Inn Consultants and Brokers Since 1993

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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

Archive for the ‘Archives’ Category


Elevating the Guest Experience in 2023 

March 10th, 2023 by Eben Viens

Experience is the heart and driving economic force of our special segment of the hospitality and tourism industry. If we can all agree on this statement, in some form, our success should be based on the ability to expand and elevate the experience of guests as they start the research and booking process, through their […]

Lessons from a Life Spent with Inn Guru Bill Oates

December 8th, 2021 by Eben Viens

The Innkeeping world has lost one of its pioneering members with the passing of Bill Oates on Monday, November 22. Bill’s influence on the industry is immeasurable, and his legacy is carried on by industry professionals, consultants, brokers, and the countless Innkeepers who were his colleagues and close friends. I had the great pleasure of […]

Are You Just a Bed and Breakfast?

April 10th, 2019 by Eben Viens

Today you must offer something beyond a standard bed and a breakfast experience if you want to succeed in today’s hospitality sphere. It is not good enough to just survive with average. To be successful and stay successful, you must strive for excellence. Remember how awful it was getting that C- in chemistry in high […]

Kennebunk Inn & Restaurant

January 4th, 2019 by Eben Viens

This is the second in a featured series of historic inns with restaurants for sale. The interest in food and food travel has consistently grown across America mostly in the last decade. Some areas have tapped into this growth in a big way. One area is Southern Maine.  Bon Appetit named Portland Maine the 2018 […]

Get Creative with Your B&B Packages

December 6th, 2018 by Eben Viens

B&Bs have been offering packages for decades. It can be an important and profitable part of your brand. Packages should be creative and compelling. An enticing activity, adventure or learning experience. Something guests can write home about, so to speak. Airbnb has just launched their ‘Creative Class Month’. “Learn from the pros in one-time only […]

Historic Inns & Restaurants for Sale

November 29th, 2018 by Eben Viens

Travelers throughout the world have always sought hospitable places to rest and eat. The history of country Inns that offer food and hospitality for the weary journeyer goes back centuries. The term ‘hospitality’ derives from ‘hospice’, meaning a place of rest. Today our historic inns & restaurants offer ‘hospice’ plus so much more. The B&B […]

Spirit of Thanksgiving

November 19th, 2018 by Eben Viens

When families gather around the Thanksgiving table, many will pause for a few moments to express a few words of thanks. What are most people grateful for? A Google search revealed the following: Children’s smiles, family time, freedom and good health, dogs and football…and, you guessed it, food glorious food. Families (dogs included) gathering around […]

Focus on Comfort for Your Guests

November 8th, 2018 by Eben Viens

All of us at The B&B Team often talk about the importance of good architectural photography for your website in our Better Way to Learn Innkeeping Seminars. We mention that we like to see good photos of breakfasts on websites. We say, ‘It is half of who you are, bed and breakfast. Show us what […]

5 Hospitality Trends-Looking Forward

September 27th, 2018 by Eben Viens

‘What’s the buzz? Tell me what’s happening’ There is always a buzz about what’s new and trending in the hospitality business. Here are 5 hospitality trends positively impacting the hospitality industry. 5 trends that have been around for awhile that are not going away. 5 trends that are increasing in popularity and importance. 5 hospitality […]

Get More Direct Bookings

April 28th, 2018 by Eben Viens

Is your goal in 2018-19 to get more direct bookings? Your response should be a resounding YES. From a PhocusWire (powered by PhocusWright) article entitled; ‘Online travel agency fightback: Tactics to lure direct bookings’. By Max Starkov. Geared towards the hotel industry but there is some good advise that is universal for all lodging properties. […]

Breakfast Going Global

April 11th, 2018 by Eben Viens

Thank you, Linda Hayes, for sending me a most enticing and inspiring article, ‘The World of Breakfast–The shifting definition of what counts as breakfast food now embraces flavors from around the globe’. Explore breakfast going global. Trends in food are constantly evolving, new flavors and creative presentations are certain to elicit the WOW factor. Are […]

What do Millennials Want?

March 26th, 2018 by Eben Viens

Remember this catchphrase from TV’s The Brady Bunch? “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha”. Her sister Jan thought she got all the attention. Today it’s millennials, millennials, millennials, its’ all about millennials! What do millennials want? How much attention should we give them? One thing for sure, we must pay attention to them as active consumers with disposable […]

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