College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources // Excellent Gathering

An upstairs suite.

The Gathering Place Bed and Breakfast, located on the edge of the Mizzou campus, has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award for the second year in a row.

The certificate honors hospitality excellence, and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor worldwide receive this award.

The Gathering Place is located at 606 South College Avenue, Columbia.

The Gathering Place is operated by the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources as an educational experience for students studying hospitality management as well as other majors within the University of Missouri. It is located at 606 South College Avenue.

The Gathering Place Bed and Breakfast, housed in one of Columbia’s original homes, offers a unique blend of convenience and luxury with its proximity to campus and the downtown District area, historic charm and modern amenities, according to The Gathering Place website.

Since July 1996, the Gathering Place has served as a college-town bed and breakfast. In May 2008, the University of Missouri College of Ag Foundation purchased the bed and breakfast and leases it to the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

The Chemistry Room.

“The Gathering Place is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Deb Strid, innkeeper. “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor.”

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months. The Gathering Place has a rating of five.

The Dining Room.

“TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience,” said Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – customers.”

“The Gathering Place is a beautiful gem in Columbia, Missouri,” according to one TripAdvisor.com review. “It’s immaculate (seriously, you cannot find a speck of dust in this beautiful house), comfortable, gorgeous rooms and the food is incredible! The location is terrific — close to campus, downtown, etc. The amenities in the rooms are terrific. And I love the fact that the students in the College of Food and Agriculture help run the place as part of their college learning experience. The staff is warm and welcoming. We’ll be back!”

Deb Strid, Innkeeper.