Inn Consultants and Brokers Since 1993

The B&B Team
Idyllic Inn Setting

We are experienced speakers who have presented on a range of innkeeping related topics at the state, regional, and national level. We gather and analyze research for the Innkeeping industry and welcome the opportunity to share it with others. Contact Us

Our Fight Against the B&B Stereotype

Our Fight Against the B&B Stereotype

Join our fight against the B&B stereotype. Last week you may have seen the scathing, meant to be humorous article in the online travel section of the Boston Globe; Does B&B stand for blah and bummer? One man’s stand against breakfast with strangers.  If not I have provided you with the link. I suggest you read it.

Now that you are as incensed as I became, you can now read my immediately response to the author, Christopher Muther. I share it with you now.

Dear Chris,

Have you ever had a terrible meal at a small chef/owned restaurant? Maybe you go on TripAdvisor and give it a 2 or 3 star review and probably won’t go back. But you know that not all small chef/owned restaurants are the same. Right?  I am not going to continue with this thread of thought because you are obviously a bright guy and get it.

What I am going to say is that writing about one, allegedly out of touch, living in the past B&B and giving it a scathing review based on your prejudiced (unfounded?) assumption that all B&Bs are similar to Mrs. Butterworth’s B&B. (By the way, do they really still make that stuff?) This is very unfair and articles like yours can unfortunately hurt the small independent lodging businesses.

Fact: B&Bs are changing, it is Darwinian. But it takes time. Of course we like to see positive press about our industry. Like the article just published in Down East Magazine featuring a selection of new Maine innkeepers entitled, The New Innkeepers.

This quote from the article says it all…

“Baby-boomer hoteliers — long the driving force behind the state’s inns, B&Bs, sporting camps, and other accommodations — are handing over the keys, and a new crop of hosts are bringing with them fresh aesthetics, new investment, and novel ideas about what it means to be a guest of the house.”

Chris, I know your article was amusing and was meant to initiate a chuckle or two but it really just dragged out another stereotype that our industry is working very hard on diminishing.

Now if you want to write something positive about our industry, take a look at the B&Bs for Vets program.

Thanks for Listening… Janet Wolf

New Innkeeper featured in the Down East article, Victoria Hood, West End Inn, Portland Maine. A client of The B&B Team and seminar graduate. Photograph by Michael D. Wilson

Our industry’s B&Bs are changing. Innkeepers, new or seasoned, with the ‘fresh aesthetics, new investment and novel ideas’ are the future. Keeping up with hospitality industry trends is key. One way of doing this is education, education, education! How, when and where? The Knowledge Sharing Summit & Marketplace is THE place to be. February 26-March 1, 2018 in Norfolk, Virginia. Our forward looking association, AIHP, Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals, has a very forward thinking education program planned. Please consider attending.

The B&B Team is committed to the fight against the B&B stereotype. Join the fight, let’s move forward and once again…

Thanks for Listening,

Janet Wolf

6 Responses to “Our Fight Against the B&B Stereotype”

  1. An awesome post Jan! Thanks for the timely response and I hope you sent it in as a letter to the editor too!

    • Janet Wolf says:

      As always thank you for your kind words. Yes, I wrote to the author as did Marti and have not heard back from him.

      • Michael DiNello says:

        Hi Janet,your response was gracious and a bit gentle in my humble opinion.You are so correct in asking this writer to have thought about the repercussions of HIS opinion. One should not make broad stroke opinions based on few experiences(why would he ever drive a car again based upon the high percentage of terrible drivers) As you know we are new Innkeepers,we have delightfully had over a dozen NEWBIES,when they leave they are convinced that staying at B and B’s will be the only way they will lodge now. Both a pleasure for our hard work and seeing really happy guests leave as new friends makes it worth it. Too many people hide behind keyboards with hastily written public articles without thinking. GOOD for you in responding ,, Thank you, Michael

        • Rick Wolf says:

          Thanks Mike……appreciate your comments.

          Know Janet will respond too. Delighted you are off to such a rewarding start to your new career. All the best. Rick.

  2. Marti Mayne says:

    I too sent a note to Mr B&B Basher and invited him to experience today’s real B&Bs. Didn’t hear a word back. Did you?

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