Professional Enrichment

Eyes Wide Open!
Wednesday, January 25, 8:30am – 9:40am

SH Caraway Room 3

Heide Bredfelt, Inn Consulting Partners

New innkeepers join our ranks frequently, but as many new innkeepers join, just as many innkeepers have been stewards of their Inns for many years. What happened in that enthusiastic opening moment when your inn was current, your knowledge cutting edge and your occupancy was a testament to your success? Can we ever stop moving forward and learning new things? Can we afford to get stuck in yesterday’s décor? Let’s get together and challenge ourselves to reinvent our abilities and identify ways to reestablish our excitement about being inn-owners in today’s world.

Using Myers-Briggs in the Workplace

Wednesday, January 25, 9:50 – 11:00am
SH Ballroom C
JJ Whitney, Hendrix College

The original developers of this assessment began creating the indicator during WWII believing that knowledge of personality preferences would help women who were entering the industrial work force. To quote a popular slogan, “you’ve come a long way baby!” Join our certified Myers-Briggs instructor for a workshop which will assess your personality preferences and how this affects your relationship in family, group dynamics, marketing, leadership and personal development.

Mindfulness Workshop
Wednesday, January 25, 11:10am – 12:15pm
SH Ballroom A

Dr. Mary Horne – Central Arkansas Veteran’s Healthcare System

“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Neuroscientists state that regular meditation actually alters the way the brain is wired, and that these changes could be at the heart of claims that meditation improves health and well-being. Bring an open heart and mind as you join our expert in the practice of Mindfulness for an exploration in the practice of mindful meditation.

Over 2 Decades as an Innkeeper! How Do You Do It?
Wednesday, January 25, 2:45pm – 3:45pm
SH Miller Room
Moderator: Danielle Hanscom – Brampton B&B Inn (MD)

Panelists: Brad Schwartz – Inn at Buck Hollow Farm (VT), Ellen Grinsfelder – Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls (OH), Deb Mosimann – Swiss Woods B&B (PA)

We all know that innkeepers have a high rate of burnout. Our panel of veterans will share their personal experiences which, out of necessity, show the specifics of issues faced and overcome and the story of meeting an ever changing industry. They will also offer insight about what steps to take to stay fresh and remain for the long haul.  If you are a younger, newer or aspiring innkeeper this is a workshop you don’t want to miss.

Importance of Hospitality Worldwide
Wednesday, January 25, 4:45pm – 6:00pm

SH Fulton Room

Jo Luck – US Agency for International Delopments Board for International Food & Agriculture Dept.

“In Rwanda, Honduras, Bosnia and Thailand they call it ‘Sharing and Caring’ … We call it ‘Personalized Hospitality’” Jo explains how food is not only for ending hunger, it is an important part of the experience of holistic hospitality. She will weave a thread of the importance of hospitality worldwide through stories of personal experiences related to that theme. Hospitality is key in successfully delivering the experience desired by guests, but is also is key to a better understanding and communication across diverse cultures. In her stays in small Massai lodgings in Africa, modest homes in the Navajo Nation, rooms above pubs in Europe, tents, huts, yurts and many other forms of inns and B&Bs in 60 countries over the last two decades she has found that hospitality is the heart of effective diplomacy. Without it there is less opportunity for success.  Jo Luck is a World Food Prize Laureate and former president of Heifer International, a global nonprofit with the goal of ending poverty and hunger.  Along with several honorary degrees in the humanitarian area, Ms. Luck has received numerous awards and accolades and has been appointed by President Obama to serve on the US Agency for International Development’s board for International Food and Agriculture Development.

Beyond the Nightly Cocktail: Healthy Help is Here!
Thursday, January 26, 2:15pm – 5:15pm
SH Ballroom C

Donna McSpadden, LMSW – Pulaski Technical College
Who knew that the exhaustion, stress and demands of Innkeeping could reach such epic proportions? Why do I have physical symptoms such as headaches, high blood pressure, muscle tension and digestive upsets when I get a bad review, or when one more guest is extraordinarily picky?  Are there any coping strategies I can squeeze into my hectic schedule that really work?  Donna McSpadden is a licensed counselor with years of experience in teaching skills for improving the quality of life on both the personal and professional fronts.  In addition she has first hand Innkeeping experience at a popular inn during peak season. Inviting you to complete a confidential assessment, assessing your personal levels of exhaustion, Donna will bring information on exciting new research, supporting the effectiveness of coping behaviors that actually elevate the body’s “feel good” chemistry and immune system.

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Join this professionally facilitated workshop if this is something you are contemplating. We can’t answer this question for you, but we will help you strategize and address the tough questions you have to face when planning for the next chapter in your life.  This workshop will offer a glimpse at a variety of life choices and potential issues after innkeeping from finances to the emotional components.