http://lux.acquisition-intl.com/ 26 LUX - Hotel & Spa Awards 2016 Based in a truly beautiful setting, we are located on 150 serene acres of rolling fields and woods, yet just four miles to Interstate-95 and less than five miles to Maine’s State Capital building in Augusta. We have just eight guest rooms and provide very personalised service to our guests, as the owners Scott Cowger and Vince Hannan are the ones to check in all the guests and answer their questions. Furthermore, there is also a full-service meeting and events facility at the inn that can seat up to 200 (or more) for private social or business events. Full custom catering is provided in-house (Vince is the head chef) and full bar service is available (Scott is the bar manager), and over 200 events are held at the Inn every year. Providing the very best service is our top priority, and we make ourselves available to the guests at any time (with in-house phone extensions to reach us late at night), but we are not intrusive or questioning of any of our guests. We listen to their needs and respond accordingly, including any special requests they might have. Some guests like to talk and visit, and some guests prefer their privacy and space to themselves. With this in mind, we don’t force any sort of socialisation, and we also respect the guests’ privacy. We want our guests to have a memorable experience, which is why we do some particularly memorable things for our guests. For instance, we have the guest’s first name(s) on their room doors to add a personal touch. That way, they don’t have to remember the room number, as their name is on the Best Country Inn 2016 - Augusta & LUX Excellence in Sustainability - Augusta The Maple Hill Farm Inn is a truly unique property combining the best aspects of a quiet county farm location along with the latest amenities that a visitor to a luxury hotel has come to expect. We spoke to them to find out more about their establishment, and how they provide an extraordinary getaway for their guests. HO160039 Company: Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Centre Name: Scott Cowger and Vincent Hannan Email:
[email protected] Web Address: MapleBB.com Address: 11 Inn Road, Hallowell ME 04347 Telephone: 207-622-2708 in United States door! We also implement an excruciating attention to detail that tries to anticipate the guest’s desires, and we often hear from them that we have thought of their every need. As well as the high quality service, the building itself also provides a truly unique experience. The core of the inn is a renovated 1906 Victorian gambrel- roofed farmhouse, and subsequent renovations and additions have been carefully made to maintain the original lines and details of the historic structure. The inn and adjacent carriage house event space have been thoroughly updated to modern standards, and guest room accommodations provide the full amenities that today’s traveller prefers. The large addition of the Gathering Place event centre, commercial kitchen, and large laundry was carefully made to the rear of the Inn so as not to detract from the historic façade and comfortable front yard with large maple trees. As a result of the unique setting and services, guests at the inn are incredibly diverse, both geographically as well as in terms of their interests and needs. We are open all year-round, and while many of our winter guests come from right here in New England, we have guests from all around the world throughout the rest of the year. We have guests that are traveling for fun and recreation – tourists – and some may just be passing through the Augusta area, but many use our central location as a way to visit the many faces that Maine has to offer. We are conveniently located so a one-hour drive will get you to the rocky coast, long sandy beaches, bucolic lakes, or the wonderful mountainous regions (and all the hiking that comes along with that!). We have many business travellers that are seeking a quiet and relaxing alternative to the area hotels. They appreciate our attention to detail, with all private baths, full bar service, anytime coffee/tea/home- baked goodies, quality high-speed Wi-Fi, wake-up calls, and a full breakfast in the morning. Some guests that are traveling for work may be attending one of the many events that are held here at the inn as well. On top of all this, we also have guests that are visiting family, coming to weddings or memorial services, and celebrating special romantic occasions like honeymoons or anniversaries. Although there are many aspects of our hotel that we are immensely proud of, the overall theme of our hotel boils down to two things: being “green” and being on a farm. Maple Hill Farm is very proud of being a leader in the field of environmental sustainability. The inn, based on the personal beliefs of the owners, feels that every individual or business needs to make a conscious commitment to minimising their carbon footprint, which allows us to limit the impact of climate change. Moreover, significant investments in renewable energy and efficiency have been made in the last 13 years. These investments include a 10 kilowatt wind turbine in 2003, a 15 kilowatt solar electric system and large solar hot water system in 2006 and the entire facility was converted to high-quality LED lighting in 2012. Among our distinctions in this area include being awarded “Best Green B&B” by Yankee magazine in 2011, and the highest Platinum Level Certification in TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders programme in 2013. From our experience, our guests have a very strong appreciation for all that we have done to be green and sustainable. In fact, many select us as a place to stay precisely because of our commitment to these goals. However, guest comfort and convenience has not been sacrificed with all of these changes and systems are in place to seamlessly provide traditional fuels and power when the renewable energy systems can’t keep up with peak demand. Our concern is always the comfort and enjoyment for our guests. The guest’s experience is only enhanced by enjoying the comfort and amenities during their stay, knowing that they have selected an establishment that is much more sustainable than many, and not worrying about overindulging! Maple Hill Farm was also just that – a farm – for a very long time, before being converted to an inn and conference centre. As you first enter the driveway (the Inn Road in Hallowell, Maine) and come up the road lined by sugar maple trees, you pass a large red barn that has also been meticulously maintained. The innkeepers Scott and Vince have brought back farm life to the barn and adjoining pastures, and there are eight llamas (six of which were born at the farm!) that are the innkeepers’ pets, and a number