Guardswell Farm Agritourism Meetup Recap
Accommodation Operations Meeting at Guardswell Farm
An insightful day at Core Community Group Member, Guardswell Farm, where 45 agritourism operators from across Scotland gathered to exchange best practices and strategies for running an accommodation business, as well as overcoming common industry challenges.
Open discussions on housekeeping best practices
Participants explored all aspects of running of accommodation operations with a particular focus on housekeeping and how this impacts the delivery of an exceptional experience for guests and profitability.
Topics of discussion included:
- Recruiting and training housekeepers
- Maintaining cleanliness standards
- Deep cleaning
- Checklists and procedures
- Employment options and incentives for housekeeping staff
Hosts Anna and Digby Lamotte shared their experience managing diverse accommodation options, including cottages, a country farmhouse, and off-grid huts. They highlighted the value of staff who understand their ethos, are knowledgeable about the farm, and consistently uphold high housekeeping standards.
Farm tour: Guardswell Farm
After the morning discussions, participants toured Guardswell Farm and its accommodation, allowing them to contextualise Anna’s earlier insights and better understand how their practices are applied across the property.
Online Meeting: Sharing Accommodation Operation Insights
Building on this in-person Accommodation Operations meeting, an online follow-up session is schedule for Tuesday, 25th August to present the overall collective information from businesses.
We encourage attendance from both those who joined the in-person meeting and those who were unable to attend.
Register for the online meeting here: https://accommodationoperationsonline.eventbrite.co.uk/
Next Agritourism Monitor Farm Programme Meeting
The next Agritourism Monitor Farm meeting is on Thursday, 20th August at Lennox of Lomond, focusing on Tours and Experiences Operations.
Kay and Dougie Wilson and Bobby and Anne Lennox, 2019-2022 Agritourism Monitor Farmers, will share insights and best practices for implementing successful, safe and profitable farm tours and experiences.
Key topics will include:
- Costing out the entire operation from pre-arrival, delivery and post-tour
- Valuing your time and pricing tours
- Delivering a safe tour, protecting your guests and your business
- Meetings are free to attend and open to all, but registration is required.
Register now: https://farmtouroperations.eventbrite.co.uk/