Welcome to the Innkeeping and Boutique Hotel division of the Hospitality Olympics! Today, we witness a fierce competition among the world's finest establishments, and the US team, represented by the Inn at the Agora in Lewiston, Maine, is a favorite. Competing in this illustrious event are Sarah, the assistant manager, and Billie Jayne, the owner/innkeeper, leading the Front of House team, while Leiarna and Crissy head the Back of House team.
A Warm Welcome from Inn at the Agora
The Great Falls Balloon Festival, an iconic event in Lewiston/Auburn, Maine, has been a beloved tradition since its inception. For over three decades, it has brought joy, community spirit, and significant economic benefits to the region. However, the recent announcement of the festival's cancellation for 2024 has sparked an outcry from the community, highlighting its importance, especially in the wake of the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston. This blog post delves into the history, impact, and future of this cherished event, exploring the reasons behind its cancellation and the community's efforts to preserve its legacy.
As an assistant innkeeper, one of my favorite things about wedding season at the Agora Grand Event Center is accommodating wedding parties who stay at the inn. The convenience of being able to stay at the inn and get ready for the wedding right next door to the venue removes a lot of pressure on a positively stressful day. Granted, people getting married next door don’t always rent the inn as well, but when they do, it’s a lot of fun from my view. Typically, on the day of a wedding, the happy couple will have a steady stream of friends, family, and professionals – from planners to stylists and photographers. From the perspective of guest services, our job is to make sure our guests have everything they need to make their day seamless.
It might surprise our readers to know that there are still places in Maine with snow on the ground at the end of April. It's not uncommon for Maine to experience early Spring snowstorms, and in fact, our last significant snow fall was just a few weeks back. April 1st was a nice day this year, but the joke was on us because two days later, inland areas were blessed with over a foot (in some places over 20") of heavy snow. From the nearby Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford to Eureka Hall far north in Stockholm, restaurants reachable by snowmobile were overrun with enthusiasts enjoying one last snowmo-meal run! Most of the accumulated snow didn't stick around long as temperatures warmed, but even as it's a 60-degree day today, you can see remnants of snowbanks in some places. The last bit of snow that was in the inn parking lot just melted in the last couple of days.
Who are our guests?
As the second largest city in Maine, Lewiston offers atypical city life. I came from a typical large city with skyscrapers, rush hour traffic for miles, a staggering crime rate, and not many natural features in the urban landscape. In Lewiston, visitors get a unique urban tourism experience.
It is with a heavy, and yet a hopeful heart that I write this post. On October 25, our city suffered a mass shooting that continues to impact everyday life as we navigate the downstream effects of this tragedy. The shootings happened at two locations, a restaurant and billiard hall as well as a bowling alley hosting a kids' league. As the world carries on, we are still wrapping our minds around what just happened and how we are to move forward. As our community begins the work of healing, the mayor has proclaimed today, 11/3/23, "Love Lewiston Day". Community organizations are showing solidarity and encouraging people to do the same, by displaying a blue heart and/or donating to help victims' families.
As summer's warmth gives way to the crisp embrace of autumn, Maine undergoes a breathtaking transformation. You can find some amazing fall foliage photo ops all over Maine, but we’ve picked out our favorite spots and go-to places! Embarking on day trips from the Inn at the Agora allows you to immerse yourself in the stunning fall foliage. From panoramic vistas atop the Height of Land to enchanting waterfalls and scenic viewpoints, this guide compiles an array of picturesque spots that capture the essence of fall in Maine.
Welcome to the Innkeeping and Boutique Hotel division of the Hospitality Olympics! Today, we witness a fierce competition among the world's finest establishments, and the US team, represented by the Inn at the Agora in Lewiston, Maine, is a favorite. Competing in this illustrious event are Sarah, the assistant manager, and Billie Jayne, the owner/innkeeper, leading the Front of House team, while Leiarna and Crissy head the Back of House team.
A Warm Welcome from Inn at the Agora
The Great Falls Balloon Festival, an iconic event in Lewiston/Auburn, Maine, has been a beloved tradition since its inception. For over three decades, it has brought joy, community spirit, and significant economic benefits to the region. However, the recent announcement of the festival's cancellation for 2024 has sparked an outcry from the community, highlighting its importance, especially in the wake of the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston. This blog post delves into the history, impact, and future of this cherished event, exploring the reasons behind its cancellation and the community's efforts to preserve its legacy.
