The Voice of Innkeeping Issue 2 Vol. 1 March 2016 | Page 28

Dan Ingraham

Afton Mountain Bed and Breakfast, Afton, VA

“All Innkeepers Have Passion. Of course not all of us have a passion for the same thing. For some it’s creating incredible breakfast dishes. Others derive their passion from serving people and offering welcoming hospitality.

Some have a passion for entrepreneurship and building a profitable business.

Wherever your passion may lie, there’s no doubt that possessing and expressing it is essential to making your B&B or inn a success. That same principle – passion breed’s success – also holds true for member associations like AIHP. There is no doubt that AIHP is built on a solid foundation of passion. It was the brainchild of the “

Founding Leadership Team”, a group of enthusiastic industry experts who saw the need for a new national association for innkeepers, and then did what was necessary to make it happen. I have the privilege of working with several of those same people on the board of directors. Although we have diverse backgrounds and points of view, the one common vision shared by each AIHP board member is a strong desire to make AIHP a vibrant, responsive and progressive organization. Thankfully, we have the luxury of an outstanding, passionate staff led by CEO, Rob Fulton and Managing Director, Michele McVay, to skillfully execute our strategic plan. Regardless of your story - whether you’re in your first year owning a three-room B&B or a fifteen-year veteran running a twenty-room inn with a restaurant – we invite you to add your voice to the collective passion of AIHP.”

William Murray

Montford Inn, Norman, OK “I love being involved with AIHP. Being an innkeeper is such a rewarding profession, but it isn’t easy! One needs to have a support system in place, and AIHP provides just that. Having friends and making new ones in the profession to bounce

ideas off of and share stories of what works and what doesn’t helps keep me at the forefront of what’s happening in the industry. I also use AIHP as a professional resource to learn more about new trends in travel and tourism.”

Jim Leitch

Inn on Lake Granbury. Granbury, TX

The Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP) is a non-profit member organization founded on building community, advocacy, and professional development.

What makes AIHP unique is its passionate commitment towards the wellbeing and sustainability of the innkeeping and independent small lodging industry.

In an ever changing landscape, AIHP advocates for its members through education and believing the experience offered by small lodging owners and management is second to none. AIHP’s vision is to strengthen, and grow its organization so its “voice” is heard loud and clear for all of its members throughout the hospitality world.

Patricia McCauley

InsideOut Solutions Inc., Sequim, WA

I have a passion for great hospitality experiences and want your experience with my company to be just as satisfying. As a “vendor", I want to make sure your internet marketing conveys that

experience. We “vendors" are more than sellers of products for your Inns we are partners in your success which is why AIHP added two of us to the

board and changed our designation to Allied Partners. We do more than just sell you products. We provide Inns with valuable information through webinars and support on how to keep up with changing trends and technology. Sure we hope over the course of discussion and education you will become our clients and we can grow your business together as partners. If you succeed we succeed, that is our goal as Allied Partners and hope we make a difference to each Inn we work with.