Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Streeter.
Pamela, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I spent a large part of my childhood in Texas having moved to the Spring/Klein area just before 3rd grade with my family and stayed there until I graduated from Klein High School. I then moved to the DFW area where I graduated from the University of North Texas, with a BBA. While in school, I began my career in hospitality by working for American Airlines and then Travel Resources Management Group. I then had the opportunity to move to Washington DC and work for a variety of hotel management firms and worked my way up to being the VP distribution & marketing for Interstate Hotels & Resorts. My responsibilities included using e-commerce to develop new revenue opportunities for direct to hotel business; managing relationships with third-party Web companies; and overseeing Interstate’s usage of the GDS, marketing, and rate programs. With this position, I traveled extensively and have actually visited 25 countries and 49 states. It was through these travels, I had the chance to experience world class hotels and restaurants that broaden my horizons to the possibilities of my own adventure one day. I also had the opportunity to serve the industry in various forms throughout my career by being on the International Association of Holiday Inn Owners Distribution Action Committee, Chair for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation and President of the DC Chapter of HSMAI as well as a Board member of HSMAI Americas and the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA). I also had the opportunity to work as an Additional was on the Technology Committee for Historic Hotels of America and Advisory Board Member for VFM, I contributed to industry publications and did many guest lectures at conferences and universities.I was lucky enough to be recognized for my industry efforts in travel by being named one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality & Travel Sales & Marketing in 2006.
In 2011, I moved to the North Phoenix area to work as the Travel and Lifestyle Product Operations VP for a company that specialized in providing cruise, travel and lifestyle opportunities to membership groups, which also caused my career to take a new focus when I began consulting with companies, providing subject matter expertise and operational needs to all travel technology platforms.
After many life events happened, I realized I missed the actual hotel world and decided that while every hotelier dreams of owning their small hotel someday to be able to do things their way, I was going to live my “someday”. I made a list of criteria (little land, on water, more than ten rooms, in a town with tourism, less than two hours from a metropolitan area) and found the perfect property in Glen Rose, Texas at the Inn on the River. The move back to Texas brings me closer to my family again with my parents living just outside Gordon, TX and a sister and family living in the Colleyville/Grapevine area.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Everyone has career moments where they look back and wonder if they did the right thing. The decision to purchase my own hotel and live my “someday” is a decision I will not regret ever. In purchasing the Inn on the River, we knew that the property needed a lot of “love’. It is 101 years old in 2020 and hadn’t had any major renovations since 1993. Coming into the property, we quickly learned that in the past, fixes were more band-aids than solutions, so we have spent a great deal of time resolving issues that could have been prevented. With that said, I am so excited to be apart of the restoring a 100 year old Texas Registered Historic Landmark and making the Inn something that people seek out for the atmosphere, location and service.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
Inn on the River believes that each guest is the most important guest and each employee is part of a family. To accomplish this philosophy our values start with Personal Connections, no one is just a number or a name to us, we want each person we come in contact with to know we value them for themselves. We also believe that we have to honor the past, but prepare for the future. By keeping these principles in mind, we believe we will stand out in the crowd of hotel options not only in Glen Rose, but also in Texas itself, to make our historic property a destination in and of itself.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
In my career, I have had a number of mentors, advocates and cheerleaders – who gave me advice along the way, but as I look back to the people who made me ready to step out of my comfort zone and take the leap into owning and restoring the Inn on the River, the credit goes to my Great Uncle, Gordon Fentiman. He took me on a road trip shortly after my grandmother (his sister) passed away and getting to know him again as an adult over the 5000 miles we drove together made me realize my passions, Then I spent time with my parents (Jerry & Kathie) who encouraged me to follow that passion and believed in me and my ability to be successful. Lastly a group of friends including Sandy Bailey who wouldn’t let me doubt myself and lastly Scott Cole who not only believed in the idea but came along for the ride to help me make it happen.
When I moved to Glen Rose, I knew no one here, but I quickly was introduced to the around town by a few people and everyone has welcomed me with open arms and have jumped in to help when we needed to get something done! Glen Rose is a town of wonderful people who are passionate about their history and preserving it and we are so glad to be apart of this community.
Pricing:
- Standard Queen Rooms – $159 per night plus tax
- Deluxe Queen with River View & King Bedded Rooms – /$169 per night plus tax
- Suites & Full Bedded Rooms are also available.
Contact Info:
- Address: 205 SW Barnard St
Glen Rose, Texas, 76043 - Website: www.innontheriver.com
- Phone: 254-897-2929
- Email: inn@innontheriver.com
- Instagram: inn_on_the_river
- Facebook: innontheriverglenrose
- Twitter: @InnOnTheRiver1
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/inn-on-the-river-glen-rose
Image Credit:
Pamela Streeter
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