January20, 2011

PAII really put on a terrific conference in Charleston, S.C. Did you miss it? I hope not! It was so much fun and so much new “stuff to grab hold”. So much is happening today, in our small segment of the hospitality business! If you have not joined PAII yet do it today, Your financial success depends on you staying on that cutting edge! Here is their website: www.paii.org. I have attended many PAII meetings but my spouse and partner, Bill Oates of: www.bill@innpatners.com has attended everyone one of these great gatherings since their inception!  And still each time we leave one of these conferences we are energized and re- vitalized. (Well that was probably all that dancing we did!)

If you contact PAII you can get some great tapes of all the presentations; there are many topics to choose from and all stimulating and challenging! And what a great turn out of vendors. Where else do you find the diversity, the quality of items that make our beds luxurious and our rooms statements of comfort and taste? But the great news at PAII was with its promotional campaign “A Better Way to Stay”,  we raised $ 100,000.00 and shaved Jay Karen’s beard! What excitement and fun was had by everyone!  Cheers, laughter and lots of applause!

But that’s not all the great news, PAII and my favorite Inn-keepers’ group “Select Registry” are committed to working together for the well-being of all of us in this great industry! Thank you, thank you, this is by far the best news that we can hope for:” united we are strong!” And less national meetings to attend to!

As the snowing is falling on the roofs in bucket loads here in Southern VT., I am thankful for all my winter gear, that I certainly did not bring to Charleston, S.C. and was that ever a mistake! The temperatures were 18 degrees and lower and the wind blew as if we where in Alaska! But I saw all my favorite new Inn-keepers, my most favorite old friends who are Inn-keepers, Inn-keeper’s emeriti’s and my friends among the vendors: Mark, hugs to you and Lewis!   I feel so lucky to have met so many of you in my 30 years working in this industry: first as a partner in Oates & Bredfeldt, but then as we are now known as today: Inn Partners: giving seminars, lectures at conferences doing evaluations consulting and trying to find the right buyer for your great Inn!  We have made many great matches. Watch out.  We are about to do some new ones! Happy New Year! Hugs, Heide

Tags: Heide Bredfeldt, Inn Partners, innkeeping, inns for sale