Monthly Archives: August 2011

Bed and Breakfast Beginnings

11 Thursday Aug 2011

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So, you’re considering starting up a bed and breakfast? And why shouldn’t you? Thousands, perhaps millions, are doing just that all over the globe. The hospitality industry is booming and bed and breakfast inns are playing a significant role in that boom.

For the naïve, running a bed and breakfast may seem like little more than going on a permanent holiday and getting paid to do so. Luckily, most people realize there’s more to it than making pancake batter in the mornings and changing the sheets after guests leave. However, even those who recognize that becoming an innkeeper is no leisurely stroll in the park are still consistently shocked by the amount of labor (both the manual and mental varieties) which is required to pull off such a feat successfully and smoothly day after day.

Without a doubt, running a bed and breakfast can be a rich, rewarding, and rejuvenating enterprise.

This article is, in no way, intended to dissuade you from starting up your own bed and breakfast. Without a doubt, running a bed and breakfast can be a rich, rewarding, and rejuvenating enterprise. There are perks. There are advantages. With that said, though, it’s certainly not for everyone.

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So, before you jump the gun and haphazardly decide that running an inn is for you, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you like interacting with others?

You’ll be associating with people from all walks of life: business travelers, families on summer vacation, couples seeking a romantic getaway, or possibly a combination of all of the above simultaneously. Are you polite and courteous? Do you aim to please? Will you promptly and willingly respond to customer complaints? Can you be helpful without being intrusive? Can you assert yourself while remaining diplomatic? Superior social skills are imperative.

Are you patient?

Patience is a virtue—especially in the hospitality industry. Guests will be staying at your inn…and shelling out good money for it. So, it’s a reasonable supposition that they expect to be pampered—a responsibility that rests with you, as the innkeeper. People can be demanding, particularly when they’re on vacation. A smile and a quick, confirmatory response to customers’ objections will go far…even if it means you have to grit your teeth to please a particularly insufferable guest.

Are you adaptable?

Innkeepers don’t work the typical 9-5, Monday-Friday work weeks. Instead, they spend their weekends looking after guests’ needs. Holidays are dedicated to the influx of patrons fleeing their homes for a leisurely extended weekend getaway. Circumstances may require a late-night check in for one couple while another guest might be checking out the next morning at 5 AM to catch a flight.

Do you have a bed and breakfast worthy accommodation?

As a general rule of thumb, people don’t flock to inns that lack aesthetic appeal. That’s not to say your property must be worthy of housing the Crown Jewels, but it must have the ability to allure consumers in for some reason or another. There should be a warm, inviting atmosphere with pleasant ambience. It absolutely must be spotless. Little will deter a guest from a property more quickly than a less-than-spic-and-span room.

Almost as important as the property itself is its location. Your bed and breakfast must draw in guests somehow. Ideally, a bed and breakfast will be found near a popular sight of interest or between two major metropolises. If there is nothing else of interest to offer within the vicinity, then the bed and breakfast must become an attraction in and of itself. It should become a free-standing destination worthy of visiting even if there is little else remotely appealing in the surrounding area.

Are you business savvy? If not, are you willing to learn?

An innkeeper isn’t expected to be a cutthroat Donald Trump candidate. Nonetheless, having a business strategy is fundamental. You can’t earn a living by running a bed and breakfast without having a basic understanding of what goes on in the business world. How are you going to gain clientele? Like any other product or service, you’ve got to sell your inn. Market it. Advertise it. Spread the word. Be the best. Utilize resources. Be creative. Allow your paradigms to shift. As the business world continues to rapidly evolve, rejecting innovation is a sure-fire way to get left in the dust.

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Should you answer in the affirmative to these posed questions and running a bed and breakfast does still seem to be your cup of tea, then by all means, go for it! Take the plunge! With plenty of effort and an extra dose of ingenuity mixed in with a heaping spoonful of patience, you have the potential to be counted among the exclusive ranks of prestigious innkeepers.

