Inn Keeper Couple - Lucile, ID

Seeking: Outgoing, Hard-Working, Live-In Couple to Manage 9 Room Riverfront Lodge in Beautiful Lucile, Idaho. Meet Active Travelers of All Ages; Seasonal-Style Work with a Year-Round Opportunity; Live in Well-Appointed Private Living Quarters in a Peaceful Environment. Start Date April 1 (approx.).

Description: The newly-renovated Lodge sits on approximately 1 acre of picturesque riverfront on the banks of the Salmon River in the “Banana-belt” of Idaho, so-named for its temperate climate.  Many of our guests are enthusiastic, repeat visitors who have been loyal to the Lodge for years. Others are first-time visitors traveling to experience new adventures. We need an equally enthusiastic couple to care for the Lodge and its guests, both familiar and new.

Peak Season is June through mid-September. The Lodge will be sold out most weekends, with guests enjoying white water rafting, Hells Canyon Jet Boat excursions, fishing, family reunions, road trips, and bicycle rallys. Peak Season is exciting, social, and work intensive.

Shoulder Season is mid-September through Nov. 1, and mid-February through May.  Visitors include fisherman, hunters, and travelers lured by prime-time events that attract visitors around the Northwest and beyond, including Women with Bait, Jet Boat Races, and the Riggins Rodeo. Shoulder Season is more likely to have repeat customers who are passionate about their hobbies.

Off Season is November, December and January. Historically quiet, it is a recuperative time for the Inn Keepers, when they can work shorter hours, and catch up on backlogged projects and maintenance between sporadic guests.

2021-2022 Remodel & Rebranding

The property includes three buildings, all newly remodeled: (1) a 9 room Lodge (plus a fully-stocked Communal Kitchen, known as “The Back Eddy”); (2)  a private Inn Keepers’ apartment with living area, kitchen (fridge, stovetop and range, microwave, cookware), bedroom, and separate bath, adjacent to office and laundry; and (3) owners’ residence. In connection with the remodel we rebranded from the Steelhead Inn to the Steelhead Lodge.

Responsibilities

Day-to-day

• Greet and interact with guests
• Manage phone and web reservations
• Maintain online bookings calendar (www.Cloudbeds.com) and interfaces with online travel partners (Expedia.com, Booking.com, etc.)
• Handle check-in and check-out process
  • *We are supportive of Inn Keepers safeguarding their personal time and setting “office hours.” We request that you determine a practical system for guests to self-check in/self-check out outside of regular office hours
• Manage guest payments and point of sale: process credit card payments; manage sale of Steelhead Lodge branded merchandise (logo coffee mugs and baseball caps, etc.); manage petty cash
• Clean and turn over guest rooms, including laundry, beds and bathrooms, surfaces and dusting, vacuuming, and resetting amenities
• Manage any supporting housekeeping staff.
  • **Our Inn Keepers are welcome to hire and make reasonable use of local housekeepers as neededto manage extra busy days. There have been periods when housekeeping assistance has gone smoothly and been consistently available, and other periods where it has been inconsistent or hard to come by. Our Inn Keepers have primary responsibility for cleaning the Lodge.
• Inventory and restocking of supplies
  • Maintain the Communal Kitchen (“The Back Eddy”). Basic breakfast and snack items, and condiments, should kept available for guests at all times. Kitchen needs to be reset and kept clean daily.
  • Reorder supplies, as needed. Kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, cleaning products, etc.
  • Manage merchandise sales and inventory (currently includes hats and mugs). Alert owners when owners need to reorder merchandise.
• Upkeep the buildings. Significant responsibilities relating to building upkeep include: sweeping, changing light bulbs, making sure Internet is on and troubleshooting if it is slow or goes out, power washing the walls, resetting outside furniture when guests move it.
• Upkeep the Landscaping. We have a timed sprinkler system for watering. Historically the Inn Keepers have done the mowing and other general lawn maintenance.
• Manage Core Systems. Our ideal Inn Keepers will be able to troubleshoot and address minor systems issues including plumbing, electrical, A/C & heating units, and carpets. Outside professionals are available in the area for service calls if needed.
• Haul off trash. There is no trash pick-up on site. Trash bags need to be driven a couple miles down the highway.
• Keep Apartment, Office and Laundry Tidy. Although the Inn Keepers’ apartment is private, we expect it to be kept clean and tidy. Likewise the Office and Laundry, which are visible to guests.

Occasional and Surprise

• You name it. It’s an inn in rural Idaho. There will be unexpected situations that the Inn Keepers will need to troubleshoot on the spot.

Rhythm & Routine

• The majority of our guests leave the property during the day and return in the evening. There will be a lot of time during the day with no guests on property. This downtime should be used wisely for preparing for the next wave of activity.
• Peak Season will be packed, and you should expect to be “on” during that time. There will be opportunity during the Shoulder and Off Seasons to take a breather.
• We are amenable to one or both Inn Keepers having another, remote job so long as your Lodge responsibilities are seamlessly kept up and prioritized.

Qualifications

• Innkeeping or hospitality experience is a plus, but not required.
• Being willing to clean and be hands-on is required.
• Comfort with internet, computers and wireless required. Our entire booking and payment system is online.
• Being handy is a huge plus. We will hire outside service professionals, but our ideal Inn Keepers will be able to do the minor fix-its on their own and triage the more significant work.
• Basic lawn mowing and yard up keep required.
• Personable and positive. You will be the face of the Lodge!
• Need your own personal vehicle and auto insurance. You will use it for work-related purposes.
• Responsive over both text and email. The owners live remotely (Idaho and California). Much of the time we’ll be hands-off, but we need to be able to get in touch with you.
• Creative and proactive. Find ways to make this property amazing and make it happen!
• Please have the intention of staying at least a year.
• Non-smoking applicants only, please.

Compensation

• Live in private apartment on riverfront property!
• $3,200/month, 1099
• Reimburse two tanks of gas/month