Hotels for Hope 2010

We had an amazing time this year at the Caledonian County Relay for Life event. This was the sixth anniversary for the fundraiser. I'm proud to say that our community has raised more than one million dollars in that period of time. Speaking of proud...my fellow team members of "Hotels for Hope" did an amazing job. They left the event having won one of only four awards that are issued annually. They earned and were awarded the "Team Spirit Award".

Everyone on our team took on different responsibilities. I was the lone chef cooking hundreds of hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausage. Some team members decorated our "fair themed" tents, others walked the track, some sold food and plush animals from our site, individuals volunteered to dress up and participate in the hourly themed walks, we had a team of runners at midnight that ran for an hour straight, etc. It was an amazing 24 hours for those that did it straight through. I was beyond exhausted the next morning as the sun came up. It was time to tear down and load up. I slept most of the day Sunday knowing that our team gave 110%. Everyone should be proud of their participation.

Speaking of proud, Gracie, my "just turned 6" year old didn't understand the concept of the midnight relay race. When the race began, she took off and didn't look back. For the the first lap or two, she ran by herself. By her third lap, she had befriended a young woman that was running individual laps. Around and around they went. Teams setup around the track started cheering them on. After nine laps, I finally stepped in and put an end to Grace's mini-marathon. Grace ran a total of 2.25 miles that evening. Prior to the midnight race, she had already walked countless laps. Needless to say, Grace slept well for several hours that night and most of the next day.

In the end we raised more than $5000 dollars as a team. Our goal for 2010 is to double that amount. A huge "THANK YOU" to all my team members and our amazing supporters!!!

Hotels for Hope - June 12, 2010

In only our second year, we have DOUBLED the size of our Relay for Life team. We had approximately 30 employees participate in 2009. This coming year we are expecting more than 60 team members. To say I'm proud of my hotels' employees would be a huge understatement!

Hotels for Hope was founded in the memory of Mary Gistis. Mary lost a courageous battle with cancer in March of 2009. Her passing led to discussions at each of my hotels. Sadly, many of my managers and staff also had personal stories of loved ones that had succumbed to this dreaded disease. While we will always honor Mary's memory first and foremost, our Relay for Life team has evolved into a memorial for all of our loved ones that have passed. We also take time to be recognize and be thankful for our cancer survivors. Our surviors give us hope and confidence that a cure will be found.

I lost my first friend to cancer after completing the eighth grade. Shannon fought for more than a year before losing her tragic battle. At the ripe old age of twelve years old, I already understood the devastation that cancer can bring to a family and a community. I'll never forget her uncle speaking at our eighth grade graduation and announcing that Shannon's cancer had progressed and that the outcome was not expected to be good. I promised to never forget Shannon and all these years later, I've held true to my word. She was an amazing person and will always be missed.

Cancer has gone on to take multiple loved ones from me over the past twenty-five years. Unfortunately, this past year my family lost a friend and relative. By far, losing my grandmother was the hardest. Her unexpected passing led me to get early cancer screenings. These screenings have on two out of three occasions led to the doctors telling me "you may have just dodged a bullet". While these screenings are "less than pleasant", I know that they are in my best interest and I will get them regularly.

On the bright side, advancements in cancer treatment appear to have saved my children's incredible grandmother this past year. She is an amazing woman that continues the battle. Improving cancer treatments and the possibility of finding a cure are what Relay for Life is all about. I'm convinced many of my friends and loved ones would still be here today with the new tests, medicines, and technology that are available. These advancements in medicine and eventually finding a cure are why my team participates in the Relay for Life.

Please do your part and make a donation today... http://main.acsevents.org/goto/brettloehr

JAY PEAK - Four days of amazing spring skiing

This morning residents of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom woke up to 16+ inches of fresh snow and more coming later today. A week ago I was contemplating whether or not I should cut my lawn.

Watching the morning news I was shocked to hear that my friends at Jay Peak are reopening the mountain tomorrow and are closing for the season on Sunday. Temperatures are forcasted to be in the mid-seventies this weekend.

If you love to ski Jay Peak and want to take advantage of some incredible discounts...call and reserve a $79.99 room today (SAVINGS OF $50 PER NIGHT!). Only $79.99 for one of our deluxe accommodations, hot breakfast, use of our indoor heated pool, whirlpool, sauna and fitness center.

Lift tickets for Jay Peak are not included in this discount. Jay Peak lift tickets must be purchased directly from the mountain for only $39 a piece.

Kingdom Trails - 2010 Mountain Biking Season

I'm so pumped...Kingdom Trails is opening earlier than ever before. The warmer than usual conditions have allowed the trails to dry on Darling Hill. A trail maintenance day is scheduled for May 2nd. For those of you that ride Kingdom Trails regularly, it is a day to to give back, meet some great mountain bikers and improve the quality of the trails.