Exceeding the Expectation

09 Tuesday Aug 2011

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Throughout the British Isles, particularly amongst sparsely populated expanses of moorland, lie piles of stones strategically set alongside paths which otherwise are not clearly marked and distinguishable. These rock piles are called cairns.

Cairns serve a very important purpose. They direct travelers in the right direction and assure hikers they haven’t veered from the set path. In that regard, they are invaluable. There is not one specific design a cairn must follow to be apparent to trekkers. However, the most illustrious cairns are those that are carefully and considerately crafted by skilled individuals who desire to create something more than just a trail marker. Some cairns are exquisitely designed into intricate feats of monolithic genius. Some are vividly painted and others are elaborately embellished with decorations. That is not to say they are gaudy or ostentatious. Rather, they complement their natural surroundings while still standing out as notable beacons. These are the cairns that show concern and thoughtfulness for future hikers and explorers along the trail.

Bed and breakfast inns are similar to cairns in many ways. Oftentimes, a bed and breakfast is situated off the beaten path, generally away from the hustle and bustle of city life and nestled in more peaceful (and consequently natural) settings. Like a cairn, a bed and breakfast can take on many forms. Some inns are unkempt and dilapidated showing little care or concern for the traveler. Others, however, do much to represent a sincere consideration for each individual’s well-being.

In short, you, as an innkeeper, want to be that cairn which stands out amongst the wild surroundings.

One of the key points to remember is that most bed and breakfast patrons have checked into your property for an experience. If they were content with just a bed and cable TV, they probably would have simply checked into the local Motel 6. Guests anticipate something unique and convivial at a bed and breakfast. Your designation is to give them that. So, indulge them! Present them with an experience that will stand out among their travels. There are so many ways of accomplishing that, that it’s impossible to list them all here. The following are merely suggestions. They can easily be adapted to specific properties, environments, and budgets.

Include amenities that most people don’t have in their own homes. Guests who are paying generous sums of money to stay in a bed and breakfast expect services and amenities they don’t normally enjoy in their own homes. So do some updating. The fact-of-the-matter is regardless of how well that television you purchased in 1998 still works, it’s high time you equip each room with a flat screen TV (or really get a head start on your competitors and invest in a 3D screen).

Remember, more does not always equate better. A cluttered, cramped room littered with hand-stitched throw pillows and doilies will not impress guests near as much as a chic, minimalist design. Think more along the lines of IKEA or Bloomingdales and less along the lines of your Great Aunt Sally’s guest room. Do, though, include extra pillows and extra towels.

When it comes to breakfast, options are a must. Just because an innkeeper might think that Quiche Lorraine is the best choice for a hearty breakfast doesn’t mean that his guests harbor similar sentiments. Pancakes, waffles, bacon, hash browns, eggs (omelets, fried, boiled, scrambled), oatmeal, cereal, toast, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, coffee, tea, etc. are all wise to include in the breakfast menu, as well as a few house special concoctions. Of course guests (hopefully) won’t consume all of these options, but it still is an indication of genuine hospitality to include such a heap of choices. After all, this is a bed and breakfast. Ensure the guests walk away from the dining room table content and satisfied.

On that same note, before breakfast is prepared and served, ask your guests if they have any dietary restrictions of which you should be aware (allergies, kosher-only food, vegetarian options, etc.).

As you cater to your guests and ensure their bed and breakfast stay is exemplary, you can take pride in your role as an innkeeper. All it takes from your end is attention to detail, patience, persistence… and plenty of towels.

