Innsitting isn't a "sit-in"

Another "must-know" from the Team at Travel the Gorge

It sounds like the ideal job, especially for those of us who love the bed-and-breakfast or country inn experience. Innsitting: You go to a lovely inn, serve an easy breakfast, visit with the guests, sightsee during the day, then back to the inn to welcome the night's guests. Right?? Way wrong!! This little-known occupation is not for the faint-of-heart.

B&B owners have huge investments in their inns. They have their own style, ambiance and standards. Most of them are at their inns every day of the week, month in and month out. But everyone needs a break now and then, even when they're passionate about their business. This the necessity leading to the invention of the Innsitter.

Not so surprisingly, the Columbia Gorge has its very own innsitter, though often too busy to actually sit an inn in The Gorge. KC's Innsitting is based in Parkdale, Oregon, but KC is more often found in Hawaii, or Colorado, New Mexico or the Oregon coast. KC, along with her husband Kirk, a retired firefighter and EMT, goes wherever a quality inn needs quality interim care; and that care is much, much more than just sitting at an inn.

Before reporting for their engagement at an inn, KC's Innsitting has researched the area - its weather, attractions, tourist activities and events. KC knows the style of the inn, how much the innkeeper usually interacts with the guests, the extent of the usual breakfast, the housekeeping standards, the check-in-and-out procedures, and any lodging software used by the inn. On arrival, she has to "become" the innkeeper, running the inn and pampering the guests as the innkeeper would, assuring that each guest has the experience to which they're accustomed. When the innkeeper returns, she and Kirk pack their bags and move on to "become" another innkeeper in another state, with a different style of inn and different procedures.

Obviously not a job for just anyone, but KC isn't just anyone. She's exceptionally bright, warm, organized and flexible. She is, however, just another exceptional person who calls The Gorge home.


The Travel the Gorge Team