Innkeepers Gretchen & Tracy Du Peza bring International experience and flavor to the bed & breakfast in historic New Bern.  

Tracy, born in Mystic, Connecticut, spent over 30 years in the computer industry with leaders such as Compaq Computer and Hewlett Packard. Gretchen born in Washington, DC, has a background in business operations and inventory control. While raising their three children, she ran two home based businesses – first a desk top publishing business and later as a sales consultant for a multinational kitchen products company.

In the late 1990’s, the family moved to Europe, specifically Munich Germany, where Tracy joined Compaq’s European headquarters. Three years later the family moved to Zurich, Switzerland where Tracy supported teams throughout Eastern Europe for Hewlett Packard.

In addition to their European experience, early in their marriage (before children) Gretchen and Tracy spent three years in Africa, living in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In 2014, the couple returned to the USA and after spending an anniversary weekend in New Bern, the couple fell in love with the historic town. Two years later they became the third set of Innkeepers for the then Harmony House Inn, now newly renamed Benjamin Ellis House.

Tracy brings his interest in history and his love of working with his hands to the business. Gretchen shares her culinary expertise gained from cooking classes taken around the world in preparing first class breakfasts each morning. Capitalizing on their multicultural and business experiences, Gretchen and Tracy Du Peza are infusing the Inn with international artwork, cuisine and a new vision while working to keep the history of the Benjamin Ellis house preserved and celebrated.