother’s Day a profitable two-day weekend.
CCG designed the unique Mother’s Day Tea to offer area residents and guests the opportunity to enjoy formal afternoon tea in the company of Martha Washington, America’s 1st First Lady, and presented in the manner tea would have been celebrated in the country’s newly established Federal City, as Washington was then called.
CCG invited friend and colleague, Mary Wiseman, formerly the Artistic Director of Character Interpretation and Manager of Women’s History at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and currently portrays Martha Washington at Mount Vernon Estate, to greet The Ritz-Carlton guests upon arrival and sip tea together. Nelly Custis, Lady Washington’s beloved granddaughter portrayed by fellow character interpreter Marybeth Brookshire, also joined the festivities.
Seated at a toil-draped tea table appointed with china teapots and Mrs. Washington’s favorite miniature pink roses, the two 18th-century ladies chatted about life in and around the nation’s new Capital City. A riser gently elevated their table allowing all the guests a grand view. CCG research revealed the perfect take home gift for each Ritz-Carlton tea guest: a potted miniature rose bush and the original recipe for Mrs. Washington’s Great Cake!
