Conferences & Learning
Midwest Association of Independent Inns Conference & Trade Show
Exhibitors – Information and separate registration can be found HERE.
November 7th, 2023 – November 9th, 2023
(Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday)
*Aspiring Innkeeper Seminar – Monday, November 6th, 2023*
More information on the Aspiring Innkeeper Seminar can be found HERE
Chestnut Mountain Resort
~On The Beautiful Mississippi River~
8700 W Chestnut Mountain Rd
Galena, IL 61036
Chestnut Mountain Resort Website
Innkeepers, *register today* for education, networking & best practices as we continue to expand our conference.
The conference will have a variety of topics pertinent to innkeeping today. Together with our industry experts, vendor partners, and other innkeepers, we will explore the issues, challenges, and opportunities to enhance the guest experience, grow our business, and be the best innkeeper we can as we balance it all!
will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a free conference registration!
(Payment reimbursed after the conference)
Conference Pricing – For Members of any State/Regional Association
$295.00 – General Attendee
$245.00 – Additional attendee of the same inn
Conference Pricing – For Attendees that are not Members of any State/Regional Association
$345.00 – General Attendee
$295.00 – Additional attendee of the same inn
$40.00 – Per Person
(tax & gratuity included – limited number of tickets available for advanced purchase)
You Don’t Want To Miss This Fun Event!
Stay Tuned To This Page As Conference Details Are Finalized and Updated Here!
Midwest Association of Independent Inns
Conference Highlights To Date
Technology, Trends, Tips & Topics You Need To Know
General Sessions and Work & Share Sessions
Conference Speaker Session Highlights:
“Designing The Guest Experience That Will Keep Them Coming Back”
“Protecting Your Data In 2023… In Plain English!”
“The Art of Influence: How to Elevate Your Content Marketing Strategy”
“Creating Profitable Partnerships with Local Businesses”
“What To Serve The Gluten Free, Lacto-Vegan, Who Eats Bacon!?”
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) What Is It and Why It Matters”
“Midwest Association of Independent Inns, A Midwest State of Mind”
“ADA: Pitfalls to Avoid & Best Practices”
“Be Your Very Best Self ~ It’s About Wellness”
“Building a Profitable Package”
“Google Hotel Ads, Everything You Need to Know for Your Business”
Click Here For A Preliminary Schedule of Events & More Detailed Information on Speaking Sessions
(Schedule of Events is updated regularly, so check back often!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MORE INFORMATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Overnight Options
Chestnut Mountain Resort – We are pleased to have chosen Chestnut Mountain Resort! Onsite amenities include on-site restaurants, sports bar, an indoor pool & sauna, free wi-fi, and many activities in the local area to enjoy!
Special Conference Room Rates at Chestnut Mountain Resort
One (1) adult – $104.00/night ($15 breakfast voucher included*)
Two (2) adults – $119.00/night ($30 breakfast voucher included*)
and so on
*tax & gratuity not included
Room choices include:
Standard King Bed, Standard 2 Queen Beds, Premium Riverside (2 Queen Beds), Standard King Courtside, Deluxe Riverside, Deluxe Courtside, Standard Handicap Room, etc. First Come, First Serve!
Please make sure that when making your reservation online, update the reservation to the correct number of adults and/or children that will be staying in your room. The default selection is 2 adults. Then, select the type of room you wish to reserve from the list of rooms available for your chosen dates.
Please use the booking link below to book your stay* at Chestnut Mountain Resort:
Book Your Stay at Chestnut Mountain Resort
Room block closes on October 15th, 2023! Make Your Reservation Today!
Galena Area MWInns Member B&Bs – If you would like to experience a lovely Galena MWInns member B&B, please see this offering of exceptional properties to stay during the conference:
Cloran Mansion Bed & Breakfast
1237 Franklin Street
Galena, IL 61036
Phone: 815-777-0583
Email: innkeeper@cloranmansion.com
Website: https://cloranmansion.com/
Hawk Valley Retreat & Cottages
2752 W. Cording Rd
Galena, IL 61036
Phone: 815-777-4100
Email: innkeepers@hawkvalleyretreat.com
Website: https://hawkvalleyretreat.com/
Hotel Galena
324 Spring Street
Galena, IL 61036
Phone: 815-777-0123
Email: info@hotelgalena.com
Website: https://hotelgalena.com/
Please check with each inn for pricing and breakfast policies during conference time. When reserving your stay, please state that you are attending the Midwest Association of Independent Inns Conference & Trade Show. First come, first serve!
