Are you a luxury bed & breakfast inn? Luxury means different things to different people. If you brand your inn as a Luxury Bed & Breakfast Inn… one size and look does not fit all today.

A whirlpool tub, a fireplace, champagne and those oh, so predictable chocolate covered strawberries. Guests may be saying: “Is that all there is”?

Going beyond the expected and predictable is what we are talking about here.

If you are going to charge luxury prices, then you need to offer something that no one else can offer. In my research, I found many articles and blogs on this subject. What I discovered was once again it is not about the ‘things’ but about the experience. This does not mean the luxury amenities, updated décor, latest technology and yes, an outstanding breakfast are not important. Guests still want (and expect) this. But…

“It’s clear that experience is winning out over the material when it comes to the kind of luxury that consumers prefer.”

“To really have a competitive edge, hospitality providers need to facilitate branded experiences that extend beyond the walls of the room or property.” 10 Hotel Trends that Will Shape Guest Experience in 2017 Deanna Ting, Skift. Jan. 30, 2017

Your luxury Bed & Breakfast Inn charges luxury prices. As a result that WOW factor needs to include something no one else offers. Experiential travel, ‘live like a local’, curated experiences…call it what you will. It is what hospitality and travel writers are talking about today. There must be a reason.

Some examples:

• Street food & beverage tours. Rick and I were in Brooklyn with our son and daughter-in=law and took a whiskey tasting and distillery tour followed by a walk to a bakery that only bakes and sells key lime pie! Their frozen chocolate-covered key lime pie on a stick! Unique…you bet.

• Exclusive behind the scene museum tours. The Inn at Cooperstown has been offering one of the best behind the scenes tours of The Baseball Hall of Fame for many years. The innkeepers created the package, partnering with the museum and they ‘own it’. Exclusive and packed full of experiences…you bet.

Now you may think trekking the streets of Red Hook, Brooklyn and paring whiskey with key lime pie is not luxurious.  But it sure was memorable. Remember, one size does not fit all.

A behind the scene tour of your favorite baseball team’s artifacts in places the public is not privy too, priceless. Possibly a memory of a lifetime to serious baseball fans!

Coming up with an experience that is unique to your property’s location may not be as difficult as you think. What is your community’s story? It may be historical or a new emerging business trend. Do a bit of research and think ‘out of the box’.

From the Skift article.  “This isn’t to say people don’t want opulence or extravagance anymore. For some travelers, that’s still an integral part of what defines luxury. We’re not saying luxury is transforming into something more Spartan, or more minimalistic, either. Instead lean luxury is about the new luxury, about offering travelers a more authentic, genuine luxury experience unfettered by specific brand or quality standards like thread counts.”

I think a branded luxury Bed & Breakfast Inn has the opportunity to provide this better than the large hotel brands, way better.

Looking for a luxury bed & breakfast for sale? Become a part of the ‘lean luxury’ trend.

Lead photo. Hermann Hill Vineyard Inn, Hermann, Missouri. ‘Where the Missouri and Memories Meet.’

Thanks for Listening,

Janet Wolf