Today, in the last episode of the year and first of 2022, I decided to look at how my life changed in 2021. I'll take you through the journey that led to the creation of this podcast, which started with a vision, an epiphany I had during a retreat I both hosted at my former inn as well as attended in December 2020, followed by a visit of a real estate agent and the unexpected opportunity of selling the inn I owned, ran and lived in for the last  25years. 

Throughout this episode, we look at the circumstances that made me start the podcasting and consulting adventure and how satisfying it feels to help other innkeepers with my experience and the knowledge accumulated during a lifetime of being in the industry. 

I also share how hard it was to separate my identity from the inn I operated for many years, the discoveries I made looking at innkeeping from a different perspective, and my wishes for all of you in 2022. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About the vision, I had during the retreat of me in Mexico (2:43)
• Every business is for sale if the price is right (3:35)
• The astronomical amount of information required to sell an inn (6:34)
• And the day, INNtrospection was born (9:03)
• The importance of taking time off (12:35)
• Being humble to ask for help and accept it once it is given (14:42)
• What to do instead of New Year‘s resolutions and my wishes for 2022 (17:59)

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Instagram
• [email protected]

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As innkeepers, we spend so much time worrying about everyone else's happiness and comfort that we forget about our own needs, stress level, and well-being. Thinking about others might consume even more time than it usually does during the holidays, so I thought it would be good to share a simple yet practical guide for minimizing stress. 

In this episode, we go through a stress reduction ABCs for innkeepers. Playing with an acronym for the word "Holiday," we explore several ways to decrease stress, enjoy life more fully, and take care of ourselves during the holidays. We talk about the need to ask for help to avoid feeling overwhelmed and accept it when offered, go outside to appreciate nature, laugh, discover new places, and much more.  

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How can humor make a difference in our lives (2:19)
• About having the healing experience of going outside and connecting with nature (4:38)
• Laugh and put yourself first (5:41)
• Taking some time to meditate, take a deep breath, and remember what matters most (7:54)

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Instagram
• [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Innkeeping is as much a lifestyle as a profession; it is a 24/7 job where Innkeepers find time for themselves between cleaning up what's left from breakfast and preparing for check-ins. Managing those small-time gaps can be challenging, and not learning how to do it properly might cause burnout.

In addition, other elements might contribute to that overwhelming feeling, like feeling they host their guests in their own home, not at their business. Today’s guest, Darci Bartlett, has a unique perspective on this last issue. As she never owned an Inn, for her it is easier to take a step back and see more clearly she is hosting guests in her business. She believes this little, yet impactful detail can prevent Innkeepers from getting caught up, especially on busy days, and avoid burnout.

Darci Bartlett is the President of the Interim Innkeepers Network, Creator of Sweeping Simplified, Co-founder of B&B Creates, and an Innkeeper at The Spring Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast. Darci has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is also a loving mom of 5 grown children and grandmother of 10.

Today, our conversation delved into the changes Darci has noticed in guests in the last 10 years, the importance of interim Innkeepers, and how to make everyone's lives easier during transitions, from taking notes of recipes to writing procedures of how things are done in each inn. Darci kindly shared some experiences from her over 30 years in the industry, how she offers W.O.W. service to her guests and her unique perspective as an interim Innkeeper.

Some Questions I Ask:

Can you categorize the change in the type of guests of these times? Are their expectations similar, or are they looking for a completely different experience? (3:33)

How would you characterize hospitality? (5:06)

What are some of the ways that you provide W.O.W. service? (13:32)

What have you learned from your experiences that can help prevent burnout? (23:49)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What kind of experiences nowadays guests are looking for (3:37)

B&Bs and Inns are equipped perfectly to provide W.O.W. service (6:28)

The unique interim Innkeeper’s perspective (8:31)

The differences between hosting small and large groups of people (18:28)

Darci shares some tips and advice for Innkeepers to make using interims Innkeepers smoother (33:51)

Resources:

Interim Innkeepers Network website

Interim Innkeepers Network Facebook

The Spring Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast Facebook

B&B Creates Facebook

Connect with Darci:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Let's Connect!

