Can you tell us about the ethos behind Main Street Hospitality and how three generations of family hospitality leadership guide your decision-making ?
Three generations of family hospitality leadership managing historic properties were built on the founding principle of ‘ building things that last and preserving things that matter .’ Sarah Eustis has held her vision as she expands their portfolio while balancing communityled development and honoring the historical value of a place .
Main Street is built on a commitment to preserving things that matter , building things that last , and creating places that enable people to connect in meaningful ways . I grew up working at our family hotel , The Red Lion Inn , where my mother and grandmother did this intuitively and expertly . I started as a housekeeper when I was 14 , working in the summer to earn money and then into college . I did almost every job at The Red Lion . It was always ingrained in us that hospitality is a noble and important trade and can be a rewarding career – we have always brought it to everything we do , both inside and outside the family . Starting as a housekeeper also gave me a deep appreciation of this role in the business , it is literally the backbone and deserves the utmost respect .
My mother and grandmother focused on bringing pleasure to people through thoughtful touches , attention to detail in all things , and preserving traditions that are meaningful to guests , even if it is simply the position of a rocking chair in front of the fireplace . They both instilled a strong sense of graciousness and manners in our culture that continues and deepens . While Main Street has grown out of this foundation , I still hear them both in my ear when I am making decisions about everything from new projects to updating wallpaper , to advanced new technology that we might be deploying .
How do you reflect the community and honor the history of a place in each of your unique properties ?
This is another foundational part of who we are , and something that reflects our roots in Stockbridge . Our family and our business have a strongly held belief that a good place to live is a good place to visit . If the cultural , social , and economic foundations of a community are strong , then businesses like ours can thrive . When we open hotels in any community , we feel accountable to contribute to that foundation , not just to benefit from it . We do this in many tangible ways ranging from economic support , access to and use of the hotels , artistic and cultural programming , and more . We are focused on synergistic relationships that create positive outcomes in our markets .
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