At your service

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The first day of May might seem a little early to be thinking about who's coming for the holidays, but for those who are, the Westwind Inn is prepared. 

The 560-room hotel located on base books reservations 24 hours-a-day, year-round for visitors coming in the months of November, December and January. 

"People come here and they are surprised there are rooms to rent," said Christina Rommel, inn housekeeping. 

Hotel staff refers to this as its "space available" lodging. Meanwhile, servicemembers on PCS or TDY orders have priority and are permitted to make a reservation at any time of day for any time of year, regardless of the season. 

Many people do not know about the hotel's space-available reservations, Mrs. Houston said. For those using visiting in this capacity, the holiday season isn't the time of year when the facility's business is most brisk. That comes during the summer months, when the occupancy rate creeps toward 100 percent, said Sonya Houston, interim manager of the Westwind Inn. The rate is so high because of permanent Changes of Station and temporary duty assignments. Occupancy runs closer to 90 percent in off-peak months, she said. 

In June, July and August, when the occupancy is higher, the window for making a reservation shrinks to three days in advance. Through the end of this month, the maximum is 14 days, and reservations can be made up to 30 days ahead for the months of September and October. 

The hotel, which won Air Mobility Command's 2008 Innkeeper Award for the major command's best lodging facility, hosts more than 50,000 guests annually. 

When running at capacity, Mrs. Houston said there is an agreement with 14 hotels in the Fairfield and Vacaville area to "pretty much guarantee" a room for someone coming to the area. 

The facility offers a wide variety of amenities for its guests. Each room comes with a refrigerator and microwave as well as wireless Internet access. 

Because of the nature of travel in the service, the facility must be prepared for a variety of visitors, including those with families. For this, the Westwind Inn has 82 two-bedroom temporary living facilities for families making a permanent change of station in or out of Travis. Twenty-three of these are pet friendly. Each unit has its own washer and dryer. 

their guest services include the business center, a room in the main building that is open 24 hours-a-day for Internet access and printer service available. Also on site are a small conference room and the Corner Market store, a place in the lobby near the reception desk where guests can buy sodas, drinks, snacks and other items. 

Additionally in the lobby, guests can visit Rickenbacker's Cafe, which is open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. for breakfast and lunch. 

Shannon Fuentes, who handles accounting for the hotel, said the service and friendly staff frequently receive high marks from visitors. 

"They say it's the best lodging they've had in the Air Force and even compare it to outside properties," she said. "People love us to death." 

The staff is just one advantage to staying at the hotel, Mrs. Houston said. She also pointed to location being a positive factor over off-base facilities. 

"The main advantage is the location to work, the BX, the Commissary and the Shoppette," she said. "You don't have to deal with traffic when you're going home. Plus, guests have close access to the bowling center, dining facility, fitness center, library and base theater." 

Room rates at the Westwind Inn are $39 per night for a regular room. Family units are $52 each per night, while units that are pet friendly are $62 per day. 

For more information, call the Westwind Inn at 424-8000.