Inspiring Conversations with Anita Kudasik of American Classic Motor Inn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anita Kudasik.

Hi Anita, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Truth be told, the hospitality industry was something that I have always been around. From the day my parents brought me home from the hospital to the day I left for college, we lived on-site the hotel that my parents owned and operated. Being raised on-site at the hotel basically helped mold my passion and drive toward hospitality. However, it wasn’t until my third semester in college that I redirected my studies from sciences to communications and eventually back into hospitality. I found a home at Metro State University of Denver where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality, Tourism, and Events Management. While completing my studies in Denver, I was presented with the opportunity to become a hotelier: the retiring owner of Salida’s (my hometown) American Classic Inn asked my family if we wanted to purchase the property. So with my parents’ support, my boyfriend and I decided to purchase the run-down motel. This place was probably about six months away from being deemed uninhabitable and needed a full revamp. We knew that the motel had great bones but it would also take A LOT of love. We’ve spent the last four years upgrading everything! From the obvious things like room decor, mattresses, furniture to the not so obvious things like windows, doors, AC’s, roofs, and SO much more. We’re constantly working on new projects to help make this one of the best roadside motels around! We have a retro and nostalgic ambiance that can’t be imitated. We also have a cool outdoor space that we look forward to expanding in the future!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has been a rewarding but challenging journey! Buying a rundown business and rebuilding / rebranding while staying open, operational, and funding our progress was a huge undertaking. Our first season here we were able to fund the necessary projects like replacing the roofs, windows, doors, AC’s and blowing insulation in all of the rooms. That left us with nothing extra. Despite all the effort and money that we had invested into the motel, our rooms were still crumby, old and had to be sold at a lower rate, one of the cheapest in town.

Luckily our second season brought in good returns however right as we were planning the cosmetic renovations inside the rooms we were hit with another unforeseen obstacle: COVID-19.

Being a primary tourist town, Chaffee County Public Health restricted travel for leisure purposes and deterred tourists by restricting all lodging in Salida. This crushed the economy of our town as we are mostly dependent on tourism. There were multiple times where I wondered if we were going to make it. We didn’t have any reserves and now without our normal influx of tourists, I knew we had to remain open for essential workers or that was going to be it.

In the end, we prevailed and now things are looking bright for the future! We have recently rebranded with a new sign and logo! We are completing exterior remodels, will be renovating our lobby area (drive-thru check-in will still be here – don’t worry!) and will be looking at something unique to add on-site as a common area for guests!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about American Classic Motor Inn?
We are FAR from your cookie-cutter corporate chain! We are family owned and operated and pride ourselves on doing things a little differently. We have taken practices from traditional hospitality and blended them with modern trends of current travelers to create a hosting experience that is unlike any other motel!

Friendly service, unique amenities, and an ideal location in the heart of the Colorado Rockies make AMERICAN CLASSIC MOTOR INN a must-see for every American road trip!

We have re-designed the typical motel room from a sterile and cold environment to a colorful and fun space that will keep you coming back for more! Classic retro feels mixed with a distinctive flair create nostalgic memories! Our motor lodge layout lets guest park directly in front of their rooms!

From our drive-thru check-in to our morning grab’ n ’go and snack room – we are reshaping the guest experience.

We are always working towards keeping our accommodations up-to-date and innovative. Our exclusive style, attention to detail, and commitment to guest satisfaction will ensure a one-of-a-kind experience!

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
There are many things that I wish the younger me had known. The three things that I would like to re-emphasize to anyone working for themselves include the importance of flexibility / patience and the fact that customer is NOT always right. Flexibility has proven to be an essential part of not only our daily operations but also a fundamental aspect of how we deal with major projects. The same could be said of patience: I’ve been reminded that anything worth having is worth working and waiting for. Finally, in this time of keyboard warriors and easy access to public forums, many businesses have lost control of their service / product in fear of negative retaliatory reviews. I am here to remind you that the more you give into the pressure from customers threatening reviews, the more control over your product you lose.

There is a difference between offering constructive criticism and badgering a business online due to the fact that someone doesn’t like the way a place operates. Entitled people demand change so they will be better suited and now they have a way to make businesses apologize for doing things a certain way – don’t. People have all sorts of opinions of how we should operate the motel without any regard for us as individuals. Taking on a business that has customers 24/7 is challenging, especially for small operators. Ralphie (my boyfriend) and I have to make ourselves available on-call at all times in case of emergencies. This means day or night, holidays, special occasions, we always have to prioritize the motel. We are fully devoted to providing exceptional facilities and friendly service. However, some guests can’t see past their preconceived conceptions of what we “should” be. At first, I would try to make small changes in response to every review.

Eventually, I realized that I would never be able to please everyone. We have adopted an unapologetic mentality when responding to reviews about the way we do things and simply acknowledge that we are not fit for everyone. This has saved me and my team the stress of being bullied, manipulated and forced to be kind to people who are rude to us. This tactic might seem harsh and destined to fail, but I firmly believe in operating our business in a way that works for everyone, not just the customer. We hope other small businesses realize that a review is only as powerful as you allow it to be. By responding to negative reviews, you allow the public to see another side of the story. Online bullies are a thing and this culture is shifting towards giving customers all the power. It’s time to remind consumers that behind every small business is an actual person, not a tool of perfection.

Pricing:

• Peak summer season: $125 – $300
• Oct. – May: $75 – $175

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.americanclassicinn.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanclassicinn/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanclassicinn/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehappyhotelier 

Image Credits
Sagebrush Souls Photography