INN YOUR DREAMS

Aspiring Innkeeper Seminars and Hospitality Workshops


​Our seminars and workshops are Maine-centric, for buyers looking to purchase in Maine. We'll discuss Maine tourism and the state of the hospitality industry in Maine. It's never too soon or too late to learn. This is can be a relatively long process. Buyers and Brokers establish relationships, they don't just take part in a quick transaction. 

Don Johnson, a former innkeeper of several inns on Mount Desert Island, (his favorite the former Inn at Canoe Point) was an icon in the inn brokerage business. He began holding aspiring innkeeper seminars back in the late 80s with The Swan Agency and sadly passed away in 2011. We are paying homage to Don by continuing the seminars he named "Inn Your Dreams".

​I don't sell real estate, I sell a lifestyle. I help give buyers the tools they need to make their dream a reality. And sellers the tools to plan for their exit strategy.
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One Day In-Depth Workshop for Future Sellers 
How best to position you and your business for the marketplace and when.
  • exit strategy 
  • when to list?
  • how long can you expect to be on market?
  • pricing strategy
  • preparing your books for review - providing a clear P&L and understanding the relevant impact on value
  • how brokers, lenders and appraisers look at your financials and tax returns
  • physically preparing your inn for showings
  • ​mentally preparing yourself for the marketplace

Two Day Weekend Prospective Innkeeper Seminars (as Don would say, "So you think you want to be an innkeeper?")

Marketing
  • social media
  • curating content
  • analytics
  • reputation management
  • website review
  • networking/partnering

Financials/Reservation System
  • effective rate management
  • budgeting
  • managing the OTAs
  • yield management
  • creating additional revenue streams
  • packaging
  • ​exit strategy

General Operations
  • overview
  • staffing
  • delegating
  • effective time management
  • best practices
  • ​maintenance

F&B (food & beverage)
  • cost control
  • purchasing
  • breakfast - plating, garnishing, creating the WOW factor
  • additional F&B revenue streams (events, weddings, corporate meetings)
  • ​beer, wine or liquor license, yes or no?
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2020 Aspiring Innkeeper Workshop Schedule Full Details
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May 1-3 at Inn at Sunrise Point in Lincolnville 
June 5-7 at Newcastle Inn in Newcastle
November 6-8 at Noble House Inn in Bridgton
December 4-6 at Brunswick Inn in Brunswick

More dates and locations for our seminars will be announced soon.