Kingdom Trails mountain biking day passes are only $10, season pass are available for $50 and if you have a family of mountain bikers you can get one season pass to cover the whole tribe for only $100. Kingdom Trails season ticket holders are entitled to amazing savings (discount of $30 - $40 per night) all season long at both the Fairbanks Inn and Comfort Inn & Suites, St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Comfort Inn & Suites Kingdom Trails Season Pass Holder Discount $109 per night

Fairbanks Inn Kingdom Trails Season Pass Holder Discount $89 per night

2010 Foliage Season Rates:

Comfort Inn & Suites $159

Fairbanks Inn $139

You cannot beat the value...fresh air, great exercise, amazing views, and mountain biking trails that cater to every level of rider. Don't forget that Mother's day is coming right up...nothing makes mom more happy then bombing down Burke Mountain!!!


Comfort Inn and Suites, St. Johnsbury, Vermont

(802) 748-1500

2010 Kingdom Trails Mountain Biking Package

- Package includes two day passes to Kingdom Trails

- Overnight Accommodation

- Hot Complimentary Breakfast

Only $149.99 per night plus tax

Fairbanks Inn, St. Johnsbury, Vermont

(802) 748-5666

2010 Kingdom Trails Mountain Biking Package

- Package includes two day passes to Kingdom Trails

- Overnight Accommodation

Only $119.99 per night plus tax

Everyday is "Earth Day" at the Comfort Inn & Suites, St. Johnsbury, Vermont

More than a year and a half ago, I decided to convert my St. Johnsbury, Vermont hotel into an eco-friendly green property. My decision to "do the right thing" was based on many factors. First and foremost, the hotel's guests regularly wrote comment cards requesting green alternatives. The quaint village of St. Johnsbury is located in the heart of the Vermont's Green Mountains and is the gateway to the majestic "Northeast Kingdom". I understood our guests holding us to a higher standard and expectation. Ultimately, we agreed that we should do our part to preserve the natural beauty of the land around us. It should be stated for the record...I was not a "tree hugger" (not that there is anything wrong with hugging a tree). I've owned a pair (or two) of Birkenstocks, but "treehugger" was not often used to describe me. Two years later, I have to admit that what started as a test project has become much more important to me. I was impressed when my team of managers and staff supported the initial concepts. One person's idea led to another and before long we were addicted to saving energy and implementing eco-friendly concepts. The hotel's guests have joined in and are encouraged to submit their suggestions (many of which we have adopted). People and businesses avoid going green because they think it will cost to much. The truth is by "doing what is right"...we've improved guest satisfaction as well as increased our profitability. Eighteen months later we have implemented more than a dozen significant eco-friendly initiatives (and we're still not done). In the process, we've received nothing but praise and appreciation from our guests. Our guests are not the only ones that took notice. Next month we will be receiving an award from Jim Douglas, the Governor of Vermont. The award recognizes our steps in becoming a green hotel.

The hotel is recognized for it's green initiatives by Choice Hotels, Green Hotels in the Green Mountain State, and http://www.istaygreen.com/. Below is a list of some of the steps we took to make the Comfort Inn & Suites, St. Johnsbury, Vermont one of the state's most green eco-friendly hotels.

- Joined “Clean the World”…we collect the partially used bars of soap and shampoo which are sanitized and then shipped to third world countries. Instead of clogging up our landfills...we are literally saving lives.
- Introduced “Taterware” plates, bowls, forks, knives, and spoons…a 100% compostable product made from potatoes.
- Operate an extensive recycling program...a blue box in the bathroom allows guests to place all their recyclables into one bin...we do the rest.
- Energy efficient bulbs are used inside and outside the hotel
- Our linens are washed using eco-friendly ozone generators
- Switched from a bromine to a salt pool system
- Timers limit energy consumption for our ice machines, video arcade, and non-essential lighting
- Motion sensors control lighting throughout the building
- Use 35 - 100% post-consumer recycled paper
- We compost biodegradable material which naturally enriches the soil in our flower gardens
- Implemented a linen reuse program

We applaud Earth Day and what it stands for...we just wished people and businesses celebrated it 365 days a year.

When a walk is more than just "a walk" - hiking in New Hampshire's White Mountains and Vermont's Green Mountains

There is something about walking in the woods of northern New Hampshire and Vermont that transcends the average jaunt into the countryside. Exploring the White Mountains of New Hampshire or the Green Mountains of Vermont can be rewarding on many levels. First and foremost, it's quiet...real quiet. I love that you never know what you will see or experience. I've heard about people practicing the art of walking meditation, I can't imagine it being much different than the hikes my boys and I take into our local mountains. From the first steps on to the trail, to summiting the mountain's crest, each step along the way is rewarding and an experience unto itself.

