God willing Susan and I find a perfect location to hoast the retreat center.
The properet we liked has sold and I'm presently looking for work in the hospitality industry, viewing this as a stepping stone to gain experience toward the long term vision.
It is a work in progress, any helpful advice please e-mail or talk to us in person.
There is a season for everything, having not made any further progress. it may not be the right timing for us at this time of our lives.
I'm looking for employment in the retreat center and contemplative field to gain the further experience necessary to walk in the vision I believe is for my life. However my getting a property may be premature, but I believe I have the qualities to fulfill this work.
The Business Proposition for The Adullam Guest house and retreat center.
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The Adullam Guest house and retreat center
Executive Summary
Project Title
Retreat center and Guest house (B&B)
Contact Person
Mark Condy (937-832-8043, e-mail, sunriseofcross@hotmail.com)
Applicant Information
602 Wolf Ave
Englewood
Oh 45322
Mission Statement
To provide the guests hospitality fit for Jesus Christ. Offering a place where our visitors may turn back to God. Welcoming all to experience a break from the business of life, giving tools that enable the person to return to contribute within their circle of influence.
Problem Statement
There is a need for people of all walks of life to have a place that they can go, which enables them to escape the business of life. True satisfaction is not found in the consumer driven system of the fast paced world, but resting and trusting in the Lord God Almighty. It is time to reposition perspective by allowing the individual permission to slow down at the guesthouse providing an oasis catering to the hurting and weary, allowing recuperation, and loving support. Experiencing a led retreat as an individual or with in a group setting with the focus to provide healing for the battle worn through the help of Jesus Christ, and the caring sensitive listening ear of the retreat hosts, helping the recipient at the point of their need. Just having time to be alone in the peacefulness of the beauty that can be found at the retreat center location, may be all that is needed.
Project Summary
Establish the business of a new bed and breakfast and retreat center in the Dayton, Ohio area. Programs will be tailored to both groups and individuals to travelers and community members so as to provide for their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. Guests are welcomed year round with a range of options; from lodging with Bed and breakfast to full weekend programs. To help people by giving education and tools to return to the busy environment from where they came, more able to cope with in their life pressures.
Expected Results
People that have stayed at the retreat center, become more confident, relaxed, and reflective people who have had an encounter with the divine and thus more confident to face life issues and contribute fully with the gifts they posses, returning to their place of influence and use them.
Our Investment
Adullam Guest house and retreat center will provide all needed support to provide the implementation of the vision detailed in the grant request. A major effort will go into a positive outcome toward establishing funding for the business and future staff positions.
Funding Request
We are requesting funds of $500,000 for the acquisition of land and property to establish a new bed and breakfast and retreat center, and provide for furnishings and equipment for the business start-up.
The Adullam Guest house and retreat center (Mission, Goals and setting)
Project Summary
The business to be a retreat center and guesthouse to provide a place for people to stay and meet there physical, mental and spiritual needs. Lead by the applicant Mark Condy, and his family, who will be the sole proprietor of the Limited Liability Company.
The short-term goal of the business is to attain the needed funds to purchase the property to house the center, and to furnish the rooms, making the center guest ready.
The long term goals to get established as a business by having returning guests that are pleased with the service received, that they recommend others to stay and receive hospitality and spiritual refreshing. Plus at the facility have a rotation of guest speakers that focus on living a contemplative life in the business of life, giving application on how to do this. Once established and having a steady clientele, expand the property to build a multi function conference room to accommodate the speakers and larger groups and also for community events and projects. Until this time use the barn to facilitate the guest speakers and gallery as the all-encompassing multi function space.
