Building a Fantasy World: Melissa Blettner on Ancient Lore Village
Most hospitality concepts begin with a piece of land, a market study or a business plan. Ancient Lore Village began with a fantasy story.
In this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, Steve Turk sits down with Melissa Blettner, CEO of Boyd Hollow Resorts, to explore how that story became a 67-acre hospitality destination in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Melissa brings a unique perspective to the conversation. She spent about 20 years helping Great Wolf Resorts grow through property openings, operations, brand development and team culture. She now applies that experience to Ancient Lore Village, an independent resort with 14 themed dwellings, immersive activities, dining, retreats, weddings and group experiences.
Melissa explains why operating a smaller independent property is not always simpler than running a large resort. Without established departments and large support teams, the same people may be responsible for sales, operations, programming, food and beverage and guest recovery.
She also shares how the Village discovered that adults wanted the fantasy experience just as much as families. That unexpected audience helped the team rethink its programming while protecting the experience for overnight guests.
What You’ll Learn
How a fantasy book became a real hospitality destination
What Melissa learned from helping Great Wolf Resorts grow
Why smaller hospitality properties can be more operationally challenging
How to build a brand culture that guests can genuinely feel
Why operators should pay attention to the customers who actually show up
How Ancient Lore Village balances overnight stays, day visitors and private events
What “Hospitality with Purpose” means to Melissa and her team
About Melissa Blettner
Melissa Blettner is the CEO of Boyd Hollow Resorts, the parent company behind Ancient Lore Village. Her hospitality career includes front-office operations, sales, resort openings, brand development and nearly two decades of leadership experience with Great Wolf Resorts.
Today, Melissa is helping expand the idea of purpose-driven hospitality through immersive destinations that encourage connection, creativity and meaningful shared experiences.
Presented by Lodgify
This episode is presented by Lodgify. Use code THM60 for 60% off eligible annual and two-year plans.