Just over a week ago, while we were experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures, my oldest son and I decided to go for a hike. I swear his obsession with the woods has been there since birth. He's grown up wanting to spend his life outdoors. Hiking, mountain biking, cycling, skiing, fishing, hunting or four wheeling...doesn't matter what the season...he's in the woods. Over the years, I've given him the responsibility of deciding where we are going and leading the way. At an early age he loved the responsibility of choosing our trail and being the "guide". In my book, "guide" translates to the person carrying the most amount of weight in their backpack. Personally, I loved the fact that I didn't have to think and someone else was in charge. Early on I decided we make a good team. For our first hike of the year, he chose an old favorite located in the White Mountain National Forest. We started the hike shortly after noon. Approximately two hours into into a 3+ hour climb, he stopped abrubtly and I ran square into his backpack. After blurting out some random "thoughts/suggestions", I saw what had him "hitting the brakes". Just off to our left in a marsh was a HUGE moose and her calf. Now I've seen moose before, most of the time they are grazing at sunset on the side of the New Hampshire and Vermont roads. Never had I been face to face with a moose in the wild. Fact #1...Moose are big (think "Clydesdale big" with funny skinny legs)! Only to make me more nervous was the fact that said moose was with it's baby. Fact #2...Mothers are protective! I should mention that every moose I had ever personally seen looked like they were posing for a postcard. The males were monstrous and always had amazingly large racks/antlers.

Well, one lesson learned that day is that moose are "scary ugly" in the spring. These were not "postcard moose". Fact #3...Moose are REALLY UGLY in the Spring. Both the mom and baby had survived the winter by growing a thick dense fur. Due to the warmer than usual weather, they were well into the the process of shedding their winter coats. The end result was two moose that looked like they were wearing camouflage. The mother was never aggressive and the calf never strayed more than ten feet from mom. They allowed us to sit on a rock and watch them for almost fifteen minutes before deciding to mosey on into to forest. It was an amazing experience.

If you are planning a vacation to my Hampton Inn, Littleton, New Hampshire or the Comfort Inn & Suites in St. Johnsbury, set aside a few hours to go hiking. Fact #4...you and your family will love the experience. No matter what trail you choose, you'll need good footwear and at minimum a small backpack for water, snacks, camera, etc. Please hike responsibly and make sure that whatever you bring in comes out with you..."leave no trace" is our family's motto when in the woods.

I'm proud to say that my son, Matthew who will be graduating high school next year is planning on a career in the great outdoors. He plans to attend college in pursuit of a game warden's job as his life's ambition. Who would have ever thought... we actually found a career in the woods (just wish I had been able to get a picture of it).

New Hampshire hikes closest to the Hampton Inn, Littleton, New Hampshire

http://www.nhoutdoors.com/hiking_trails.htm#WhiteMountains6

http://www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?area=10068

http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=15586

http://tripfinder.hike-nh.com/family.php

Vermont hikes closest to the Comfort Inn & Suites or Fairbanks Inn, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=10248

http://www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?area=10012

http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XAC005-010

https://www.greenmountainclub.org/page.php?id=114

Burke, Burke, Burke...

I'm biased...I readily admit it.
I LOVE BURKE MOUNTAIN!

I learned to ski in my early thirties at Burke Mountain. I had heard so many great stories about skiing Burke, that one day I packed up my kids and decided we were going to become "skiers" or "boarders". I remember walking out the front door, my wife kissing me good-bye and telling all of us (me specifically) to be safe. I was convinced the kids were more than old enough to take on the challenge. My oldest daughter and son quickly decided that they were skiers. My youngest son and I were determined to be rebels and ride boards. After arriving, renting equipment, each of us went off to our individual instructors. My early experiences riding the j-bar were "interesting". As I struggled just to get up the bunny hill, my kids were slowly gliding downhill with their instructors. Occasionally, they would look at me with sympathy and wave awkwardly. I'm not sure whether it was during day one or two of snowboarding lessons, but I had amassed enough self-inflicted bone bruises to decide that I was not a boarder.

After picking up the broken pieces of my ego, I was left with trying to ski. Something about my legs potentially going in two distinctly different directions while sliding 30-40 mph on snow/ice...just had me concerned. To everyone's amazement (mostly mine), I was a natural born skier. After one weekend of lessons, I was parallel skiing from mid-Burke. Within a week or two I was skiing from the top of the mountain. I've never seriously hurt myself and despite stories around my family's dinner table...I think I am a pretty decent skier.

There was the time after a minor fall that I didn't properly lock on my ski before preceding down a steep section of the mountain. It wasn't long before the unattached ski went in one direction and I (after trying to ski on one foot) went another. Then there was my first and only attempt at skiing the trees. I won't get into the specifics but my body did things that defy gravity and physics. I figure two funny stories over ten years isn't half bad.

Over the years, I've made it a point ski mountains throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. Each has had advantages and disadvantages. For the college crowd...there are better party mountains. For those that genuinely enjoy risking their lives...there are plenty of icy New England slopes to conquer. For those that appreciate skiing versus standing in lift lines...Burke. If you enjoy immaculately groomed classic ski trails versus massive open corridors...Burke. If you are looking for a mountain that can provide challenges for an Olympian as well as lessons for a beginner...Burke. Burke is hands down the most family oriented and non-pretentious mountain I've ever had the pleasure of skiing.

All these years later, I am still a laid back skier. Slow and steady...I enjoy taking in all the views and just being outdoors. My kids...well...for the most part I haven't seen anything but the back of their jackets in years. Of course, they still take a moment to wave awkwardly when they catch a view of me gliding along.