Tiffany Bertram is the innkeeper behind Tiffany's Bed & Breakfast near Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas — a log-cabin retreat she and her husband Robert have run for over 20 years, and a stop on the historic Jefferson Highway. We caught up with Tiffany on-site this past August for our Success Insider series, part of Big Blend Radio's Meet the Experts, Getting to Know You collection.

Enjoy the related Big Blend Radio podcast conversation and her Q&A below.

What led you to a career as an innkeeper and owner of a B&B? I worked in the hotel biz for 20 years, so it seemed like a natural progression.

What attributes do you need to be able to be an innkeeper? Patience! Attention to details, a genuine heart for hospitality, and the ability to spend HOURS on a computer :)

Who or what inspires you? Seeing guests arrive frazzled & tired, and leaving rested, relaxed.

Describe your ideal B&B guests. Anyone who wants/needs time away from the "real world" to "reset." Bonus points if they love the outdoors and enjoy exploring the area, whether it's their first time to AR, or they're regulars!

What personal changes have you had to make to build your career? Weekends & holidays are just another work day. Vacations are few and far between, unless you have GREAT innsitters ;)

What changes have you experienced in the hospitality industry over the past 5-10 years? There are way too many to go back 10 years!! Covid made people THINK they want to do everything themselves (self-C/I, un-hosted lodging), but we're seeing they really DO want a human connection — some even crave it. Like everyone else, AI is the new challenge: how do we use it for good, how do we overcome the bad, etc.

What challenges do innkeepers go through that readers may not know about? Contrary to popular opinion, we do NOT spend our afternoons on the couch eating bonbons while guests are away!

If you could invite three people (alive or passed on) to your breakfast table, who would they be? My mom & 2 grandmas.

If you could switch careers for a day (just to learn something new), what would you choose? An airline scheduler!

What three experiences are on your bucket list to do within the next 3-5 years? Travel, travel, travel.

What is the most important tip you would pass on to someone just getting started in the world of hospitality? Don't jump in blindly! There's a lot more to it than being able to cook and be a good host!