Problem Statement
The needed service of providing hospitality and spiritual refreshing to people from all walks of life caught in the rat race and need an oasis for refueling. People need to have a place that they can go to, so they are enabled to find an oasis in the business of life. Finding rest to refuel and recharge when life has becomes to overwhelming. They will have a place to go to when they are just exhausted and disillusioned and at a point that they just don’t care or have the energy too carry on. The worn out minister, business person, mother or father, at times aided by their busy lives, can result in having a feeling of distress, disconnection, isolation, and it usually gets worse before it gets better. That is why a retreat should be considered helpful to find a new way of touching the heart, soul and mind in everyone. Through contemplation waiting in quiet, art, journaling, allowing reflection, through the experience a led retreat by a facilitator, equipping the recipient with a tool bag of resources to face life’s challenges. My website gives further insight: http://sunriseofcross.yolasite.com.yolasite.com
To find true satisfaction in life an invitation is given by the divine Lord. True satisfaction is not found in the consumer driven system of the fast paced world but rest and trust in the Lord God Almighty. It is time to press forward and redeem the time by reposition perspective by allowing the individual permission to slow down at the guest house providing an oasis to cater to the hurting and weary, allowing recuperation, love, and support, given by experiencing a led retreat as an individual or with in a group setting with the focus to provide healing for the battle worn through the help of Jesus Christ. And the caring sensitive listening ear of the retreat leaders, helping the recipient at the point of their need, even just time to be alone in the peacefulness of the beauty that can be found at the retreat center location, this may be all that is needed.
Goals and Objective
The application is intended for a new bed and breakfast and retreat center requesting $500,000 for the acquisition of land and property to establish a business in the Dayton, Ohio area. Programs will be tailored to both groups and individuals to the traveler and community member to provide for their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. Guests are welcomed year round with a range of options from lodging with breakfast to full weekend programs, which can be facilitated or self lead dependant on what the client needs.
What makes this retreat center any different from any other in the area?
∑ It is a guest house and retreat center rolled into one
∑ Shuttle service to and from the airport
∑ The B&B guest will be entering the home of a friend rather than a large corporate chain of hotels. Having the experience of a home from homes the individual will be treated in such a manner, as an individual with unique personal requirements, and this being respected, given hospitality and peacefulness with the welcome of Christ.
∑ Leaders to facilitate the retreat process to help the people’s needs for restoration and recuperation by giving tools to draw closer to Jesus Christ who can bring about the transformation.
∑ The B&B guest they will receive the hospitality fit for Christ.
∑ A place for people in the community to seek council in a friend and a place to find peace from the business of life.
∑ Build a unique Trinity shaped Labyrinth, designed by myself, to draw to patrons who walk Labyrinths as a spiritual practice.
What do I need to accomplish the goal?
* Plan A: Funds to outright purchase of property so that no mortgage pressure
* Plan B: Funds to place a down payment for mortgage at least $300.000-390.000, to purchase such a facility to house the retreat center.
* The facility is the central need for such a ministry venture.
* Government no interest forgivable loan. Look into further to see if an option!
* Start up funds
* Lawyer funds
* Funds to use for any needed alteration needed in preparation ready to open for the first guest.
* Transportation to shuttle people to and from airport
* Tools for garden etc
* Stationary/ business cards, envelopes, letterhead etc.
* Advertising coast
* Web cost to host website
Expanding our exposure via the internet and introducing the Dayton area to people that have not yet discovered this innovative place where a lot of inventions had their origin, also flight and the Air Force Museum, Theater, etc *Living costs
* Licenses
*Register the business, what type of business structure sole proprietor, LLC, etc * Zoning
* Insurance
* Furnishing for buildings
Project Description (Business description)
Providing a place where our visitors may draw close to God, having a family oriented focus that is more welcoming being more palatial than a motel/hotel, that the experience will have a lasting effect ensuring many return customers. There are a number of interests and attractions in the Dayton area to drawn a significant number of tourists to the Dayton area, our job is to provide information about such locations of interest, having literature available. We plan to collaborate with local businesses throughout the area by offering packages and special rates. e.g. for massage, restaurants to wine and dine etc.
Amenities that go beyond the typical B&B will include:
* An extensive Library with books, video and audio library for guest use.
* CD stereo systems and VCR / DVD in common area.
* Starbucks coffee or equivalent local Boston stocker, a variety of herbal teas in rooms and common area.
* Daily fresh-baked muffins and fresh fruit from local supplier
* Links to other businesses and services in the local Dayton area that will provide the above amenities,
I want to utilize the traveler from the near by airport who may have a layover, this being one focus. But my primary focus is people who are looking to take a retreat, who are on a spiritual quest and are looking for a place of quiet and rest to meet there spiritual needs. As the Guesthouse / B&B becomes established through the peak season, we plan to expand our services to the residents of the Dayton area in time for the off-season.
Build a conference center for multiple functions ideal for formal or informal gatherings (i.e. wedding receptions, office parties, Christmas parties, etc.). The location would be excellent for wedding photography, this is a future goal built in a different part of the property so as not to interfere with the retreat focus.
