Top Rated Local® is pleased to announce that The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant is an award winner in 2019.
If you are thinking about planning a getaway to southern Vermont, we highly recommend you check into this award-winning company!
The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant has received many overwhelmingly positive reviews across five different verified sites with an average rating of 4.62 stars, earning them an impressive Rating Score™ of 96.23 and a 2019 Top Rated Local award for ranking as one of the top 100 businesses in Vermont!
Here’s just one of their many five-star reviews:
“Our visit was second-to-none. The room was beautiful and comfortable; the restaurant was a charmer, and the food was excellent. The staff was friendly and could not do enough for us. Hats off to the entire staff, especially Joseph. Thank you for a great stay.” – R.D.
It is because of excellent reviews like this that The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant is now able to call themselves a Top Rated Local award winner!
Not Your Average Luxury Hotel
We were excited to learn all about The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant and how they have gotten where they are today, so we sat down with the General Manager, Lucrecia Johnson.
The first thing we wanted to know was what it is that makes The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant stand apart from its competitors. Lucrecia was quick to tell us that their staff is at the core of what makes them stand out. She said:
“Our staff is truly what makes the difference when people stay here. They are very personable; they take every guest and like to learn about their likes and why they are here. For our guests, we like to make this their home away from home whenever they are in Vermont.”
Lucrecia pointed to one staff member in particular, their Chef, whose delicious and inventive meals have truly helped The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant to offer the sophisticated dining experience they are known for. Lucrecia said:
“Our Chef, Sigal Rocklin, was named Vermont Chef of the Year in 2018. She is originally from Israel, and she produces the most amazing combinations. She is very, very adamant of farm to table and is supportive of our local producers. All of her menus are crafted with a lot of different influences. She has been in many places in the U.S. and the west. She even lived in Hawaii for a little bit during an internship. And of course, coming from Israel, she has a vast knowledge of a lot of different cultures, and she can still incorporate being true to Vermont and to what we have here.”
Lucrecia told us that their mission is for their guests to feel as though they have found a home away from home. She shared:
“We are one of the few, small luxury inns in Vermont. We have very upscale rooms that are very sophisticated, but not pretentious. People come here, and they truly feel like they are at their home away from home.”
Building Success And Staying Involved
In addition to building the kind of online reputation that any small business would envy, The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant has spread the word about who they are and what they do by having an updated and appealing website, and by finding ways to stay involved with their community.
“We are part of many events that happen locally. We participate in fundraisers and make sure our community feels that appreciation from us for being part of this town. It is such a beautiful town to live in, and we are all very lucky to call this our home.”
There are many businesses out there that are looking to build as impressive a reputation as The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant has managed to. We asked if Lucrecia could share any expert advice with these companies. Here’s what she had to say:
“Understand who you are trying to reach. Determine who your target market is, and then learn from them. Listen to what their feedback and opinions are, and base your campaign on that.”
Congratulations to The Reluctant Panther Inn and Restaurant for being a 2019 Top Rated Local award winner, and special thanks to Lucrecia for taking the time to speak with us!
