Innkeeping 104: Should an Aspiring Innkeeper Attend a Seminar?

Okay, we have already had a general introduction to innkeeping along with some of the reasons I have chosen to write about it. That was Innkeeping 101.

Then I went on to talk about one of the rewarding and fun aspects of innkeeping, making it your inn. That was Innkeeping 102.

Following that, I discussed the realities of the amount of work involved. I continue to be inspired on this topic as so many writers enjoy detailing their impressions of the realities of this business. That article was Innkeeping 103.
Today's topic discusses the value of attending an Innkeeping Seminar. Should you spend the money for a seminar? Should you spend the time required to attend? After all, you probably have visited several inns and B & B's and found that it doesn't look like rocket science.

The good news...you are correct, it isn't rocket science. Innkeeping will however, call upon many of your different skill sets. Here's a list of the ones that come to mind: hospitality (of course), cooking, creativity, finance, marketing, negotiation, decorating, property management, computer science, people management, bookkeeping, planning, plumbing, carpentry, staff training, painting, patience, diplomacy, networking...okay, that's enough. There are many more and if you doubt the importance of any one of them, then beware. The skills needed are not all equally important and many of them can be outsourced.

So where is the value of attending a seminar? Our experience is that a seminar brings all the things you may have learned through your experiences and ties them all together. All of the talents listed above (and more), are incorporated in a well run, innkeeping seminar.