Villa Maria Petit Hotel
Innkeepers Catharina and Mieke Van Dyck
P.O. Box 230
Kerikeri Inlet Rd, Kerikeri
New Zealand

What advice would you give to aspiring innkeepers?

From experience, they don't listen because they think they can do it better or differently.

We've pointed out to them that the workload is 12 to 16 hours, depending on the season, per day. So the first requirement is to forget having a private life. Also, always smile and never tell guests your problems. Be totally dedicated to your business.

What we see is that once they start, they scream for help after 6 months -- and in many cases sell after 2 years. Only the great optimists survive! That tells you something about us, who have been here 17 years.

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