Meaningful connections make all the difference for Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa
By George Berkheimer
Amanda Burroughs oversees every aspect of the Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa as the general manager, but her relationship with the resort runs much deeper. “When I started my Omni career 12 years ago in Washington, DC, my husband and I would come here as our getaway and it was our favorite thing to do,” she said. “We started bringing our son after he was born and he took his first steps in the hallway here, so there’s definitely a personal connection for us.” When it comes to her relationship with the more than 500 associates who support operations, “they take a lot of pride in taking care of this historic resort and love making connections with our guests,” Burroughs said. “They also know how important Bedford Springs is to our local community and its economy by bringing additional business and visitors in. Working with them is what makes this job special to me.” Omni’s staff brings a special focus to history, wellness, and hospitality, she added, and Omni’s guests have returned the love. “We’ve been ranked as Golfweek Magazine’s number one ‘Best Course You Can Play in Pennsylvania’ listings for two years running, and we were recognized by Travel and Leisure as the number one resort in the mid-Atlantic,” Burroughs said. “We are one of the only Omnis to be recognized with a number one spot, and it’s the first year any Omni resort achieved that spot. We feel special that we were recognized.”
Evolving amenities
Bedford Springs is well known for its golf course, but it also offers several activities and amenities that continue to grow. “Ranging from free activities like hiking the resort’s 25 miles of trails to activities with higher fees that include axe throwing and archery programs and even UTV rentals, there’s something for everybody,” Burroughs said. Rod and reel rentals that include an hour of instruction and fishing on nearby Red Oak Lake are an extremely popular and affordable option. “We added paintball this year, bought brand new Polaris UTVs and opened a second UTV trail,” she said. Also new this year is a digital scavenger hunt using the interactive Goosechase app that helps bring the resort and its history to life for guests. “Our RFID digital locks make it easier to enter and exit rooms, and we upgraded our mattresses and our Wi-Fi,” Burroughs said. Events continue to evolve as well, and now include quarterly themed wine dinners.
Caring Communities
It was while spending time at Bedford Springs as guests approximately five years after it first opened that Burroughs came to understand the hotel’s impact. “The people working at the cafe we ate at talked to us about how it revitalized the town and how important it was to see the hotel be successful because that was going to help our entire community,” she said “Even though I worked for Omni but didn’t yet work here, I felt so much pride knowing we were helping and being a part of that.” Another thing that drew Burroughs and her husband to Bedford was the sense of community they found here. “There are people in this community who truly care about the future of Bedford County,” she said. “Bette Slayton and the Bedford County Development Association invest time and focus to make sure we have all these industries and future businesses coming in, and Main Street Manager Lindsay Salas and Downtown Bedford Inc. bring so many fun activities throughout the year like Fall Foliage, Wheels and Wings, the Chili Walk and other things we can’t wait for.” Burroughs said she has also been impressed with the entertainment that Kelly Goodman Shaffer and the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce have brought to the community through the drive-in movie theater and concerts throughout the year. “Even something as simple as Youth Leadership Bedford County is part of it,” Burroughs said. “My son is 11 and I can’t wait for him to be able to apply and be part of the future of Bedford County. I love that this town is investing in the youth and in businesses, because we want to see our county continue to grow and thrive.”