An Exclusive Interview with The Lake Rabun Hotel

Question 1: Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.

Ans:

• The Lake Rabun Hotel is a charming nature-based Mountain Lodge that recently celebrated over 100 years in business. It’s located in the small Art Village of Lakemont, Georgia, a short distance from one of the south’s most popular state parks – Tallulah Gorge.

• Our campus consists of the Lake Rabun Hotel across from Lake Rabun and the marina. Next to the hotel is Innkeeper’s Cottage, a 2 Bedroom cottage with a large front porch and picnic area.

• About a mile down the road is Fish Camp tucked back in the woods with 5 two-bedroom cottages, 3 of which are pet friendly and a short distance from there Forest Lodge, a very popular Wedding and Event Center with mountain views, privacy, and catered dining.

Question 2: Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).

Ans:

• The Hotel features Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant a Farm to Table award-winning restaurant and bar. Because of its location in the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounded by lakes, rivers, waterfalls, it offers many outdoor activities such as graded hiking trails from easy to more difficult, white-water rafting, zip lining, horseback riding, boating, fishing, winery tours and many more activities reserved through our free concierge service.

• Lake Rabun Hotel is owned by North Mountain Properties LLC and managed by Gwen University in Deland, Florida and Pierce Business School in Philadelphia, PA.

• Some of my major achievements in tourism and hospitality are as follows:

• I received the State of Delaware Hospitality Award presented on the Senate Floor for Spring Garden Bed & Breakfast in Laurel, DE.

• I also received Delaware’s Top Tourism award for creating the very popular and Innovative Biking Inn to Inn Delaware program featured in the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, and New York Post.

• Spring Garden B&B was selected and featured as one of the 12 top B&B and Inns in the Mid-Atlantic by Mid- Atlantic Country Magazine

The Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant was included in the National Geographic Traveler’s Top Stay List of 123 Hotels in the US, Canada, Caribbean, Mexico.

In another category I am also a founding partner with Anabel Panayotti of Port to Port International Corp in New Castle, DE.

Out of 19 million eligible companies, it was selected for the prestigious Top 500 of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. by Entrepreneur Magazine in 1994.

We were also selected the Top Businesswomen in the State of Delaware and SBA’s Mid- Atlantic Exporter of the Year.

Question 3: What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?

Ans:

• I was inspired to buy and restore the 100-year-old Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant because I’m a Preservationist and have a hospitality background. The Hotel was on its last legs, but it was loved and revered by past and current guests. It was a unique building with lots of history and charm sitting right across from a beautiful lake. It needed to be saved.

Question 4: What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

Ans:

1. Do your research so that you can estimate the money you will need & the amount of labor to start and grow it. Write a program.
2. Prepare to work, work, work.
3. Have great ideas and market yourself.

Question 5: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

• Top Three Skills

1. Belief in yourself
2. Persistence and tenacity
3. Great problem-solving skills.

Question 6: How many hours do you work a day on average?

• Hours worked daily -12 -14

Question 7: To what do you most attribute your success?

• To what do I attribute my success:

• Guts, belief in myself, creative problem-solving skills, can do attitude, ability to hire good people and create teams, never give up, shoot for excellence, and deliver an outstanding service or product.

Question 8: How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?

• Marketing- Most successful forms of marketing

1. Creating a good website with good SEO
2. Reaching out to leaders in the tourism and hospitality business to be included in their publications. Example: Southern Living – we were named Georgia’s 6 best winter escapes, Best of Atlanta – Atlanta Magazine, Southern Lade – Great Southern Getaways, Trip Advisor Hall of Fame, Open Table Diner’s Choice since 2012, Top 10 Best Farm to Table Restaurants in Georgia and more…
3. Word of mouth, providing exemplary service

Question 9: Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?

• Funding was from other successful businesses we own.

Question 10: What is the best way to achieve long-term success?

• Best way to achieve long term success is to continue to deliver excellent services and warm hospitality. Stay creative and add services that are needed and wanted by your public.

Question 11: Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?

• In 5-10 years, I’ll probably be writing a book. I’m 83. But I see the Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant increasing its services in the Wedding and Event arena with various retreats and educational, wellness, entrepreneurial, and ecological conferences.

Question 12: What company or business do you admire the most?

• Omega Institute in Rinebeck NY