a dream comes alive
This business is 20+ years in the making. It is a version of a dream that has morphed in many ways over time and one that Robin has had ever since spending a year in Thailand swinging on hammocks at a sweet hut overlooking the ocean while on the island of Ko Samet. Robin shared her dream with Brian and he quickly, but cautiously jumped on board. Both love to travel, seek out adventures and visit far-off places. They also love to stay in unique, small and interesting lodging facilities where they meet people from all over the world and learn about local cultures. And frankly, they would travel a lot more given the opportunity. So they decided..."why not bring the 'travel' to us?"
They wanted to create a cool space where people experience that same ‘travel adventure’ feeling right here in Portland. So they took the plunge and found a house they could convert, in one of the hippest neighborhoods in Portland - The Alberta Arts District, where there is an abundance of amazing restaurants, cool shops, food carts, a theater, bike shops, coffee houses and so much to offer tourists. An important part of their vision was to create a fun, warm, comfortable, safe and open space for people from all walks of life - for women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrant populations, international travelers, etc. Additionally, the well-being of the planet was extremely important to them when creating the space. Therefore, a lot of time, effort and resources went into making this business as sustainable and environmentally-responsible as possible. That means they worked very hard to make sure the materials, furnishings and products that were purchased were top-quality, reused or salvaged when possible, organically grown, sustainably-sourced, made by local people, etc. Another aspect they are focusing on is to showcase Portland by utilizing Portland artisans and sustainable Portland-created products.
Robin and Brian have had so much fun getting this hotel up and running and spending time on Alberta Street. They both lived in the Concordia neighborhood for many years, but are enjoying it in a completely different way now. They love being part of the hustle and bustle, seeing so many locals and tourists walking around, eating in the many popular restaurants, shopping in the local stores, etc. They hope everyone who visits The Alberta Petite Hotel falls in love with the neighborhood and feels right at home in the space they’ve created.
