Youth is no deterrent for good innkeeping

James and Jill Meyer of the Captain’s House Inn are not your usual innkeepers. They did not spend long years in other careers before their dream of owning an inn came true.

Since dating in high school in New Jersey, Jill and James vacationed with James’ family in Chatham on Cape Cod, where the idea of becoming innkeepers took hold. But first there was college, with James majoring in hospitality management and Jill entrepreneurial studies and marketing.

James went to work for the prestigious Boston Harbor Hotel, becoming the manager of three departments. Jill held corporate positions, sharpening her skills in Internet marketing, a key to today’s innkeeping.

Four years ago, when James was only 27 and Jill only 25, they bought a small inn. Jill says, “We worried that guests would be apprehensive about booking because of our ages, but luckily that wasn’t the case.” Last year, they were able to sell their first inn and buy the four-diamond Captain’s House Inn, located in their beloved Chatham.

Although they are young, they know the age-old key to good innkeeping — great hospitality. Says James, “Customer service is what the Captain’s House Inn is built on. We provide twice daily housekeeping, gourmet breakfasts, and afternoon cream tea. Our concierge services include booking day trips and dinner reservations. Our rooms are well-appointed and include everything we can think of to make our guests’ stays as comfortable as possible.”

The previous owners of the Captain’s House had joined DINE, and the young couple continued the membership. “When we went to our first meeting,” Jill says, “we saw that it was a good network of innkeepers to be a part of.”

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