How did your business start?

Peter Tijm purchased the home, a Victorian built in 1903, in 2002. After a year spent restoring and decorating the property, he opened its doors in March 2003 as a bed and breakfast. It has operated as the Lavender & Thyme B&B continuously since that time.

The "Lavender" in the business name reflects the colors of the house and the fragrances of the lovely lavender bushes in the garden. The "Thyme" in our name reflects the Tijm's family name: Thyme is the English translation of the Dutch word, Tijm, for the same herb.

Peter, born and raised in the Netherlands, is an economist and professional Chemical Engineer. Peter's many years of international travel have given him the fundamentals for eight languages, and also the stories of many cultures and destinations, which he will willingly share with guests. Peter's European roots and hospitality tradition, along with the proximity of the B&B to the Amtrak station, have made Lavender & Thyme very popular with international guests as well as a large domestic clientele.

Now, Peter actively runs the B&B along with Innkeeper Jan Papp, while still pursuing consultancy in the oil and gas industry. These projects take him to far-flung, interesting locales around the globe every few months.

What do you sell?

The Lavender & Thyme Bed & Breakfast has three lodging rooms: the Rose Room, the Columbine Room and the Aspen Room. All are decorated with antiques, and each overnight guest receives a full multi-course breakfast meal served in a European tradition.

In summer 2010, the Lavender & Thyme Bed & Breakfast will serve High Tea, in the English tradition, every Friday and Saturday afternoon by reservation. Both lodging guests and others are invited to enjoy the new High Tea service, which will be served from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

What positive lessons did you learn during the recession?

People still value vacations, and time to relax with family and friends. Although they may modify their spending, they do not consider travel to Glenwood Springs for a quick getaway to be an extravagance. We are very fortunate to have a longstanding clientele and customer base who love to visit Glenwood Springs. Lavender & Thyme B&B continues to receive excellent guest remarks on TripAdvisor.com, and we intend to continue to live up to that reputation.

What is your strategy for growth in the next year?

We will continue to offer value with our lodgings and our signature breakfast. In addition, we believe that Glenwood Springs is ideally suited for a Tea Room with its historic character, and that now is the perfect time to start this new service at the start of summer. Lavender & Thyme will also host bridal and baby showers, luncheons and other events with a High Tea menu with advance arrangements.