What Washington House Inn does

Washington House Inn is a privately held historic bed and breakfast inn operating from a building constructed in 1886 in downtown Cedarburg, Wisconsin's Historic District. The operator has run the property since 1983 and today runs two adjacent buildings totaling 34 unique guest rooms — 29 in the main Washington House and 5 in the smaller Schroeder House three buildings north. Rooms feature jetted tubs, fireplaces, steam showers, walk-in showers, luxury linens, and in-room coffee; the property includes free Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging, daily deluxe continental breakfast, and an afternoon wine and cheese social hour featuring local Wisconsin products.

The inn monetizes through a multi-stream revenue model: the primary lodging stream across 34 rooms is supplemented by curated add-on packages (romantic packages $39–$99, beverage and food add-ons $9–$325), dedicated conference and retreat space (Settler's Trail Conference Room, 780 sq ft, capacity up to 35), retail (luxury linens, gift certificates, cookbook), and a no-expiry Guest Premium Card loyalty program (5 paid nights = 1 free night up to $169 in room value). Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer through the inn's own website, powered by ThinkReservations, with phone reservations and a dedicated group RFP form; the inn is also discoverable on TripAdvisor, where it holds the #1 ranking in Cedarburg and a Travelers' Choice 2025 award. Customer segments span romantic couples (primary), leisure tourists from Chicago and Milwaukee drive markets, corporate and group event planners, families, and senior travelers. The business is operationally lean (11–50 employees), entirely self-funded, and relies on a dense ecosystem of local commercial partnerships (Cedar Creek Winery, Rivoli Theatre, Cedarburg Cultural Center, Frannie's Market, Amy's Candy Kitchen, and multiple breweries) for differentiated guest experiences rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Washington House Inn

Legal name

Washington House Inn

Website

https://washingtonhouseinn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington House Inn is a privately held historic bed and breakfast in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, operating 34 rooms across two buildings and serving primarily romantic couples, leisure travelers from Chicago and Milwaukee, and small corporate retreat groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Bed and Breakfast / Historic Inn Lodging

NAICS

Bed-and-Breakfast Inns (721191), Accommodation (721)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Romantic / Couples B&Bs & Inns (THAGAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Inns & Heritage B&Bs (THAGAHAC), Boutique Inns (THAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Boutique bed breakfast
• Historic inn lodging
• Romantic getaway packages
• Conference retreat venue
• Guest room reservations

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedarburg, WI

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Lodging / Accommodation: The primary revenue stream is overnight accommodation across 29 rooms in the main Washington House building and 5 rooms at Schroeder House, totaling 34 unique guest rooms. Pricing varies by room type and season.
2. Food & Beverage: Daily deluxe continental breakfast is included with room stay. Afternoon wine and cheese social hour is provided. Additional F&B revenue comes from add-on items such as Spotted Cow 6-packs ($15), charcuterie boxes ($39), champagne, local wine, and charcuterie boxes.
3. Packages and Specials: Romantic getaway packages are sold as add-ons to room bookings. Packages include Celebrate in Style ($89), Staycation Starter Pack ($99), Sip and Snack Bundle ($69), Cedarburg is For Lovers Game Night ($39) and Retro Romance ($39), Brew City Getaways, and Senior Discounts. These generate incremental per-stay revenue.
4. Event and Meeting Space Rental: The Settler's Trail Conference Room (780 sq ft) is rented for corporate retreats, crafting retreats, meetings, and group workshops. The venue accommodates up to 35 people in theater style and includes catering options. Revenue includes room rental fees and optional group breakfast service.
5. Loyalty Program: Guest Premium Card rewards program: guests earn one stamp per paid night. Five stamps (five paid nights) can be redeemed for a free night in a room up to $169 value. Cards do not expire. This drives repeat bookings and customer retention.
6. Ancillary Retail: The inn sells gift certificates and luxury linens (sheets) for home purchase. Cookbook sales ($6 + $2.50 S&H) with recipes from the inn's breakfast menu are also offered, generating small ancillary revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Washington House Inn operates a historic 1886 boutique bed and breakfast in downtown Cedarburg, Wisconsin, offering overnight lodging across 34 unique guest rooms (29 in the main Washington House and 5 at Schroeder House). The inn provides complimentary deluxe continental breakfast and an afternoon wine and cheese social hour, sells romantic getaway packages and add-ons, and rents the Settler's Trail Conference Room (780 sq ft, capacity 35) for corporate retreats and group meetings. Additional revenue is generated through a loyalty program, gift certificates, retail luxury linens, and curated partnerships with local wineries, breweries, theaters, and cultural attractions.

Product overview

Washington House Inn is a historic bed and breakfast boutique hotel operating two distinct properties in Cedarburg, Wisconsin: the main Washington House Inn (29 rooms) and the Schroeder House (5 rooms). The inn offers romantic getaway packages, meeting and conference facilities through the Settler's Trail Conference Room, and various add-on products including food/beverage packages, gift certificates, and luxury linens for retail sale. Core hospitality services include daily deluxe continental breakfast, afternoon wine and cheese social hour, free Wi-Fi, and electric car charging.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Washington House Inn Rooms

