I suppose calling customer service an art may seem like a stretch, but I do believe there is something to the notion that superior customer service cannot be taught. There is an instinctual element that you either have or you don’t. That being said, good management and training can teach people the very basic skills that result in good customer service, so there really is no excuse for poor customer service.

But I digress. Let me start by saying perhaps the best part of being an innkeeper is the customers. We get to meet the most interesting people on a daily basis who engage us in fascinating conversation. Many of our guests have become more like family than simply paying guests and that in itself is enough to keep us going back for more. Yet, I would venture to say that being an innkeeper isn’t a job for everyone.

Not everyone is what I call a people person, meaning they don’t necessarily enjoy being around a lot of people and have issues with privacy or proximity. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you intend on getting into a business like running a bed and breakfast or restaurant, you better be sure you are, indeed, a people person. Your home will no longer be your private abode. You will be at the beck and call of guests 24/7/365. They will touch your stuff, ask you questions you may not be prepared to answer and otherwise require your attention. If that seems like something that would be tedious to you, stay away from innkeeping.