Armenian Innkeepers visit the Birch Ridge Inn

Armenian Innkeepers visit the Birch Ridge Inn

It has been a while since I have done any public speaking which required simultaneous translation, but today was different. Kim at the Killington Chamber of Commerce asked me to host a group of fellow innkeepers from Armenia along with representatives of the Armenian Tourism Development Agency. The group are visiting Vermont on a trip sponsored by the Vermont Council on World Affairs. In addition to showing them our inn and discussing innkeeping, the primary reason for the visit was to discuss how chambers of commerce and lodging establishments work together to promote travel and tourism. Due to the nature of the group, the presentation included simultaneous translation into both Russian and Armenian.

For those of you who need an atlas to find Armenia (I went to wikipedia), you will find it landlocked between Turkey, Georgia, Azerberijan and Iran. Up until 1920, Armenia has been an independent country. In 1920, Armenia was on the loosing side in the Turkish-Armenia war, was forced to demilitarize, and was subsequently invaded by the Soviet army. In 1991, when the Soviet Union broke apart, Armenia regained it's independence.

In the last 4 years, the Armenian Government organized the Armenian Tourism Development Agency to promote travel and tourism to Armenia. Structures such as Chambers of Commerce, are just being established in Armenia. This group was on a fact finding mission to determine the different aspects of how lodging properties and chambers of commerce work together.

Of course, while I was learning how to say "Good Morning" in Armenian - "bari luis" - Mary was out skiing in the 6 inches of fluff that fell overnight on the mountain. Ski conditions at Killington continue to be excellent on powder and packed powder surfaces. At the inn we received another 4 inches of snow, with a major storm predicted to move into the region on Thursday. Let it Snow!