Not sure where the time went this year, but Thanksgiving is tomorrow as we head into the busy holiday season.  Each year around this Thanksgiving we try to take some time to reflect and to take a moment to be thankful for the many blessings that have come our way.  It’s now over 6  years since we started this adventure of becoming the owners and innkeepers of the Franklin Street Inn Bed & Breakfast. Although  we had no idea if we would be successful, we weathered COVID, enjoyed a busy bounce back travel period, and now continue to do well.

We are thankful for the continued success of the Inn!  As we wrap up this calendar year, we celebrate a year of prosperity and improvements at the Franklin Street Inn. The Inn has provided us with a livable income, slow but steady growth, and the experience to know that we can continue to be successful running the B&B. We have learned how many people it takes to support even a tiny business like ours.  So we think it is proper to be thankful for them and acknowledge them.

Our Guests

The group we are most thankful for is the guests that have graced our Inn.  Without our wonderful guests, we would not be in business. With well over 500 reservations this year, there are too many folks to note or thank individually.  Our guests continue to hail from many states and countries.  They come to Appleton and the Fox Cities for a variety of reasons and purposes. Overall, they are friendly, kind, gracious and are a constant reminder of the good in people.  We also wish to say a special thanks to our guests who have returned to the Inn. Your repeat support indicates to us that we continue to run the Inn  well while making it comfortable for our guests.

Our Partners and Colleagues

Another group we are thankful for is our wonderful partners and colleagues. Several local vendors help us clean and maintain the Inn as needed.  They help us make the Inn a comfortable space for our guests. These people help us run an efficient and effective operation. They allow us to tend to our guests with confidence. Our local partners like the Fox Cities Visitors and Convention Bureau, Downtown Appleton, Inc., Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, and Lawrence University refer guests and provide reasons for travelers to come to Appleton and the Fox Cities area.

We are thankful for our fellow innkeepers from the Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast Association (WBBA). We have learned much from this group of folks, and through the association conferences.  The members are readily available to give advice or support to our initiatives. The WBBA also helps us and our associated Inns be visible across the state and online. Keith feels fortunate to be able to give back to the WBBA by serving on the Board as its Vice President for 2022 and 2023.

We are also thankful for our online partners, Odysys and ThinkReservations and Brandefined, who help us keep up our website, make reservations easy and accessible for our guests, and help us to market our Inn.  They also provide great support through educational blogs, webinars and podcasts to help us maintain our online visibility.  Additionally, they are readily available when we have issues that need resolved, or questions for which we need answers.

Family and Friends

Finally, we are thankful for the love and support of our family and friends.  They give us the love, hope, and encouragement that everyone needs to be successful. We would not be successful without them!

We hope you are able to take some time to reflect with gratitude and count your blessings.  Take some time to think about those for whom you are thankful this holiday season.  We also hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving and are able to spend it with family, friends and the loved ones in your life!