AMERICUS — By doing what we southerners do best — offering great hospitality — the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast has again landed on the list of top inns in America.

Innkeeper Susan Egelseer says there’s no secret to receiving the Travelers’ Choice Award, which is based on guests’ reviews.

“It’s about loving people,” she said. “For us it’s not just about a bed, or just about a breakfast, it’s just about true hospitality.”

Egelseer and her husband Kim opened the inn 10 years ago and have received the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award six of the past seven years. In 2010, they made the list of top bed and breakfasts/inns in the world. This year they ranked eighth on the list of best bed and breakfasts and inns in the United States.

The Egelseers were living in Tampa when they decided they wanted to leave the hustle and bustle of the city. They searched the country for the perfect location. As it happened the inn located near historic Rees Park was on the market.

“Somehow this was the one,” said Susan Egelseer. “I truly believe we end up where we are supposed to be.”

Egelseer describes the house, built in 1847, as a treasure. She believes treasures should be shared with others, not hidden away.

“Kim and I both love making people happy,” she said. “It’s all about service to others.”

The Egelseers arrived in Americus seeking a lifestyle change and running an inn was a new venture for them too. Now they have an award-winning inn with loyal guests and new friends from around the world.

“I don’t think we knew how gratifying it would be,” Egelseer said.

Running the inn allows the couple to spend more time together, but she says it’s liking having a baby that needs constant care. Between taking care of guests, tending to the garden and upkeep of the house, they rarely get to travel. But the world comes to their doorstep.

They have welcomed guests from around the country as well as Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, China and Japan.

“I had no idea how many wonderful friends I would make,” she said. “We have met some really amazing people.”

Some of their guests are people seeking a getaway close to home. Egelseer said the way people travel has changed in the last few years, especially when the economy made a down turn. Also, many people have family obligations such as caring for older parents or children that prevent them from leaving home for a long period of time. Because of those things, people are not planning trips as far in advance; they aren’t spending as much money on travel, and they are looking for places close to home.

“They really need a break, but they don’t know how to do it,” Egelseer said.

As an example, she said there was a couple from Albany who came to spend a couple of nights at the inn.

“They feel like they are a world away,” she said. “But, they are close to home in case something happens that they need to take care of.”

She said they also receive guests who are in town visiting family and friends, who might not have room in their home to accommodate guests.

“They want a place that feels like family, not a hotel,” she said. “Here they feel pampered. It’s a safe, quiet place for them to stay. They can visit with family during the day then return to their own quiet space for the night.”

They also welcome business travelers and offer a meeting room for small groups.

During the past decade, the couple has continued to refine and expand what they provide at the inn. Egelseer said the tornado in 2007 offered them an interesting twist that she calls an opportunity.

They lost 30 trees in the storm that caused much devastation in the area. Their 1.3-acre lot looked barren, so they hired a landscape architect to help them design a garden.

Now the yard features a path winding its way through a variety of shrubs, fig and persimmon trees, a large stand of bamboo and colorful flowerbeds. Tucked in one corner is a rock water fountain built in the 1920s. In the nook between the house and the driveway there is a small koi pond. And, the swing in the backyard gazebo is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of the garden.

“What makes our home special is we have a gorgeous garden to share with our guests,” said Egelseer.

The couple is appreciative of their guests who share their experiences on the TripAdvisor website.

“It is easy to be a great host when you have great guests,” she said. “We want to do something to make their lives better for the short while they are here.”

For more information about the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, visit www.americusgardeninn.com