About

Welcome to guests, inc.

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Guests, Inc. was founded by the late Guy O. Farley, Jr.  in 1989.  It is on his foundation and beliefs that Guests, Inc. will continue to thrive for generations.  

Treat guests in the hotels like friends in your home.  

Always refer to them as guests.  

Provide them with clean, safe well-maintained rooms.  

Recognize and appreciate the value and importance of every person in the company.  

Well before the modern-day guest satisfaction surveys, Guy had his ninety-year-old father travel regularly to the hotels and retrieve the guest comment cards from a locked box.  He would then compile and review the results with the Hosts. 

Guy didn’t like the industry standard title of General Manager, as he felt “Host” was a more hospitable title. 

These are just a few of the building blocks on which this successful company is based. 

To this day, the hotel phones are still answered with “We Love Guests” and the team member’s title is Host. 

The first person Guy brought on board in 1989 to help him realize his vision was Keith Stephens. With a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Virginia Tech and working as a Regional Director of Sales at another hotel management company, he was the right person for the job.

Since Guy’s passing in 1998, Keith has been leading the company and is the owner and CEO. Raised on a farm in rural Virginia, Keith would have to give up his bedroom in the fall for the “paying guests” as his family transformed their large farmhouse into a modern-day Inn or Airbnb.  

“We were land rich and cash poor. So, my parents generated a little extra income by renting rooms and providing meals to people from the “city” along with a place to hunt on our large farm. That gave us a little extra money, so I got a few new clothes at Christmas instead of hand-me-downs from my older siblings. We also had a small country store just down the gravel road from our home where we sold everything from nails to made-to-order sandwiches to gas. I learned to make change from the old wooden cash drawer and lots of other business lessons from working in this store.”  

The store has closed but he and his siblings still own their family farm. Keith has been an entrepreneur and in the hospitality industry his entire life. He would welcome the opportunity to allow his team of hospitality professionals to help you grow your business.

 

Fort Valley Store
Accessible-King-Guest-Room (1)
1989
Guests, Inc. launches with 4 hotels: Comfort Inn, Culpeper, VA; Comfort Inn, Staunton VA; Comfort Inn, Warrenton VA; and Comfort Inn, Seaford DE.
1989
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1990
Guests, Inc. begins to expand its portfolio under VP of Marketing, Keith Stephens, adding the Comfort Inn in Kent Narrows, MD to its roster of managed properties.
1990
Guests-Inc (1)
2005
An owner/operator and long-time employee, Keith Stephens purchases Guests, Inc. and becomes CEO, allowing him to focus the company on his mission: When Operational Excellence Is Standard, The Ultimate Guest Experience Is Delivered
2005
parkersburgcomfort
2006
Acquired the Comfort Suites in Parkersburg, WV
2006
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2014
Acquired the Hampton Inns in Barboursville, Hurricane and Mineral Wells, WV
2014
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2021
David Cavallaro joined the Guests, Inc. team as President
2021
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2022
Began Management of the Suburban Lodge in Stafford, VA and opened the new Microtel in Winchester, VA
2022
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2023
Began Management of the Appomattox Inn & Suites, opened the Ridgeview Event Center and launched the Restorative Getaway Collection of vacation rentals.
2023
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2023
Launched 'Restorative Getaways,' a water-focused collection of vacation properties available for guests looking to relax, renew, and recharge.
2023
Careers

Become part of our Energetic team

Are you passionate about guest service and the hospitality industry? We have openings in all facets of hotel operations from behind the scenes to front desk, join our incredible staff today! Are you positive, energetic and looking for a rewarding career? Whether you are just getting started or you have a degree in hospitality, we are eager to hear from you! 

The People of Guests, Inc.

Meet our Team

“As a significant part of our overall property performance analysis, we are continually analyzing the best franchise options and renovation upgrades for the optimal success of our hotels in the markets in which they compete.”

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Keith D. Stephens

Chairman of the Board of Guests, Inc.

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The hospitality industry is a fast-paced environment. With continuing education, franchise updates, and continually changing government information, there is a lot to learn and keep up with. Luckily, our staff is on it. We keep your establishment up to date when it comes to the health, safety, and maintenance requirements of your hotel.