Girgenti leads a group at Huckleberry Knob off the Cherohala Skyway in North Carolina . It ’ s a close hike for guests staying at IRHG ’ s Snowbird Mountain Lodge . |
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HOTELS : What about your background lends to your title and why are the outdoors so important to you ? Girgenti : From 350-mile biking trips to 250-mile rafting trips , countless summits and excursions all over the U . S ., my background and my life is outdoors ; it ’ s my passion . In 2020 , I made a difficult decision at the onset of COVID to put in my notice to Indigo Road , sell everything I own and travel . Though I left the company for a time , I think it resulted in our founder , Steve Palmer , seeing how passionate I am about living what I love and being outdoors . I returned to Indigo Road in 2022 and it was then that Steve and Larry Spelts , [ president of lodging ], recognized this opportunity for me . Growth within the company is a core value of our group so this position embodies what that meant for me . Personally , I find peace and tranquility in |
the outdoors — even at the end of uncomfortable positions that have pushed me to my physical limits because I learned a lot about myself at those times . Being outside can make you feel small in a great way . Just looking at your size in relation to a majestic mountain really puts things into perspective and that ’ s a part of why I spend so much time outside . It ’ s a great reminder of being present , our role in life and finding balance .
HOTELS : What are examples of great outdoor experiences ? Are there certain elements they include ? Girgenti : We are really expanding upon our outdoor experiences . Most recently at Snowbird Mountain Lodge , in Robbinsville , N . C ., we ’ ve introduced a Weekend Wanderlust series . These are intentionally intimate groups of guests who are treated to experiences from when they
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arrive to when they leave . They always include a culinary component and also uniquely local adventure components . One of these was a fly-fishing excursion where a chef taught live fire cooking of the fish over cast-iron pans at the outdoor fire pit . Others are yoga retreats with mountainside meditation or guided hikes through lesser explored areas . Connection is the essential element to all of these ; connection to the surroundings and among one another . Who are you choosing to partner with and where are you choosing to go and how can we make that even more special . The experiences should leave everyone involved with a feeling of connection between the participants and the leaders . As we grow , I ’ m looking forward to expanding our offerings and even planning for experiences that are truly unique to our guests — white water experiences on rivers that are no longer commercially |
rafted , working with guides for access to that secret fishing hole … a lot of hotels don ’ t necessarily focus on the food and beverage component so that also feels special .
HOTELS : How important of a role does hotel location play in delivering an exemplary outdoor experience ? Girgenti : I don ’ t like to discriminate on location because the great outdoors are the great outdoors , but obviously being in the mountains or beside a body of water makes a difference in how we program and execute our experiences . Indigo Road lodging locations are rooted with ideal locations in the mountains and even along the Intercoastal Waterway of South Carolina , so location is on our side . But truly , no one is at a loss , it just takes a bit more creative thinking on what we can develop for those guests .
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October 2023 hotelsmag . com 39 |