What happens at DINE meetings? Innkeepers smile

Three blonde DINE innkeepers

The blonde innkeepers! Sue from Harbor Light Inn, Sarah from Captain Jefferds Inn & Janis from Camden Maine Stay Inn.

Twice a year the innkeepers and owners of the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE) meet to go over business, promotions and new ideas.  If your ears were burning earlier this week, they may have been talking about you – their favorite guests – too!  It’s a chance to create new programs for DINE but also a wonderful way for innkeepers who are colleagues and friends to gather, compare ideas and reminisce.  Some of the innkeepers of DINE have been members and friends for more than two decades! Together, this group of professional innkeepers have more than 150 combined years of innkeeping experience. That means together, they’ve hosted thousands of romantic getaways, culinary vacations, spa escapes and more.

DINE innkeepers are often asked what happens at DINE meetings.  Quite honestly, what happens at DINE meetings stays at DINE meetings! But throughout the year, guests learn about the promotions and partnerships that DINE creates at this meeting.  The upcoming 12 Days of Christmas promotion, our earlier Kick off to Summer promotion and of course the ongoing DINE dollars program are all outcomes from these meetings.

Perhaps one of the most important things that come from DINE meeting is the chance to smile and network.  Innkeepers are a hard working bunch, yet at these meetings smiles reign.  Each business meeting is hosted by a DINE property and then followed by a reception and dinner.  Here’s an inside look into the most recent DINE meeting, where smiles prevailed.

DINE meeting agenda at Manor on Golden Pond

The meeting is called to order and DINE business is top of the agenda.

Innkeepers listen at DINE meeting

Mary Ellen, from Manor on Golden Pond, and Alicia and Steve from Deerfield Inn listen intently to DINE speakers.

DINE innkeepers gather in the pub at Manor on Golden Pond

Cocktail hour offers a chance for DINE members to catch up.

Brian Shields photo bombs the picture

There’s always one in every crowd! Brian Shields, co-owner of Manor on Golden Pond, does a great job of being front and center in this photo.

Innkeepers from Rabbit Hill Inn and Gateways Inn and Restaurant.

Leslie Mulcahy of the Rabbit Hill Inn and Michele Gazit of the Gateways Inn pose for a quick photo.

Dave and Sue Labrie, owners of Inn at Harbor Hill Marina

Dave and Sue Labrie are always smiling!

Suzanne and Carolyn Conway, innkeepers at Harbor Light Inn

Two generations of Harbor Light Inn innkeepers – Suzanne and Carolyn (mother-daughter)

At the end of each meeting, DINE innkeepers gather for a group photo.  During the recent DINE meeting, everyone took a trip down Memory Lane, reviewing group photos from the past decade.

DINE innkeepers gather for a group photo at Manor on Golden Pond

Innkeepers gather for the annual group photo.

There you have it.  A glimpse into DINE meetings.  From very funny to very serious, there was plenty of behind-the-scenes stuff that we can’t share here, but this gives a little insight into what makes the Distinctive Inns of New England group work together so well.

Time for your next New England romantic getaway?  Simply click on any of the links below and start planning your next visit.

In Maine:  Captain Jefferds Inn in Kennebunkport & Camden Maine Stay Inn in Camden.

In Rhode Island: Cliffside Inn in Newport

In Vermont:  Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford & Grafton Inn in Grafton

In New Hampshire:  Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness & Chesterfield Inn in West Chesterfield

In Massachusetts:  Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Gateways Inn & Restaurant in Lenox, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod.

In Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic