Class 2002
County Achievement Awards
Berkshire County
Carl and Marilyn Faulkner,
The Williams Inn
Carl and Marilyn Faulkner, owners and operators of The Williams Inn in Williamstown, have been hotel entrepreneurs since 1968.  Carl’s lifelong interest in hotel management began even earlier when, as a college student at Bentley, he worked variously as a janitor, doorman, and lobby porter at the Fairmont Boston. By 1965 he had progressed from a position as auditor for four motels, to controller and assistant manager of the Ramada Inn in Boston.
When he was only 28 years old, with a grand total of $75 to invest, Carl set out to become a hotel owner. He put together a partnership of 17 investors to purchase the Governor Bradford Motor Inn in Plymouth, and became the manager of the property. The Governor Motor Inns Corp. went on to purchase the Plymouth Holiday Inn in 1970, the Treadway Williams Inn in 1979, and the Treadway Rochester NY in 1984.
By 1987 the original group of investors had altered, and Carl made the decision to convert to a sole proprietorship. In 1991, he formed the Taconic Williamstown Corporation to own and operate the 103-room Williams Inn. This lovely Inn, an important part of the Williamstown community since 1912, hosts Williams College guests, alumni, and parents, as well as actors and directors for the Williamstown Theater Festival.Â
Carl and Marilyn have been very active in service to the Williamstown community, volunteering in local and regional organizations, as well as in activities for their church. Marilyn is a past president of the Williamstown Board of Trade. Both the Faulkners have received the Community Service Award from the Williamstown Community Chest and the Massachusetts Governor’s Tourism Leadership Award.
The two are still on the job, working daily at The Williams Inn to be sure that their guests experience friendly hospitality, and overseeing construction of the new addition of 23 premier rooms, scheduled to open shortly.