Perhaps there is no topic more appropriate for our first
ever blog than to answer for our readers the question we’ve been asked umpteen
times since we opened our first B and B in 1993 - Whatever prompted you to operate a B and B?
Even now, as I broach the topic, I see the myriad of
expressions on your faces as you posed that question – incredulity, curiosity,
expectancy, admiration, and yes, do I detect even pity?
Our desire to run a B and B stems largely, I imagine, from
the delightful encounters we’ve experienced with B and B owners in our travels
all over the world. One of my favourite memories is of a two-day farm stay just
outside of Hamilton New Zealand in 2000. When the owners discovered that we
were considering (the kind of consideration that falls in the category of wild fantasy) overwintering in New
Zealand, they invited us to dinner and also their neighbours, Canadians who had
themselves just recently moved to the north island and were doing precisely
what we were proposing to do. Our evening ended perfectly when the owner
graciously accepted Mary Helen’s offer to decorate their Christmas tree. I
wasn’t at all surprised recently when I googled Carmel Farms only to find that
Barbara and Leo Anselmi after these many years are still welcoming travellers
to their farm near Te Kuiti, New Zealand.
To some extent I think that running a B and B initially satisfied
Mary Helen’s desire for familial intimacy – the sort you experience when all
the rabbits in the neighbourhood come to afternoon tea. You may laugh at the comparison, but I think
there is truth in it. There is something quite personal and delicious and
satisfying about sharing who you are with strangers from half way around the
world even if it’s only for a day or two.
Our travel experiences have taught us that we want to be an
intricate part of our guests’ experiences when they stay with us. For this
reason our bed and breakfast experience is engaging, immersive and as hands-on
as possible. We seek to provide encounters, interactions and moments that will
leave our travellers with lasting memories. And our commitment extends beyond
our doors. Through our suggested itineraries we connect our experiential
travellers to our special people, places and cultures in the region.
In closing, let me ask our readers, Why do you chose to stay in B and B’s?
No comments:
Post a Comment