Midwest Association of Independent Inns Conference Cancellation Policy
Should a conflict arise, you may cancel your registration with full refund up to 7 business days prior to the conference or October 27th, 2023. After that date, refunds are not possible. You must put your cancellation in writing to the MWInns offices directly at info@mwinns.com. In the event of an occurrence that is beyond the reasonable control of any attendee affected and occurs without fault, including things such as “Acts of God”, public or private disaster, public health emergencies (COVID), a full refund of registration will be available.
Payment options
Payment for attending the conference is accepted via check or PayPal with completed registration (click the “Register Now” button at the bottom of this page). If sending a check, simply send the check to the MWInns offices at the address below. You do not need a PayPal account to pay by credit card (via PayPal).
Midwest Association of Independent Inns
206 Jefferson Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone: 715-942-8180
*COVID-19 Statement
The MWInns takes the health and safety of all the sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees of our conference very seriously. Please be assured that during any in-person portion of our conference, any CDC and/or state mandates/guidelines at the time will be practiced.
Check back often as our page is continuously updated!
The Midwest Association of Independent Inns Thanks Our Sponsors
and ALL Our Vendor Partners for Their Support Of Our Annual Conference!
Check back often as this page is continuously updated!
Conference Sponsors:
Platinum Sponsors
ResNexus
Clay Cushing – Hospitality Business Coach
Dareq Da Costa – Hospitality Business Coach
185 East 200 North
Salem, UT 84653
801-472-5574
torton@resnexus.com
Resnexus.com
When it comes to award-winning property management software, efficiency counts. That’s why ResNexus is an all-in-one solution, helping thousands of hospitality businesses balance all the plates that come with the job, from online bookings and revenue management to powerful reporting and digital marketing. Plus, ResNexus provides industry-leading customer support that brings all these important tools together with a personalized and caring approach that is dedicated to helping your business grow.
The MWInns also thanks ResNexus for sponsoring a lunch.
Silver Sponsors
Ahmad Tea USA
Shadi Afshar – VP Operations
3701 Pender Dr. Suite 100
Fairfax, VA 22030
512-632-9864
shadi@ahmadteausa.com
Ahmadteausa.com
Ahmad Tea, having started as a small tea shop in Hamshire England, is now one of the leading tea brands, sipped and enjoyed in over 90 countries. Although a global brand, Ahmad Tea is still family-owned and run with a small team headquartered in Virginia. You can find a large assortment of classic flavors, like English Breakfast and Earl Grey, to their more unique flavors, like Mango Magic black tea and the exotic Mango Lychee green tea. With over 100 different blends, there is a tea for everyone.
The MWInns also thanks Ahmad Tea for supplying tea for all refreshment breaks.
Casablanca Payments
Wynn Salisch – Principal
243 W 104th Street #4E
New York, NY 10025
203-253-7259
wynn@casablanca-ventures.com
Casablanca Payments is America’s only hotelier-owned merchant payments firm dedicated to helping innkeepers successfully navigate the complex and confusing world of credit card processing with completely free, no-obligation cost reduction and data security assistance and low-cost merchant accounts featuring a personal account concierge and a lifetime rate lock guaranteed in writing!
Inkeeper’s Advantage
Cynthia Bachmann – President
101 Bradford Rd Suite 200
Wexford, PA 15090
724-933-3331
cbachmann@innkeepersadvantage.com
Innkeepersadvantage.com
The Innkeeer’s Advantage product is a hosted website, reservation system, and channel manager all in one. It was designed for bed and breakfasts, boutique inns or cabins. If you already have a great website then Book It Now, our property and channel management system is a great booking engine alternative. All systems offer state-of-the-art rate management, an easy-to-use reservation calendar, and automated self-check-in features. Our built-in channel manager enables strategic OTA management.
