An interesting article from HOTELMARKETING.com talks about a decline in consumer satisfaction with the online travel industry. This comes at the same time that overall consumer satisfaction with online commerce is rising. Is this a problem for our innkeepers? To the extent that the report from the University of Michigan and ForeSee Results focuses on […]
Online Travel Satisfaction Declines Read More »
Every bed & breakfast inn that is even remotely serious about attracting guests has a website, right? Well, most do. Are all inn sites created equally? Thankfully, no. Can most websites be improved? Thankfully, yes! What is one of the key elements missing from most bed & breakfast inn websites, even some of those that
Inn Photography, A Tool for Success Read More »
This afternoon I was interviewed by Melana Yanos, a writer for NuWire Investor, an online newsletter and website with information about investing in everything from real estate and precious metals to green investing and bed and breakfast inns. She already penned one article about B&Bs and wanted to follow it up with some insight into
Weddings and Leisure: Marriage or Divorce? Read More »
Rick and I are just back from the Conference of the Carolinas in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Hosted by the South Carolina Bed & Breakfast Association (SCBBA) and North Carolina Bed & Breakfasts and Inns (NCBBI) it was three day gathering of innkeepers, vendors, and aspiring innkeepers to learn, network, and have fun. We certainly had
Strategic Partnerships, Lasting Friendships Read More »
Greetings from icy New England and one plug for the locals…..Go Pats! Speaking of the Patriots, what a great example of branding and the excellence that the brand represents. The first time ever that an NFL team has gone 18-0 with the possibility of 19-0! Trying to draw parallels between the small lodging industry and
Amenities to Zoning: B is for Branding Read More »
We have just returned from the Mid-Atlantic Innkeeper’s Conference in Natural Bridge, Virginia. A privately organized conference that included innkeepers from several state associations including Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and a robust group of aspiring innkeepers who were lead by David Caples of Lodging Resources Workshops, there was great representation from a cross
Innkeeping Education Read More »
Amenities: Attractive extras. The features that, when taken together, make a B&B attractive to guests or customers. Above and beyond "attractive extras", the amenities you make available in your bed and breakfast should exceed your guests’ expectations and create that ever desirable WOW factor. Inn amenities transcend soaps and shampoos and include everything from beach
Amenities to Zoning: A is for Amenties Read More »
It’s that time of year again. Just one week until Christmas! Unlike other years, my wife and I are pretty relaxed. Peggy is a wonderful organizer, and we got the shopping done early; it’s all wrapped. Cards went out (a first for us!) and the tree is decorated and lit. We’ve even had some time
Holiday Greetings to Inn Lovers Everywhere Read More »
There’s been a lot of news lately about online reviews, and sometimes it’s hard to know how to measure their impact on innkeepers. Well, now we have some great statistics to share. A recent article from TravelMole reported that The Kelsey Group and comScore.com did a joint research project that focused on hotels (lodging), restaurants,
Online Reviews Impact Bottom Line Read More »
When innkeepers take a reservation from a repeat guest or learn that a new reservation was referred by a previous guest, it’s always a good thing. The higher the percentage of repeat and referral guests, the better, because word of mouth advertising costs nothing. Or does it? In the day to day reality of most
Word-of-Mouth Marketing Read More »
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