Additional Revenue having also an artisan focus to support the local art community, having a space for the artist and crafts person, giving an avenue to display and sell the local art and highlighting the talent from the area in the Gift Barn Gallery. Space would be rented and artists pay a small commission. (Still to work out all the details)
Guest bedrooms / Accommodation
∑ Individual guest daily self led
∑ Guest overnight B&B basic
∑ Guest one day retreat facilitated
∑ Guest weekend self lead
∑ Guest week day self lead
∑ Guest weekend facilitated
∑ Guest camping with tent
∑ Guest camping with tent facilitated contemplative activities
∑ Guest Double luxury room ensuite
∑ Guest single luxury room ensuite
∑ A weekly stay self lead or facilitated
Competitively priced relative to similar accommodation in area: Room rates:
$150.00 per night (Mon. through Thurs.)
$220.00 per night (Fri. through Sun.)
$260 accommodation and facilitated retreat
Weekly rate to be negotiated on an individual basis
Holidays and special events priced separately.
Average Occupancy
For purposes of this business plan, an average room rate of two rooms and other options such as bunk beds like hostel. Or camping. (Booked per night) will be used unless otherwise noted for financial estimated revenue.
What does my place for a retreat look like?
Large house
∑ Have a dinning area
∑ Office for sign in and registration
∑ Chapel / prayer room (future)
∑ Book shop and resources (future)
∑ Relaxing, peaceful and comfortable living rooms with toys scattered around.
∑ Library with reading areas
∑ Class room for arts and crafts and workshops (future)
∑ Room for guest speakers (speakers advertised on living a contemplative life in a busy world and environmental / creation issues)
Land
∑ Camping for youth and adult
∑ Woods for walking trails
∑ Prayer walking
∑ Silence
∑ Space to build a Labyrinth (Idea luminary walk idea night experience or solar lights to allow the labyrinth to be walked day or night)
∑ Stations of the cross
∑ Water features
∑ A stream or pond if possible
∑ Benches to sit in secluded areas for reflection
∑ Outdoor chapel
∑ Fire pit
∑ Hammocks
∑ Visual features such as sculptures, Celtic crosses, sundial,
∑ Parking is there enough space?
∑ Shelters for family gatherings etc
∑ The land having a number of uses for participants to enjoy in between planned activities.
∑ Room to expand for future projects
∑ The gradual implementation of environmental friendly practices around the Guesthouse. To eventually become self sufficient, heating, electric, food grown on property, and further produce from local farmers, chickens free-range on the property. The products of everyday use around house be environmentally conscious of its origin and eco friendliness, e.g., cleaners, shade coffee etc
Out buildings
∑ Converted or convertible for sleeping quarters for lager groups
∑ Games room e.g. Swimming, billiards, table tennis, and corn hole. Etc
∑ Shower house and bathrooms
∑ Tea point with fridge etc (social hang out area)
∑ On edge of property hermit house away from everything (Goal for future)
∑ Garden shed for lawn equipment
∑ Workshop for maintenance needs
∑ Gallery for local artist and artisans, craft shows, The Gift Barn, etc
∑ Classroom for writers workshops, book clubs on spiritual reflective books
All possibly at a different location (Goal for future)
∑ Tea room / restaurant a touch of Scotland (Old rustic lived in look like hikers walking pub where my wife and I had a bar lunch one time in Scotland)
∑ Crazy golf with the theme of Scotland, bagpipes, mountains, Lock Ness monster, thistles, maps of Scotland water. Etc
How to get funding?
∑ Grants: Apply for a business grant explaining why I need assistance?
∑ A Government no interest forgivable lone
∑ Gifts
∑ Customers
∑ Sponsors, friends, family.
∑ Benefactors
∑ God
∑ Speak to Jeff at Camp kern who is an expert at fund raising
Advertising / Marketing
∑ Web – retreatfinder.com and other sites
∑ Website exclusively to Adullam
∑ Telephone directory
∑ Advertise through the B&B Association of Ohio
∑ Spiritual magazine
∑ Church bulletin boards and bulletins
∑ Fliers
∑ Local news paper
∑ News report
∑ At airport advertise information Keosauqua
∑ Word of mouth
∑ Business card
∑ Magnetic advertisement on side of car
