On this new sequence, we highlight impartial inns to
study extra in regards to the on a regular basis challenges, rewards, and alternatives of operating
an impartial property.
Location: Marquette, Michigan
Occupancy: 43
Open: Yr ‘spherical
Household-owned Cedar Motor Inn gives visitors a mixture of rustic
appeal and fashionable lodging. Situated close to the shores of Lake Superior, it’s
a spot the place guests come to each chill out and search journey.
We chatted with innkeeper Lyn J. Durant to study extra about
what makes her property particular and what it takes in in the present day’s world to function
an impartial lodge.
Q. Inform us somewhat bit about your property, together with
its historical past, and what makes it distinctive.
LD: This lodge has been in our household for 4
generations – 53 years of being family-owned. My husband’s uncle and his sister
purchased the lodge with their mom in 1967, and by 1980 they’d added 13 extra
rooms, enclosed the hallways and added a pool, spa, and steam sauna. We at the moment are
thought-about a mid-scale lodge by AAA.
At present my husband, daughter and I are companions, and our
daughter serves as Basic Supervisor.
Q. How do you promote your property?
LD: Our native college has been right here for many years.
In consequence, and since the lodge has been right here for thus lengthy, lots of the
mother and father stick with us after they carry their youngsters to and from faculty. We additionally
do some promoting in sports activities publications for looking and fishing, in addition to in
two native customer guides.
We’re additionally lucky to have a whole lot of returning visitors. We’ve
had many generations of households stick with us, in addition to enterprise vacationers
who’ve come right here for many years till their retirement.
Q. What are a few of your ache factors in terms of
shopping for merchandise to your lodge?
LD: Our largest problem is the dearth of storage at
our property. Since we will’t order quite a lot of circumstances of something, generally
we’ve to pay extra, relying on the provider. And sure varieties of merchandise
take longer than others – generally we get merchandise shortly, whereas with bigger
buys, like furnishings, there’s an extended wait time.
Q. What are another varieties of challenges you face as an
impartial lodge?
LD: Since we’re family-owned, we’ve to do no matter’s
vital when short-staffed, and that features taking over duties outdoors of our regular
obligations. Due to our explicit area of interest, we’re fortunate in that we don’t
actually compete with the chains. Marquette is a really distinctive locale as a result of we
are a vacation spot. Occasions drive our group, and even when the occasion is
chain-specific, we get the overflow, which is OK with us.
It’s not a matter of overcoming the challenges, it’s dealing
with them. Every day is totally different, so we do what we do finest and see what
tomorrow brings.
Q. What recommendation would you give to these new to proudly owning or managing
an impartial lodge?
LD: It’s important to have an excellent working data of
all the pieces about operating the enterprise: human assets, advertising, accounting,
plumbing, upkeep, web, and gross sales. My husband, daughter and I complement
one another with our data, so I consider that’s why we’ve been profitable … that
and divine intervention once in a while!
