Cory Bonney
Inn at Horn Point

By Annie Peroutka

This is the best job I've ever had," says Cory Bonney, innkeeper of the Inn at Horn Point. Bonney, along with the help of his wife Carol, runs the bed and breakfast at 100 Chesapeake Avenue in Eastport. "It was very helpful to have 25 years of hotel experience prior to doing this," says Bonney, who has worked in sales and marketing, operations, restaurant management and catering.

Says Bonney, "When I was five years into the hospitality business I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great to one day have my own place?'" His thought turned into a reality in 2000 when he purchased the home on Chesapeake Avenue. Dating back to 1902, the house had undergone many changes over the years, even serving as a grocery store and brothel at two different points in its history. After a year and a half of work, the home was transformed into the Inn at Horn Point when the Bonneys welcomed their first guests in March 2002. Now, the inn is among 30 bed and breakfasts in the greater Annapolis area-just a handful of those are located in Eastport.

A native of Arlington, Bonney has called Annapolis his home for the last 14 years, working as the director of operations at the Loews Annapolis Hotel for the majority of that time. "Annapolis is charming because it's historic," says Bonney. The innkeeper also has strong feelings about Eastport's potential. "I think that Eastport is growing as a community destination. Tourists are coming to Annapolis, but they've heard a lot about this little area called Eastport," says Bonney. "Parking is easy. Some of the best restaurants in town are within walking distance. The water taxi runs over to the Chart House two blocks away. They can go and enjoy the city."

Besides its ideal location, the Inn at Horn Point offers five luxurious guest rooms, each with a private in-room bathroom. The Inn also offers something that you can't find anywhere else in town. "We have the only handicap accessible bed and breakfast room in Annapolis," says Bonney. Plus, guests can delight in a freshly prepared breakfast every morning of their stay. Selections include strawberry mint yogurt parfait, crème brulee French toast, hickory bacon, lemon ricotta pancakes, sage sausage and more.

For instant feedback from his clientele, Bonney keeps a journal in each of the inn's guest rooms. Guests are encouraged to write about their experiences. "No one ever writes anything negative," says Bonney. "We hope that's an indication of the total experience people are having." It must be positive since the inn also receives a good deal of repeat business. "I've always used repeat business as a measure of success. Nothing is more exciting to a business owner than someone who comes back," says Bonney. The Inn at Horn Point doesn't seem to have any trouble pulling in repeat customers. They've even had one couple stay nine times in past two and half years.

While you'd think he'd get tired of people coming in and out of his home, Bonney insists that isn't the case. "I knew what I was getting myself into," he says. "It's probably a little easier than I thought." He says that managing your time is the key to running a successful bed and breakfast. "You're definitely thinking 24 hours a day, but you're not necessarily working 24 hours a day," says Bonney. As his own boss, Bonney tries to manage his time wisely between work and social obligations. The Bonneys also occupy their own portion of the house that is hidden away from guests. "You have to have your own space," says Bonney, referring to his sound-insulated area of the home. This is convenient for his family, so they aren't disturbed as their guests come and go.

Besides showing hospitality in the house, Bonney is quick to help guests experience Annapolis to the fullest. "We become local tourism directors," adds Bonney. "When guests increase their length of stay, it not only benefits us, but it benefits the city." He has also brought some of Annapolis into the house. "I've developed some strategic partnerships in the area," says Bonney. As a result, his guests can enjoy cookies from Uncle Bob's Fudge Kitchen as well as coffee and books from Hard Bean Coffee & Booksellers. "It's important for the local economy," says Bonney.

According to Bonney, the area's bed and breakfast owners hold a friendly competitive relationship with one another. As a member of the local association of bed and breakfast owners, he shares weekly information on availability. "If someone calls for this weekend and we're sold out, we're going to refer them to someone in the association who has demonstrated availability," says Bonney. "We show hospitality for each other when we're competing for the same business."

Even when they're on vacation, the Bonneys enjoy staying at bed and breakfasts to see what other owners are doing to better serve their clientele. "We learn from others, and we bring some of those ideas back," says Bonney. "We're always trying to improve." While Bonney's wife Carol holds a full-time job outside the house, she also runs the website for the inn at www.innathornpoint.com and manages the billing. In the future, Cory Bonney is interested in building another bed and breakfast. But, for now, he's happy managing the Inn at Horn Point, while spending time with his wife, daughter and three sons.

To book a room at the Inn at Horn Point, contact Bonney at 410-268-1126 or innkeep-er@innathornpoint.com.