Every morning when I arrive at Fearrington, I make my rounds.
It is something I have done for years, and even now, with so much of my day spent in meetings, emails, planning, and all of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the Village moving, I still think it is one of the most important parts of my day.
Walking the Village lets me see things in a way I simply cannot from behind a desk.
I check in with the teams, see how the morning is shaping up, make sure everything is on schedule, and look for the little things that may need attention. Maybe a sign needs straightening, a planter needs a little care, something has shifted overnight, or a guest area needs a quick touch before the day really begins.
Sometimes it is practical. Sometimes it is simply about being present.
I first stop by the Inn, check in with the front desk, walk through the Restaurant, see what is happening at the Belted Goat, pass through the shops, look at the gardens, and make sure everything feels as it should.
And, of course, I talk to people.
That may be the most important part.
The rounds give me a chance to hear what is happening before it becomes a report or an email. What is working? What is not? What are guests asking about? What do we need? Is there something we can fix quickly? Is someone having a particularly busy morning and could use an extra hand?
Hospitality is made up of thousands of small details, and many of them are easiest to notice when you are actually walking through the spaces where they happen.
The other evening, I walked the property after dark and noticed several areas where the lights were not working properly. That is exactly the kind of thing a guest would never know was “wrong” because, of course, they do not know there was supposed to be a light there in the first place.
They may simply think, “Well, this is a rather dark corner.”
Meanwhile, I am standing there thinking, “There should absolutely be a light here.”
That is the funny thing about hospitality. So much of the work is about noticing what no one else knows they are supposed to notice.
It also keeps me connected to the Village itself.
After all these years, I still notice the way the light hits the brick paths in the morning, what is blooming in the gardens, whether the Belties are close to the fence, or how different the Village feels from one season to the next.
There is always something changing. And there is always something that needs attention.
I suppose that is why I still make my rounds every morning and most evenings. It is not about looking for what is wrong. It is about staying connected to the people, the place, and all the little details that make Fearrington feel the way it does.
I have never been one to manage from a desk which is why I am rarely at my desk… and apparently, some things you cannot find until it gets dark!
