The greater hospitality marketplace has taken a hit in the economic slump; but not inns that have further dug into what they do best: giving the guests more than they asked for, eliciting the “wow” out of that satisfied guest.

That doesn’t mean that Inn owners are not worried. The game is that Innkeepers need to stay on top of the curve; being ambassadors to their area, marketing the highlights of their area such as art, music, mapping out hiking or biking trails, easy access to canoe rentals, telling the guests how they can enjoy themselves; and after their muscles ache, relax in the pub and luxuriate with a scheduled massage and dining over a fabulous meal of regional delicacies!

You think that double income person isn’t out there anymore, you are wrong! Chicago, Illinois’ greater area has towns like Galena to escape to, we visited the Bernadine’s Stillman Inn, as well as the Goldmoor, and saw that Mississippi river snaking through the pastoral green meadows and were impressed how much there is to do.

Seattle, Washington is another area. On the foot of Mount Rainier there is the Alexander Country Inn, not fancy but really comfortable, friendly and what a majestic area that Inn is situated in. And at an almost equal distance, there is the town of Seaview. If you love the Pacific Ocean , visit the Lewis and Clark exhibit on a rainy day, or go bicycling for 26 miles along the ocean, then stay at the Shelburne Inn. You might be lucky and the owner will serve you his fresh caught trout for breakfast.

What about Washington D.C. area, or New York and the out-lying towns around the Boston area; how about all the Inns I have visited in  North Carolina and  Georgia. Magic places, I could go on and on and on, there are many great Inns, caring Innkeepers to cater to your whims; who appreciate that you have chosen them and want to give you a piece of their rural world and their gracious hospitality.

Innkeepers are doing well, if they put their heart and soul into what they do! Isn’t that true for anything we do passionately? So go and stay at an Inn and have a great weekend! Heide

We do seminars here and have for about 28 years, off and on at various seasons.

Around 13 Inns existed in the late 1800’s and into the 1900’s, today there are two: the Eagles Mere Inn and the Crestmont and we have frequented both, love their differences in food, service and style.

The strange and peculiarity of Eagles Mere is that its original population is the summer community of 1500, but the under-pinning, the workers that maintain this enclave of gracious living, are about 250 people. They seem to harmoniously strive to co-exist, each appreciating equally their shared existence!

But what breed of Innkeepers can succeed here? In one Inn I have witnessed four sets of Innkeepers come and go, the other Inn had three. What is it: The mountain air, the bears that come into town and climb a telephone pole, attracted by its hum, dreaming of a meal of honey, with snowflakes just about to descend? It is lonely up here in winter, the darkness comes early, the urban sophistication is left as windows of the grand mansions are sealed and shuttered.

There is no bridge game, no titillating conversations; to shop is hours away, movies as far and the culture of strive and busyness, theater, concerts are what the new Innkeeper thought they had gladly left behind. They embrace their guest gladly giving them that tranquility so needed after the corporate stress. But looking at the Innkeepers introspectively, how deeply had they embraced and understood their yearnings. This is a beautiful place, but winters are long up here. You are not part of that that old summer clan, but neither are your staff your best buddies! I have seen some sad partings, destructive acting outs, as well as seen some Innkeepers that loved this community with all their heart and reinvented themselves, and furthered this town’s vitality. I respect that no matter where we succeed at that. Heide

It was a glorious car trip. It was breezy, sunny, and just beautiful to see those blue snippets of ocean around Portland, and up Route 1; blue-grey coves and jutting inland here and there and the trees blowing gracefully in the wind.  Always unexpected, curved inlets, sails floating far off on the horizon, and the towns, teeming with white buildings on both sides of the road, boats in the harbors and tourists beginning to cover the side-walks; we loved it all! Our eyes and noses taking it in, sights and smells: so different than Vermont.

Getting to the Inn late afternoon, we saw the ocean lapping against the rocks below the Inn’s lawn, a tranquil sight. Three sets of white wicker chairs poised to look into the ocean, and a wooded island framing this perfect setting. An older couple leaning toward each other, their hats firmly in place, seemed in harmony with all of the beauty and grace that surrounded them. Later we learned from our Innkeeper that this couple had been at the Inn for 10 days as a gift from the congregation where he is the Minister. Whoa, what a gift and it was deeply rewarding to see their appreciation.

But the greatest enjoyment came when we were greeted by our Innkeeper. She and her staff glowing in the roles they played to make everyone’s stay exceptional and the appreciation that existed among them. Her desk person said: “thank you for bringing Daina Hill to us; it is wonderful to work for her!”  How about that from a staff member? Daina attended our seminar and did an internship at the Arrowhead Inn, in Durham, N.C., but her professional life was as a successful lawyer!

Daina’s attention to details, in everything, her commitment to quality, her appreciation of individuals and their needs make her a terrific Innkeeper!

We spent one evening, and what a delightful, peaceful place it was for us! Bill, do you think that we can make it for another 29 years? Who knows? But I do know that if we have more evenings like that we can go on and on…. Heide

I love to travel and visit Inns all over the place. What I like about these visits are the Innkeepers I meet. People who were in all kinds of professions and who for whatever personal reason left that behind and now do something that is of their own making and what they create is terrific!

My last trip was to Galena, Ill. What a neat town! Full of surprises: there were 56 B&B’s.   The town is built on a river, and you can walk along the dyke. Great shops line both sides of Main Street and there is good food! Obviously we didn’t stay at all the  B&B’s!

But the innkeepers we stayed with were a find; I love music and one Inn sported the greatest stereo system, the best! The Innkeeper had 3000 CDs! The owner had been a professional drummer in his previous life (one of 2 major careers).  Autographed posters of famous Jazz musician were on the walls in the public area, photographs of family events and previous guests everywhere: halls up and down, on the piano, on desks. You could listen to the music and his collection of the strangest clocks ticking over breakfast and filled you up with sounds!

The other Inn we stayed was totally different in style, ambiance and service. It was a few miles outside the town: the Mississippi River slung away in the near distance, as well as freight trains chugging along its bank: what quiet, what sounds to awake to and what beauty the river holds! Our Innkeepers were newly weds. She is a terrific decorator and wedding planner, and his experience in remodeling and building homes are useful traits to maintain the Inn. Their experiences in life are heartfelt and have resonated within me since!

Jogging along the isolated dirt road, I felt safe and I remembered the slogan she had cited the evening before:” here we give you rivers, ridges and romance!”

Chicago was only 2 and 1/2 hours away. The rolling open hills, the vast expanse, the cows grazing lazily, that image is deeply embedded and lingers on.

Until next time…  Heide