Isaac French - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 4

1 min

Tribute to My Dad

🚄 In 2009, during the financial crisis, my dad moved our family 2,000 miles north to Idaho to plant a church community, giving away his plumbing business to a young friend. Starting afresh, he rented a farm and took on small jobs. In a few years, the business flourished, leading to the purchase of a collapsing brick Ford service station for a bakery and creamery. We also transformed an old appliance shop into a quilt store. Later, we discovered the 120-year-old WI&M Car 306 train car.

1 min

Water Makes Dirt Valuable

🕷 By month five, Live Oak Lake reached peak occupancy with rising weekly rates and strong Instagram presence. The lake played a key role in their marketing until it was overtaken by duckweed the day before YouTuber Shelby Church, with 1.7 million subscribers, visited. Efforts to clear the duckweed, including raking and spraying, failed. The situation seemed dire, leading to a night spent praying for a solution.

1 min

This $1,000 House Will Be a Big Destination

🏠 Benny purchased a century-old house for $1,000 and plans to relocate it to his property to integrate into a thriving garden. Inspired by a dream of self-sufficiency, he envisions an immersive hospitality experience with a working homestead and orchard. Benny will document the transformation and invites others to follow his progress and potentially visit. Follow his journey on Instagram for updates and inspiration on building your own sustainable haven.

1 min

Why I Pay Double at This Barbershop

🦲 Monument offers a unique and irreplaceable haircut experience that customers highly value, enough to pay double the usual price. Located in an old house, the barber shop is run by Nic, whose authenticity and genuine curiosity make the place special. Monument’s success lies in its intentional design and focus on providing grace rather than just service. By staying small and not scaling, Monument maintains its magic and has created a beloved business that customers cherish.

1 min

The Land Spoke. I Listened.

🏖 On March 5th, 2021, a new property listing appeared just seven minutes from home, featuring a hidden pond behind a thick wall of trees. After months of searching Zillow and Google Earth, the discovery led to a handshake with the listing agent that very morning. The journey toward building a modern cabin village in nature had finally begun, all starting from a hidden gem in the woods.

1 min

What My Mom Taught Me About Hospitality

💕 This heartfelt reflection underscores how a mother's love manifests through everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning, creating an atmosphere of hospitality that is deeply human and soul-nourishing. It emphasizes that true hospitality is not about grand gestures but a lifestyle that celebrates the beauty and importance of everyday acts. The author expresses gratitude to their mother and wife, acknowledging their profound impact on creating a loving and nurturing environment.

2 min

Lightning, Hail, and Little Arms of Welcome

💥 A severe storm resulted in extensive damage to a home, with a lightning strike causing the loss of power and hurling objects across a room. The home, constructed with about $20,000 of salvaged materials 25 years ago, now faces rewiring costs estimated by an electrician at $100,000 due to melted insulation. The family's car was also damaged by hail two days later. Amidst these challenges, the author finds solace in their child's affectionate greeting, highlighting the importance of simple joys and love.

2 min

Long Menus, Mediocre Meals

🏠 Excellence in hospitality and design is rare amidst widespread mediocrity. Big dreamers, like those who aspire to build a micro-resort or landscape a yard, often miss subtle details in their grand plans, resulting in a lackluster final product. The McPheeters family, owners of Nordlys in Wisconsin, exemplify the value of focusing on small, intricate details to create a standout property.

3 min

Our Marketing Department? The First 20 Guests…

📌 Word of mouth marketing, touted for leveraging genuine trust, mandates an exceptional guest experience. Delighting the first 20 guests is critical as they become your marketing team. Early feedback is invaluable; even constructive criticism should be embraced. Documenting everything from the build journey to daily operations builds trust and engagement. Turning guests into evangelists happens by creating unique, memorable experiences. Reinvesting in the property, as demonstrated by an $80k shipping container swimming pool and premium hot tub additions, fuels the marketing flywheel. Finally, a successful guest experience strategy transforms properties into brands with their own gravity, evidenced by guests returning up to 3-4 times within the first year.

2 min

What Makes a Place Unforgettable

🎨 Legendary investor and mathematician Jim Simmons advocates for an aesthetic approach to all kinds of work, stressing the beauty of doing things right. The unnamed author resonates with Simmons, believing that artistry can be infused in any work through care and investment. They lament the loss of meaning and craftsmanship in modern society but suggest starting small—with acts like planting a tree or having meaningful conversations—to make a positive change.

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