t was my plan to go visit four AIHP members this past September but my oldest daughter went off the college and
went off the college and didn’t settle in well at the beginning of her new adventure so I cancelled or rather postponed my plans. All four AIHP members are/were innkeepers and when I told them my predicament they completely understood. When I think of it Innkeepers are as understanding as a therapist at times! YES believe it or not I think they are. I’ve stayed at over 500 or 600 properties in my career and there have been some interesting incidents testing an innkeepers patience. Let me clarify, these incidents were not necessarily involving me but other guests. I’ve been witness to broken glassware or dishes, muddy shoes tracking dirt through the foyer, stained linens that are irreparable to forgotten items like toothbrushes. Of course the usual locking themselves out and forgot the code or key at 3 am. One of my recent favorites: guests that leave their cars at the B&B (limited parking of course) while they visit the sights AFTER they have checked out so they don’t have to re-park elsewhere. All you innkeepers take it all in stride, like patient and understanding parents! Even if you weren’t happy you never show it. Taking guests luggage to their rooms, chatting like an old friend when its people that just met, it’s really incredible. Maybe in addition to comparing innkeepers to therapists I should add Ambassadors. I’ve sat at many breakfast tables with complete strangers witness to discussions on religion, politics and even sexuality. All the topics my mother always advised to avoid when chatting at gatherings. But it’s so entertaining to watch as the innkeeper or staff pop in and pour more coffee, ask if you’d like the second course now just at the right times it seems, when the subject was getting heated or needed to be changed. Of course they ask where everyone is from to totally take the subject off course hopefully not to be revisited. Yes thank you innkeepers you are abundantly patient!
From the desk of Editor
Mary Hughes
Mary Hughes
Editor-in-Chief,
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Innkeepers Have the Patience of Saints
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