Innkeeping can be a bit overwhelming to anybody, but especially to those who are just getting started in the profession. Oftentimes, people learn best how to become a solid innkeeper or property manager through experience and just getting thrown into different scenarios and challenges. However, managing a property can be a highly rewarding experience for those who have taken the opportunity, and many will tell you that their innkeeping experience brought them great joy and wisdom. There are several tips and tricks to becoming successful in this industry. This blog will highlight some secrets to becoming successful at innkeeping and will also feature some inns that have experienced lots of success in the industry.
Leave a Solid First Impression
People will form an opinion about your property within thirty seconds of visiting your website or
walking in through the front door. You want to create an environment that will catch their attention and leave them saying, “Wow!” For the website, this can include having fast loading speeds, large and colorful images of the property, and an easy-to-navigate menu that will allow visitors to find important information easily including available rooms, amenities offered, and fun things to do nearby. When walking through the front door guests should be welcomed by a friendly staff, a pleasant smell, a well-maintained exterior, and a simple and easy check-in process. These are just some basic features of successful innkeeping, but there are many other unique implementations to leaving a good initial impression.
Good Dining Experience
As the name suggests, bedding is not the only important part of successful innkeeping. The dining experience is just as
crucial as the sleeping experience for the guests. They will be looking for tasty food, fresh juices, hot coffee, additional options for those with dietary restrictions, pleasant dining linens like napkins and tablecloths, and room amenities such as fresh flowers. Most inns have culinary masters who are well-trained and able to deliver delicious meals that leave the guests feeling satisfied and maybe even want to write a good online review about their fabulous experience eating at your property. Properties can also take the extra step to impress their guests by leaving a recipe book for delicious, local cooking options as a cool activity for guests.
Practical Steps for Successful Innkeeping
A well-run inn is going to make the daily process easier for staff members and result in guests having a better overall experience. Successful inns carefully choose linens to streamline housekeeping, and laundry, and enhance the guest experience. There are many options to choose from including duvet covers, coverlets, bedspreads, quilts, and top covers, so make sure to review each option thoroughly before making a final decision. Top covers have become especially popular recently because they are visually appealing and will be able to help streamline the process of housekeeping with their easy-care qualities. Proper inventory levels are also crucial to keeping a well-run inn. Towels and sheets are two of the most used linens, so you must have plenty in stock because they are bound to get ripped or stained. InnStyle recommends having three sets of sheets and towels per room. One set would be used for the bed, another in the wash, and the third set in the closet as a backup.
Successful Inns
The most successful inns are the ones that take care of their guests the best by giving them surreal 
and memorable experiences. There are so many inns out there that take this mission of providing the highest quality of hospitality to their guests to heart. Three inns that are renowned for their success at this are the Candleberry Inn, the Inn on West Liberty, and the Captain Nickels Inn.
- The Candleberry Inn, located in Brewster, Massachusetts, had the privilege of being ranked the #1 bed and breakfast in the United States by TripAdvisor. It’s an award that many of their guests would gladly say they deserve with their wide range of amenities, delicious food, and friendly and accommodating owners Marco and Angelo.
- The Inn on West Liberty, originally built in 1871, was recently renovated while still maintaining its original, luxurious beauty. It is owned by two sisters, Patty and Suzy, whose customers give fantastic reviews saying the bedding is super soft, the food is delicious, the property is clean, and in a great location for exploring Savannah, Georgia.
- The Captain Nickels Inn is another historic inn built in 1871 along the coast of Maine that customers have given fantastic reviews on Google for. Many of them appreciate the high-quality service that Dawn, the innkeeper and owner provides, the comfortable bedding, and the cleanliness of the property.
InnStyle is Here for Your Inn
Hospitality is a highly competitive and challenging yet extremely rewarding and fulfilling career option, especially for those looking to get into innkeeping. There are many obstacles one may experience as an innkeeper especially if you are just starting out. InnStyle is aware of the difficulty of innkeeping which is why they made it their priority to make innkeeping and owning a rental property as easy as possible by offering a large assortment of hospitality products ranging from bed linens to towels, amenities, lodging accessories, and much more. To help learn more about the industry, InnStyle has also written a blog on the many opportunities for a career in hospitality. If you have any hospitality or innkeeping questions, please give InnStyle a call and speak with one of their account managers. They would be happy to help and offer their own advice. InnStyle can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667. Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.