On this new collection, we highlight impartial lodges to
study extra concerning the on a regular basis challenges, rewards, and alternatives of working
an impartial property.
Location: Marquette, Michigan
Occupancy: 43
Open: 12 months ‘spherical
Household-owned Cedar Motor Inn gives visitors a mixture of rustic
allure and trendy 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 slightly 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 of a mid-scale lodge by AAA.
At the moment my husband, daughter and I are companions, and our
daughter serves as Normal 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 therefore lengthy, most of the
dad and mom stick with us once they deliver their youngsters to and from college. We additionally
do some promoting in sports activities publications for searching and fishing, in addition to in
two native customer guides.
We’re additionally lucky to have loads 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 relating to
shopping for merchandise on your lodge?
LD: Our greatest problem is the shortage of storage at
our property. Since we will’t order various circumstances of something, typically
we have now to pay extra, relying on the provider. And sure varieties of merchandise
take longer than others – typically 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 have now to do no matter’s
needed when short-staffed, and that features taking up duties exterior of our normal
duties. Due to our specific 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 completely different, so we do what we do greatest 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 information of
every thing about working the enterprise: human assets, advertising and marketing, accounting,
plumbing, upkeep, web, and gross sales. My husband, daughter and I complement
one another with our information, so I imagine that’s why we’ve been profitable … that
and divine intervention every now and then!
