Never Go It
Alone
By Jay Karen
"A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people."
- Will Rogers
A funny thing about many good people who get into innkeeping, the artful task of providing warm hospitality and taking good care of travelers, is that they think they've got it all figured out before serving their first breakfast. After all, how hard could it be to cook a few meals and make a few beds, right? The truth is - I've seen former corporate executives come begging for advice on how to succeed at innkeeping after a few months or years on the job. And all I really need to tell them is this - join
an association of innkeepers, and you'll figure it out in no time.
Every profession and trade imaginable has its own association, guild or society. These organizations represent the interests of their practitioners or businesses, often engaging in works such as education, advocacy and marketing. Innkeeping is no different. There is no greater source of inspiration - and commiseration - than to be with other people who understand your challenges and opportunities. And as Will Rogers so aptly noted, being part of an association will put you in the path of people who know more and who've done it longer than you. And after more than six years working in the B&B industry, I can say with confidence there is no more generous lot of people than innkeepers - they're sharing their own trade secrets all day long with other innkeepers.
The freedom to associate is a hallmark of great societies. Yet many people go it alone in their professions - they neglect to join their professional organizations and trade groups. The symbiosis between associations and their members is inescapable; associations are strong because of the contributions of their members, and members are better at what they do and their businesses can be more successful on account of the work of their associations. People aspiring to own an inn or B&B one day should join innkeeping associations - now, even before you hang that shingle outside. And those who just served their first breakfast and those who've served their five thousandth can learn something from each other every day of the year.
Inns E-Magazine | Fall 2013 | 14