Küster Design
James Kuester – Principal
841 4th St. S.
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
866-904-6631 x4
james@kusterdesign.com
Kusterdesign.com
Küster Design provides interior design services for commercial, healthcare, and residential settings. Whether you’re interested in improving your customer experience at work or reflecting your personality and style at home, Küster Design can help.
The MWInns also thanks Küster Design for sponsoring a reception.
Somnvie
Lisa Gibb – Founding Director
10531 N. Pine Tree Circle
Mequon, WI 53092
262-227-4246
lisacgibb@gmail.com
https://lisagibb.somnvie.com/
Sleep is essential to optimal health & the sleep sanctuary is pivotal to restorative sleep. Somnvie focuses on spinal alignment & temperature regulation, for example. Their curated collection of exceptional quality bedding, is all designed for one thing – the luxury of a great night’s sleep. For the health & well being of your guests, and your own wellness as a busy Innkeeper, your Sleep Sanctuary Matters! All the layers of the Somnvie collection will be available to experience & order.
The B&B Team
Eben Viens – Owner
P.O. Box 1799
Brattleboro, VT 05302
877-957-2360
eben@bbteam.com
www.bbteam.com
Welcome innkeepers and bed and breakfast inn lovers! We are The B&B Team®. If you want to purchase a bed and breakfast inn, learn about starting a bed and breakfast, or you are an innkeeper looking to sell your inn or grow your business, we want to talk to you about our inn broker and consulting services.
Conference Exhibitors
Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP)
Erik Spence – Conference Planner
P.O. Box 622
Berlin, NJ 08009
573-470-3492
conference@alplodging.org
http://www.alplodging.org/
ALP is passionate about supporting the success of the independent lodging community. We provide resources for professionals at every stage of their career—from fresh-faced newcomers to seasoned veterans—and for vendors that offer products or services to independent lodging businesses. In addition to being the industry’s guiding voice and go-to resource hub, we provide essential education, mentorship, advocacy, networking opportunities, and more for our members.
Life With Mariah
Mariah Haberman
608-354-7208
mariahhaberman@gmail.com
Lifewithmariah.com
Mariah Haberman is a Wisconsin native that shares her curated collection of travel, career and lifestyle inspiration. She is a lifestyle influencer and digital creator that covers a wide variety of topics on Life with Mariah from solo travel ideas to how to kill it at your career. Mariah spent years as the lead host of the longest-running tourism TV show, Discover Wisconsin, where she brought the Midwest’s best foods, festivals, sights and activities to the screens of more than 700,000 loyal fans across the Midwest each and every weekend.
Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters
Pete Berres – Owner & Founder
Kendall Bocher – Project Manager
202 Air Park Drive
Watertown, WI 53094
920-261-6158
kendall@bbcoffee.com
Berresbrothers.com
At Berres Brothers, our vision is simple: to make great coffees that create a vacation from the ordinary. We want our coffee to put a smile on your face and be your favorite routine, so we work hard to provide delicious, unique flavors you’ll love. We offer over 50 coffees and more than 40 flavored varieties, from the bold, bright, and full-bodied to the delectable and indulgent, so there’s a flavor here for everyone to enjoy.
Breakfast Diva
Susan Steffan
Galena, IL
815-281-2743
breakfastdiva@gmail.com
Breakfastdiva.com
As the owner of a small lodging property you understand that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Maybe you currently own or are about to own a bed and breakfast, inn or boutique hotel and know that your breakfast service is not what it could be. Maybe you don’t know where to begin. Breakfast Diva, Susan Steffan, has the experience, skills and talent to equip aspiring and current innkeepers, managers and staff with the knowledge to take breakfast to the level of excellence your guests expect.
Frictionless Guest App
Diann Turner – Client Success Manager
103 Meade Drive
Annapolis, MD 21403
888-827-0635
dturner@frictionlessguest.com
Frictionlessguest.com
The Frictionless Guest App acts as a digital concierge that helps guests live like locals while visiting. It gives property owners the ability to provide their guests with authentic information on “unique” local places to eat, shop and play and then some. Using the app saves time, reduces repeat questions and ensures guests have a phenomenal visit off property. The ease and convenience of the app creates fantastic memories that equate to return visits!