Facebook

Instagram

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Innkeeping, especially if we don't have a partner, can be a lonely world. In addition to that, work and solitude are not always a good match; we might get absorbed by our responsibilities and forget to care for ourselves. It is important to remember that when we are properly rested, we can offer our best version to our guests and our business. 

In this episode, as we get close to Thanksgiving, I take some time to express my gratitude and reflect on some of the things our guest, Heide Bretfelt, mentioned last week. We explore the benefits of self-care, and we discuss how to turn self-care activities into productive habits that can help us serve our guests better. We also talk about the importance of resting and disconnecting ourselves from our business. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Some of the things I'm grateful for (1:14)
• The importance of making our guests feel warmly welcomed (3:17)
• Self-care is crucial to ensure longevity in our lives and our jobs as innkeepers (7:24)
• Some things we can do to take care of ourselves and increase our network at the same time (8:38)

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Instagram
• [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although services like Airbnb, VRBO, and others alike might seem very convenient for travelers who want to do it all by themselves, they can't and don’t offer the same individualized service innkeepers provide. 

A guest that appreciates being catered to and pampered will undoubtedly look for accommodations where they can get that kind of service; inns and traditional b&bs are uniquely qualified to provide it. As innkeepers, we must remember to be proud, own that space, and walk steadily knowing there is an exclusive space for us in the market. 

Today, I have the honor of welcoming my first guest to the show, Heide Bredfeldt, Co-Owner and Partner at Inn Partners. She has been assisting current and future innkeepers for over 30 years with her spouse and business partner Bill Oates, "The Guru of the Inn Business." In 1999, in partnership with her son David and her husband, they purchased the Three Mountain Inn in Jamaica, Vermont. In less than 5 years, the Inn achieved a four-diamond rating from AAA before being sold. 

Heide blends her experience as a psychotherapist and former innkeeper to incorporate the personal side of Innkeeping into her consulting. She has a gift for matching the right buyer with the perfect Inn, and she kindly shares bits of her knowledge and experience with us today. 

Our conversation touched on the strong bond between Innkeeping and attention to detail, Heide's definition of hospitality, being an ambassador in your area, and the importance of self-care. We talk about the importance of knowing what guests want and how crucial it is to read them properly and listen to them carefully. Heide also shared details of the journey that made her an innkeeper and the lessons she learned along the way.  

Some Questions I Ask:

• We know that you've been in the business for more than 25 years. Could you tell us about your history and your experience? (2:35)
• What's your definition of hospitality? (9:20)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• You shouldn't be doing the $15/hour job (8:27)
• Giving an Oscar-winning performance every time we receive a guest (12:07)
• Make sure you vacuum under the bed. Some of Heide's lessons learned along the way (18:20)
• If your restaurant doesn't serve a guest's favorite dish, you must know a restaurant that does (22:45)

Resources:

• Inn Partners website
• Inn Partners Facebook
• Inn Partners Twitter
• Inn Partners LinkedIn

Connect with Heide:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook

Let's Connect!

• Facebook
• Instagram
• [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is hospitality? Making someone feel welcome in surroundings that are not their own, making them feel as comfortable as if they are at home, and—most of all—to be sincere and genuine in welcoming them. 

Today,  I share with you about my 25+ year career in the hospitality industry, some hard lessons learned along the way, and how just when I thought I was retired—I got pulled back in!

After several decades in the inn-keeping business, INNtrospection is my gift back to the hospitality industry. I've taken on the task to assist independent innkeepers to thrive in these competitive times by looking at hospitality from the inside.

Tune in and listen to the first episode of INNtrospection to learn a little more about the inn-keeping industry, what inspired this show, and some of my personal philosophies. I’ll also share information for hosts about how to provide exceptional service—without sacrificing your own freedom, joy, or lots of hard-earned money. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The story of how I became an inn-keeper (02:08)
• How my personal experience inspired the mission of INNtrospection (5:18)
• Why I think inns do hospitality the best (10:32)
• I’d like INNtrospection to help you create your personal procedure manual for your own hospitality venture (13:25)

Let’s Connect!

• Facebook
• Instagram
• [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.