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North American Inns
Cover Story - Jakobstettel Inn
No matter what our field of expertise, we get only one shot at making a good impression.
Building a Client Experience
BY INGRID CHAMPION
Innkeepers, in particular, are aware of just how important consistently orchestrated luxury is to stake a claim and woo the client. Where beauty is a state of mind, luxury can not be fudged. It is best left to the experts.
Daniel P. Reeve is an expert on experts. Owner of the new, improved Jakobstettel Inn, and financial guru of ‘The Millionaire in You’ success, he surrounds himself with teams of specialists, dedicated to personalizing client aid in this complex world of life and investment choices. Author of seven books, he continues to introduce exciting and innovative concepts, an in-depth and disciplined approach of wealth management, which he hopes will also raise the standard of innkeeping to yet another, loftier level.
“If you are thinking Ferrari”, says Daniel, “you need to take one for a test drive”, and I for one was looking forward to shifting gears into divine luxury.
The Jakobstettel Inn provides just that. Under new ownership, it has been elevated to something quite wonderful, something to aspire to. Bold, 1898 Georgian architecture, with its wide porches and massive pillars, its generous space and stained glass, now introduces a challenging lean toward the better European ‘Pension’: a small hotel, private, elegant and luxurious beyond belief.
The decor feels grand, larger than life. Oversized art and furnishings convey upscale modern classic. Ten exquisite guestrooms with en-suite baths offer twin, queen and king sized space. In no time at all, leather, brocade and silk have me cocooned in textured moss green comfort. I am shifting into third.
With all its splendour, this is a low key, ‘do as you like’ place. In my white, waffled robe I am boycotting ‘normal’ life. Taking a running leap onto the king-sized, four-poster, I am propped among twelve pillows, eating truffles and imagining the sounds of surf and shore birds. Although, by inn law, anything over nine pillows requires grapes and someone feeding them to you, I am not complaining. There are skilled hands and warmed oil waiting for me at the spa. My visit includes blissful time out with a registered massage therapist; a treat that, I dare say, is more delicious than grapes and truffles combined.
Shall I have a bite to eat before the theatre? Local fine dining establishments with like-minded owners are committed to consistency of excellence. Fanaticism to detail rules, and I like it. First, let’s meet in the lounge for a cocktail and a game of billiards. The in-house bar, Mikasa clad, plasma television, and comfortable seating invite socialization to catch up on world news or to rack ’em up. After a night on down comfort, a substantial continental breakfast is laid out in the inn’s kitchen to be enjoyed whenever and at leisure.
For the hearty appetite, our hosts recommend a country breakfast at the nearby Stone Crock Restaurant, compliments of Jakobstettel. After all, this is Mennonite country, and the food really ‘schmecks’.
With the newspaper read, I am ensconced with a cup of coffee in the privacy of my wingback chair planning an adventure. With five acres of tended grounds to explore, I need not stray far. Walking trails or biking along the Grand River, tennis or lounging in cabanas by the outdoor heated pool and spa may be all that I am willing to manage.
“Affordable luxury, and a lifestyle indeed attainable”
Although, there is downtown St. Jacobs at a mere stone’s throw, a charming controversy of old and new. Cobblers and smiths, high-end boutiques, Mennonite butchers and bakers, outlet shopping, and of course, the renowned Farmers Market. It’s all here. I am thinking Ferrari.
Constantly tweaking and digging deeper, Daniel P. Reeve and his team pride themselves on professionalism and the ability to custom-tailor various needs of guests. With energy and enthusiasm they help deliver dynamite VIP packages for the trail rider, hot air balloonist, golfer, theatre lover and spa aficionado. Small corporate and private events are viewed as a welcome challenge.
Ever evolving, innkeeping, rumored to be the second oldest profession in the world, has taken us from stables to gated glitz, from a feedbag of oats to valet parking. Here, at the Jakobstettel Inn, it means building relationships and saying ‘thank-you’ to clients on a regular basis. It encourages affordable luxury, and a lifestyle indeed attainable.
Says Daniel P. Reeve: “If you want to live it, you need to own it. Learn how to set goals and know what the process is. Then, write your own ticket.” It works for me. With a smooth shift into fifth, I am ‘Queen of the Road’.
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