Quantifiable outcome

• TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cedar Creek WinerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCedar Creek Winery is a featured partner in multiple romantic getaway packages. The 'Celebrate in Style' package includes two Cedar Creek Winery tasting tickets and a bottle of local Wisconsin wine. The Staycation Starter Pack includes two wine tasting tickets. The inn actively promotes wine tasting as a key activity for guests, positioning the winery as an integral part of the Cedarburg experience.
• Cedarburg Cultural CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Cedarburg Cultural Center offers 20% off admission to any live performance for Washington House Inn guests. The inn is located across the street from the Cultural Center. This cross-promotion benefits both entities, with the inn serving as a lodging partner for Cultural Center event attendees. Additionally, the inn provides display space for Cedarburg Artist Guild member artwork in its lobby and Gathering Room.
• Rivoli TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Rivoli Theatre is featured in multiple packages including 'Retro Romance Package' (two movie tickets) and 'Staycation Starter Pack' (two movie tickets). The historic theater, run by volunteers and located immediately adjacent to the inn, receives promotional mention across the inn's blog and marketing materials.
• Rebellion BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRebellion Brewing is highlighted as a key Cedarburg brewery on the inn's blog and brewery trail guide. The brewpub is located 'just across the street' from the inn and is featured as part of the Cedarburg brewery trail experience marketed to guests.
• ThinkReservationscoreTechnology or IntegrationThinkReservations provides the online booking engine powering the inn's website reservations system. All room availability, rates, and package bookings are processed through this third-party reservation platform at secure.thinkreservations.com/washingtonhouseinn/reservations.
• The Fermentorium Brewery & Tasting RoomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Fermentorium is featured on the inn's Cedarburg brewery trail blog guide as a '5-minute drive from the Inn' with rotating local Wisconsin brews and an upscale atmosphere. Recommended as part of the culinary scene for guests.
• Sahale Ale WorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed on the Cedarburg brewery trail guide as one of the top breweries near the inn, featuring small-batch, top-notch beers with a rotating tap list.
• Inventors BrewpubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on the Cedarburg brewery trail guide with steampunk-inspired ambiance, creative brews, and a food menu designed to accompany the beers.
• Foxtown BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on the Cedarburg brewery trail guide as a family-owned and operated brewery using time-honored brewing techniques, described as a local gem.
• Cedarburg Art Museum / Beer GardenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Cedarburg Art Museum hosts a Beer Garden in partnership with Lakefront Brewery on Thursday and Saturday evenings during summer months in historic downtown Cedarburg. The inn recommends this event to guests as part of their Cedarburg experience.
• Frannie's MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrannie's Market provides the gourmet cheese and charcuterie box included in the 'Sip and Snack Bundle' package. The box includes 2 charcuteries, 3 cheeses, olives, gherkin pickles, mustard, jam, honey, and crackers, serving two guests.
• Amy’s Candy KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmy’s Candy Kitchen provides gourmet Belgian chocolate truffles included in the 'Celebrate in Style' package. The inn also recommends Amy’s Candy Kitchen to guests as an unmissable local confectioner near the inn.
• Bella Lei Salon Spa and BoutiqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBella Lei Salon Spa and Boutique is located 'right across the street' from the inn and is recommended to guests seeking spa services. The inn features Bella Lei in its blog under 'Pampering in Cedarburg' to upsell spa experiences to guests.
• Armbruster JewelersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCedarburg's oldest jewelry store (since 1884), located a short walk from the inn. Featured in the inn's blog as a recommended local shop, particularly relevant for guests seeking engagement or anniversary rings.
• Edmunds StudiominorOthersEdmunds Studio is credited as the photographer for the inn's website photos (listed in the website footer). The studio provides professional photography services for the inn's marketing materials.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Canoe Bay: Adult-only, luxury romantic retreat in Chetek, WI offering curated packages and high-end amenities. Comparable as a Wisconsin romantic getaway operator with package-based revenue model similar to Washington House Inn's getaway bundles.
• The Geneva Inn: Boutique lakefront inn in Lake Geneva, WI catering to couples, weddings, and weekend escapes from Chicago/Milwaukee. Comparable as a small, romantic Wisconsin inn competing for the same drive-market leisure traveler.
• Sundara Inn & Spa: Adults-only wellness retreat and inn in Wisconsin Dells, WI focused on romantic, experience-driven stays. Comparable as a romantic, adult-oriented Wisconsin inn with package-driven ancillary revenue.
• The Iron Horse Hotel: Boutique, romance- and design-forward hotel in Milwaukee's Walker’s Point. Comparable as a small, independent, experience-driven Wisconsin accommodation competing for the same Milwaukee leisure and corporate traveler.
• The Delafield Hotel: Boutique hotel in Delafield, WI between Milwaukee and Waukesha with small footprint and event/retreat offerings. Comparable as a small-format, romantic Wisconsin inn targeting the Milwaukee metro weekend and corporate retreat segments.
• The Abbey Resort & Spa: Historic lakeside resort in Fontana, WI positioned for romantic getaways, weddings, and group retreats. Comparable as a Wisconsin-based romantic/leisure destination inn with meeting and event space similar to Washington House Inn's Settler's Trail offering.

Broad incumbents

• Marcus Hotels & Resorts: Regional hospitality operator running multiple Wisconsin hotels and resorts including historic properties. Comparable as a portfolio of Wisconsin lodging assets in the same drive market, though at a much larger scale and broader segment mix.
• The Pfister Hotel: Historic, full-service hotel in downtown Milwaukee with a strong romance and luxury positioning. Comparable as a regional historic accommodation option in the same Wisconsin drive market that Washington House Inn targets.

Emerging players

• Airbnb: Global short-term rental marketplace capturing significant share of the romantic getaway and drive-market leisure demand that B&Bs like Washington House Inn serve. Comparable as a competing distribution channel for unique-stay travelers in the Cedarburg/Chicagoland corridor.

Regional players

• Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center: Resort and conference property in Sheboygan, WI combining leisure amenities with group/meeting space. Comparable as a Wisconsin family/regional leisure property with a conference facility component analogous to the Settler's Trail Conference Room.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WashingtonHouse
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCujgWJJb5kSV5bD90vuusHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/WashingtonHouseInn
• Instagraminstagram.com/washingtonhouseinn
• Pinterestpinterest.com/washingtonhouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-house-inn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington House Inn