The MWInns also thanks Frictionless Guest App for creating our MWInns Conference App.
Unique Angles Photography
Marcus Berg – Owner/Photographer
P.O. Box 20793
Keizer, OR 97307
503-576-9427
uniqueangles@gmail.com
Uniqueanglesphotography.com
Using hospitality photography to tell your story will help convey the experience you offer while potential guests are on your site. Our passion is to capture the unique angles of your location. Working with you to create the best images that expresses the beauty and essence of your property.
Get Heads In Beds
Randall Bangs – Founder & Managing Partner
521 Grant Street
Wausau, WI 54403
262-639-5500
stay@stewartinn.com
GetHeadsInBeds.com
Get Heads in Beds is a BnB marketing consulting firm that drives profitable growth. We work on a pay for performance basis so we only make money when our clients make money. Our focus is on pricing, OTA optimization, business analytics, branding, online marketing and operational excellence. We started out working with BnB’s in Wisconsin but have expanded nationally. We have increased most of our clients revenue in excess of 50% but we have grown several in excess of $400,000 annually.
InsideOut Solutions
Patricia McCauley – President
1271 3 Crabs Rd.
Sequim, WA 98382
360-683-5774
pat@insideout.com
https://insideout.com/
InsideOut Solutions Inc. is a company that provides digital marketing and website design services specifically tailored to the hospitality industry, including B&B’s boutique hotels, inns, and vacation rentals. What truly sets InsideOut Solutions Inc. apart is its unwavering customer-centric approach. They collaborate closely with hospitality clients, gaining a deep understanding of their goals and requirements to ensure that each solution aligns seamlessly with their business objectives.
Interim Innkeepers Network
Sue Kalis – Interim Innkeeper
Ramona Sonnenburg
Darci Bartlett
4672 Palmer Pointe Rd.
Minnetrista, MN 55331
269-720-9448
suellen222@aol.com
https://www.interiminnkeepers.net/
We have a group of 40+ members who are willing to travel to your Bed and Breakfast while you are away for a vacation or family emergency. Our goal is to provide a unique service for bed and breakfast owners to find temporary or long term management relief. Our organization is committed to the Innkeeping profession and our members offer a wide range of experience and knowledge. Our mission is to offer owners and Innkeepers the opportunity to refresh, renew and rejuvenate themselves.
Logan Marketing
Jeff Logan – Chief Marketing Officer
Emily Wachsman – Chief Executive Officer
9509 North Town Drive
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
360-808-7452
accounting@loganmarketing.com
Loganmarketing.com
Logan Marketing has over 30 years of experience designing websites and building a successful online presence for the hospitality industry. We are experts in internet marketing, implementing a broad range of products to help you achieve success.
Midwest Association of Independent Inns
Kerri Thiel
206 Jefferson Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
715-942-8180
kerri@wbba.org
Stop by our booth to learn about the Midwest Association of Independent Inns (MWInns), a “new” regional association, working to help support its members with a full range of services. This includes powerful Marketing designed to bring more guests to your inn and a proven and positive ROI. See why an investment in MWInns pays dividends in currency, competency, and confidence. Let us help you build your business for the long term.
Travel Wisconsin (WISDOT)
Jeff Anderson – Regional Tourism Specialist
P.O. Box 735
Waupaca, WI 54981
715-492-0264
janderson@travelwisconsin.com
Harnessing the Power of Tourism Marketing Would you like to learn more about how Travel Wisconsin is strategically marketing the state and the resources available to your business? Join Travel Wisconsin and learn more about our statewide marketing strategy, and the many resources we offer our partners to inspire visitors to discover the unexpected across the state. We’ll highlight the current brand initiatives and provide free resources to support your business and align with Travel Wisconsin.
Vendor Contributors
Galena Country Tourism
Kat Roberts
101 Bouthillier St
Galena, IL 61036
815-776-9200
eroberts@visitgalena.org
https://www.visitgalena.org/
We thank Galena Country Tourism for their contribution of visitors bags for the Midwest Association of Independent Inns Conference and Trade Show guests attendees.