As an assistant innkeeper, one of my favorite things about wedding season at the Agora Grand Event Center is accommodating wedding parties who stay at the inn. The convenience of being able to stay at the inn and get ready for the wedding right next door to the venue removes a lot of pressure on a positively stressful day. Granted, people getting married next door don’t always rent the inn as well, but when they do, it’s a lot of fun from my view. Typically, on the day of a wedding, the happy couple will have a steady stream of friends, family, and professionals – from planners to stylists and photographers. From the perspective of guest services, our job is to make sure our guests have everything they need to make their day seamless.
It might surprise our readers to know that there are still places in Maine with snow on the ground at the end of April. It's not uncommon for Maine to experience early Spring snowstorms, and in fact, our last significant snow fall was just a few weeks back. April 1st was a nice day this year, but the joke was on us because two days later, inland areas were blessed with over a foot (in some places over 20") of heavy snow. From the nearby Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford to Eureka Hall far north in Stockholm, restaurants reachable by snowmobile were overrun with enthusiasts enjoying one last snowmo-meal run! Most of the accumulated snow didn't stick around long as temperatures warmed, but even as it's a 60-degree day today, you can see remnants of snowbanks in some places. The last bit of snow that was in the inn parking lot just melted in the last couple of days.
Who are our guests?
As the second largest city in Maine, Lewiston offers atypical city life. I came from a typical large city with skyscrapers, rush hour traffic for miles, a staggering crime rate, and not many natural features in the urban landscape. In Lewiston, visitors get a unique urban tourism experience.
It is with a heavy, and yet a hopeful heart that I write this post. On October 25, our city suffered a mass shooting that continues to impact everyday life as we navigate the downstream effects of this tragedy. The shootings happened at two locations, a restaurant and billiard hall as well as a bowling alley hosting a kids' league. As the world carries on, we are still wrapping our minds around what just happened and how we are to move forward. As our community begins the work of healing, the mayor has proclaimed today, 11/3/23, "Love Lewiston Day". Community organizations are showing solidarity and encouraging people to do the same, by displaying a blue heart and/or donating to help victims' families.
As summer's warmth gives way to the crisp embrace of autumn, Maine undergoes a breathtaking transformation. You can find some amazing fall foliage photo ops all over Maine, but we’ve picked out our favorite spots and go-to places! Embarking on day trips from the Inn at the Agora allows you to immerse yourself in the stunning fall foliage. From panoramic vistas atop the Height of Land to enchanting waterfalls and scenic viewpoints, this guide compiles an array of picturesque spots that capture the essence of fall in Maine.
This is the story of one little kitty,
Stars and stripes fly high this week all over the country. In Lewiston, we have the Liberty Fest along the Androscoggin River. The twin cities will have vendors set up on the Auburn and the Lewiston sides of the river. There will be food, music, and fun for the whole family! The inn is not far from where the fireworks will be set off. It’s an ideal spot since it’s close to the festival but far enough from the crowd. I recommend exploring the festival along the river for an up-close and interactive experience and then returning to the inn.
Inn at the Agora's memories of a rich past inform efforts to meet present challenges and build momentum toward a greater future. The story of the inn necessarily is a story of our community. From its roots as Kelsey Hall in 1850, to its transformation to a rectory and later an inn, these walls have taken on roles that shaped, sustained, and in turn have been sustained by our community. We are in a unique position to speak to the character and resilience of the neighborhood.
We are pleased to announce the grand re-opening of our family suite, formerly the McDonough Suite, now the Bates Bobcat Family Suite and Bobcat Den! We couldn't be prouder of our remodeled suite. After much anticipation and hard work, Billie's vision has come to fruition. Our Bates Bobcat Family Suite and Bobcat Den make a fun and fresh addition to our inn's unique character. The entire suite has been redone.
It’s spring in Maine and foragers are out in force to harvest a favorite delicacy: fiddleheads. In April and May, if you pass a riverbank and spot someone with a bucket or a tote bag scanning the ground, there is a good chance that person is looking for fiddleheads. Aptly named, fiddleheads are the curled up little fronds of ostrich ferns before they begin to uncoil and mature. These tender little greens have been a springtime staple in Maine for thousands of years. Generational knowledge teaches us that to preserve the tradition into the future, foragers must follow fiddlehead etiquette.
Today, like all the other days in the last couple of weeks, I watched guests hurrying in to get out of the rain. When they go out, you get the sense that they are bracing for a brisk walk, a bad hair day, and water in the shoes. Luckily one perk of being a guest at the inn is the use of our large umbrellas for such “precipitous” occasions. Still, I always hope that there isn’t a need for their use. Let’s get real, though, this is New England, and if you’ve got outdoor plans, sometimes our fronts affront.
