Inn Consultants and Brokers Since 1993
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
November 16th, 2015 by Eben Viens
In the beginning there was Trip Advisor, the review site. A hate/love relationship flourished within the lodging industry including bed and breakfasts. No big news here. ‘Slowly I turned…step by step..inch by inch’… and Trip Advisor became the largest travel related website in the world. For those who could see into the future it became inevitable […]
September 22nd, 2015 by Eben Viens
As innkeepers, your job, and the job of the marketing firm or marketing association you have hired or joined, is to connect people with your Inn, your brand message. The path of connectivity in marketing your inn has evolved since the emergence of the internet so many years ago. It is hard to even remember marketing without […]
May 18th, 2015 by Eben Viens
Another mega company, Amazon, (which means big anyway), has moved into the travel industry with a new direction. It is now connected to Amazon Local but will soon be on its own. Here is Amazon Destination’s brand focus. Created to solve problem-“How to easily plan and book a local getaway trip.” Weekend getaway within driving […]
June 13th, 2014 by Eben Viens
Many Bed and Breakfasts have great settings for weddings at the Inn. Most innkeepers say they have been approached at least once by couples inquiring about their Inn as a possible venue for their nuptials. Whether it is a rustic picturesque barn, landscaped garden with views or perhaps an outdoor amphitheater or gazebo, it is […]
March 14th, 2013 by Eben Viens
The roadside motel or cottage court of the 1950’s and 60’s is a tribute to Americana. Merge nostalgia with modern guestroom amenities and what do you get? The Iris Inn’s newest lodging option, cabins designed just for a couple’s getaway. Innkeepers Dave and Heidi Lanford have created what they call a ‘contemporary adult tree house.’ […]
July 10th, 2012 by Eben Viens
“Friends meeting friends in places where none of you live.” This is a Nora Ephron quote I wrote down a few years ago thinking I may use it one day in a blog. With her unfortunate and untimely passing last month this quote came to mind and I searched through my neatly organized desk drawer […]
February 16th, 2012 by Eben Viens
Remember 2008? Or would you rather forget about it? Yeah me too, it’s over, kaput! Remember the term ‘staycation’? That alternative for vacation that popped up and became popular during the era between 2007-2010 where folks were encouraged to have fun at home instead of traveling to a vacation destination, like your bed and breakfast! Well it is still […]
October 14th, 2011 by Eben Viens
The focal point of a guest room is the bed. I have always proposed that the bed should be the utmost enticement for a weary traveller’s eyes, for it most likely is the first thing they see when entering the room. A major part of the experience you provide for your guest is the sleep experience. […]
July 27th, 2011 by Scott Bushnell
Countless inns are participating in the Living Social and Groupon craze (not sure if I should use the word “fad” there, which implies a short-term shelf life) and, as seen in previous postings from Janet and me, there are a number of “rules of thumb” that can make participation worthwhile. One thing that is happening, […]
June 29th, 2011 by Eben Viens
The Lakehouse Inn & Winery in Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio is the subject of our second interview with innkeepers who have used Living Social or another of the social commerce sites available. The opportunity for innkeepers to take advantage of these sites to pump up the volume of their business in the off seasons have become more […]
June 23rd, 2011 by Eben Viens
Younger audiences are consumed with ‘cool hunting’ and Lewiston/Auburn Maine is cool. What is ‘cool hunting’? According to Wikipedia it is a term coined in the 1990s referring to a new breed of marketing professionals, called ‘cool hunters’. It is their job to make observations and predictions in changes of new and exciting cultural trends. […]
June 2nd, 2011 by Eben Viens
Memorial Day serves as the official kick off of the busy summer travel season. The B&B Team hopes you all had a successful start to the season! There are more than 1.5 billion ‘person trips’ made in the US for leisure each year. That is a lot of individuals making an impact on your destination location’s environment. […]
