Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amy & Dan Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amy & Dan , appreciate you joining us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

Our business is hospitality, and we take it very seriously. We strive to make every guest feel welcomed and special from the moment they make their reservation, whether it be online or over the phone until they walk through our front door. Our goal is to create an unforgettable stay for each and every one of our guests.

During their stay, our guests enjoy a homey atmosphere that we have carefully crafted for them. They can unwind in the comfortable common areas and their boutique-styled rooms while indulging in the luxurious amenities provided. We strive to ensure that they have a worry-free and enjoyable experience.

Our guests are treated to a bespoke breakfast experience each morning, carefully planned and prepared just for them. We strive to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere at the breakfast table, providing an opportunity to chat and get to know our guests better. It’s a lost art that we cherish and refer to as the golden hour.

Regardless of the reason for their stay, be it business or pleasure, we make it our mission to ensure that our guests have everything they need for a comfortable and memorable visit. We even offer a personalized concierge service to attend to their needs.

Amy & Dan , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The beginning of our journey was marked by a grand, old house. Although it was too large for a modern family, it had an intriguing story that we couldn’t resist sharing. As part of a creative community group, we aimed to restore this block of historic homes, in order to revitalize our town and county.

Many people thought we were crazy for taking on such a project, especially since we were already established business owners. However, we managed to turn our dream of luxury lodging into a reality, thanks to our perseverance and hard work.

Despite all our planning, we were hit by two unexpected setbacks in the beginning. Firstly, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer while we were renovating The Stone House in the fall of 2019. Secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to postpone our plans for opening in spring 2020.

Despite these challenges, I’m proud to say that I overcame cancer, and we managed to survive the pandemic.

Our journey has been filled with both difficulties and joy. There were moments of blood, sweat, and tears, but also moments of laughter, high-fives, and hugs. Our community played a significant role in helping us realize our dream, with family, friends, and fellow business owners providing invaluable support. We made every effort to use local goods and services, sourcing everything we could from right here in Morgan County.

In 2021 and beyond, we expanded our business to include 242 Morris, adding two extended-stay suites to cater to the growing demand for accommodation.

However, our work is far from over. At the time of writing this, we are embarking on our biggest project yet, the restoration of 236 Morris. We plan to add two more guest rooms, bringing the total to seven, and create a much-needed community event space.

We are onto another long list of projects. The completion of the big and little details seems never-ending. We believe it’s the details that make our home a boutique bed and breakfast that sets us apart from other overnight accommodations.

It has been a few years of renovations, a global pandemic, and a personal health scare, but we emerged butterfly-like as a fully functioning, traditional, luxury bed and breakfast that hosts people from around the world in a small little Appalachian town.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

When we opened the Inns at 8th and Main, we focused on providing a beautiful house with well-appointed rooms and fine amenities. Dan and I, being food enthusiasts, also knew we wanted to serve a hot home-style breakfast and host events.

What surprised us the most was the love our guests developed for our food and what we call the “Dan and Amy factor.” Our repeat guests, being many now that we are in our fourth year, truly love us and our food. Our 5-star ratings remind us of that time and time again.

We’ve learned that, like many other businesses, being a successful bed and breakfast comes down to the relationships we build with our guests and the time-sharing life with them. In the beginning, we truly were naive to think that people would only come for the house.

It’s a humbling experience for us to welcome guests from all around the globe, many of whom have dined at remarkable establishments. We feel privileged to have created a special place at our charming Inn.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The concept of faith is diverse and all-encompassing. Establishing this business amidst the numerous renovations, my battle with cancer and the pandemic, and presently coping with the high occupancy, juggling cash flow, and keeping renovations moving forward, is quite challenging. Nevertheless, we strive towards the ultimate goal of completing the Inn and ensuring its occupancy while focusing solely on this business. All so that we can spend our remaining days together enjoying life and entertaining guests, we are determined to push through the challenging moments, with faith.

Some days, we’re uncertain of how we manage to juggle it all, and most days we’re utterly exhausted from working 12-14 hour days that extend for weeks. Nonetheless, leaning into our faith and determination, and the support and warm feelings we receive from our guests, reminds us that every day it’s worth it. We are believers that things will work out the exact way they were supposed to you just have to keep the faith.    

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.innsat8thandmain.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinnat214main/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/innsat8thandmain
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/88924171/admin/