Ep 10. Tiny Horse, Big Problems

In the latest episode of Hotel Impossible, titled "Tiny Horse, Big Problems", host Anthony Melchiorri visits a quaint bed-and-breakfast located in rural central Pennsylvania. The property,, run by a man named Mike, has turned into an equine-themed hotel with several miniature horses living on the premises as part of the guests' experience. While the hotel has many positive aspects, including a prime location and an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful countryside, it has been struggling with low occupancy rates, poor reviews, and various operational issues.

Upon arrival, Anthony immediately notices some of the problems that the hotel faces. He observes untrained staff, areas of the property that are in disrepair, and unsatisfied guests. In particular, guest rooms are full of clutter and horse décor that has become overwhelming over time. The miniature horses are dirty and don't seem well taken care of, which further detracts from guests' experiences. Anthony also finds out that the hotel is not marketed well, which is a serious problem for its success.

After speaking with Mike and his son, Anthony learns of the emotional and financial struggle the business has gone through and how the idea of miniature horses was their attempt to bring in more customers and stay afloat. While Anthony admires their passion, he also quickly realizes that it's doing more harm than good.

Anthony works closely with Mike and his team to tackle the issues, beginning with the guest rooms. Anthony insists that the room décor needs to be toned down and made more appealing to a broader audience. The team starts by decluttering and removing the horse-related décor and introducing a new color scheme, which avoids being too bold. They also deep clean the guest rooms and make essential repairs.

In addition to fixing fire code violations and electrical issues, Anthony focuses on outdoor spaces to enhance guest experiences. He works on making the horse stables cleaner and tidier, clearing the pathways and creating a more enjoyable place for the guests to walk through. Anthony also helps in developing a better marketing strategy for the hotel, focusing on the hotel's location, local attractions, and the stunning natural surroundings. They create a social media presence and even revamp and redesign the hotel's website.

During all this, Anthony and Mike share emotional discussions relating to their struggles with mental health over the years. This leads to them building a better rapport, enabling them to develop a deeper understanding of each other's experiences and creating a friendly working dynamic.

As the project nears completion, Anthony presents the owners with a refreshed and more professionally run hotel. The miniature horses and their stables are cleaner, brighter, and safer for both horses and guests. The guest rooms have a new and bright feel, styled as an inviting country retreat, having shed a lot of the gimmicky horse-themed decor. The staff is better trained, and the owners are better equipped with all the essential tools to get the hotel back on track.

In the finale, Anthony and Mike reveal the transformations and improvements made to the hotel, to the family and guests. Emotions run high, as everyone is thrilled with the changes and the possibilities the future now holds for the hotel.

Overall, “Tiny Horse, Big Problems” is a heartwarming episode, full of unforeseen challenges and moments of catharsis. The show is a reminder of how essential a professional makeover could be in reviving a struggling business, and it teaches that rational product and visually pleasing spaces are still essential in the hospitality business, no matter the theme. Anthony Melchiorri does justice, as always, in carrying out the renovation work and achieving another success story.