Cinnamon Scones

08 Monday Aug 2011

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Ingredients

2 cups Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Cream Of Tartar
Pinch Salt
3 Tbsp. Unsaltd Butter (I use Salted)
1/4 cup Sugar
5 oz. Buttermilk
1/4 cup Cinnamom Chips, Blueberries, Chocolate Chips
(or whetever you want in the scones)
3 Tbsp. Milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
  2. Sift together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
  3. Combine with butter in food processor with metal blade. Blend to consistency of fine bread crumbs.
  4. Add sugar to dough. Gradually stir in buttermilk, mixing until a ball forms or it is like dough. Then by hand, add in the chips, or blueberries.
  5. Form into balls and brush tops with milk.
  6. First you must heat the cookie sheets so when you place the scones on the cookie sheets the sheets are already hot. Cookie sheets are ungreased.
  7. Make sure you bake on the top 1/3 of the oven. Bake for about 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
  8. Serve with clotted cream or crème fraiche.
*Recipe provided by Harvey House Bed and Breakfast in Oak Park, Illinois. http://harveyhousebb.com/index.html

Alabama Wild Shrimp Quiche Lorraine

08 Monday Aug 2011

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Alabama Wild Shrimp Quiche Lorraine 

Pastry for 1 9: 1-crust pie
6 slices bacon, chopped and sauteed
1/4 cup onion, sauteed
1/2 cup Alabama Wild Shrimp, cooked and chopped if large
1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 Tbs. Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. all-purpose flour
1 3/4 c. sour cream
1 tsp. chopped fresh basil
4 eggs
Bake the pie shell in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. In the baked pie shell place in layers the bacon, onion, shrimp, and cheeses. In a mixing bowl combine the baking powder, flour, sour cream, basil, and eggs. Bear the mixture well and pour over the layers in the pie shell. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes. Cover the edges if they start to brown too quickly. Garnish with additional basil and serve.

* Recipe provided by Columbus Street Bed and Breakfast in Fayette, Alabama. http://www.columbusstreetinn.com/recipes-alabama-bed-breakfast.html

Shopping at the Marketplace of Ideas

08 Monday Aug 2011

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Marketing is a tricky business with no straightforward solutions on what’s best for whom. This act of promoting a service is something that most everyone has an opinion on, yet rarely do two people see eye to eye with regards to what’s the best approach. Some may be convinced that in-your-face, flashy advertising on TV is the only way to go. Others see a more conservative, conventional approach as the best alternative. Others still are partial to the idea of networking. And even others believe a hands-off, laissez-faire approach is sufficient. So, who’s right in this scuffle for a monopoly on all things marketing?

To put it simply: nobody. In fact, flexibility between all these options is probably the preferred method. What works in one scenario may not hold true in another. Adaptability is a must. So is creativity. Train yourself to think out-of-the-box. Brainstorm ways to brand your inn—ideas your competitors haven’t tested yet. Even if it seems somewhat bizarre or slightly quirky, it could just give you that edge on rival inns.

One idea that almost certainly will be useful in getting the word out about your bed and breakfast in the community is through the community. It will take some initiative, but it could ultimately prove to be an invaluable resource.

Start out with, say, the school district. Call up the superintendent (if you’re unsure of who this is in your community, a speedy Google search can tell you with precision). Ask if the district presents an award to the teacher-of-the-year. More often than not, school districts do have such honors. Tell the superintendent that on behalf of your bed and breakfast, you want to present a complimentary weekend stay at your guest house to the winner.

Doing so serves a myriad of purposes. It brands your lodging. It gets the word out. It allows you to take part in contributing to the community and builds relationships with community members. Additionally, the future impact can have unlimited potential. The winner of the award will undoubtedly share her experience at the bed and breakfast with many. Others will approach her and ask about the overall experience at the inn.

You might invite the presenter to provide the weekend stay certificate alongside the award at the ceremony. That way, everyone in attendance will not only hear about your bed and breakfast, but also see that you care about the community. Moreover, if the event gets any press coverage, doubtless the complimentary stay at your bed and breakfast will be mentioned. This is, in essence, free advertising (other than the cost of the room for a couple of nights). However, with so many long-term channels of communication that will eventually stem out from your donation, this small contribution will invariably launch you forward in the long run as news and information about your inn flows throughout the community.

This same scenario can be applied in a variety of settings. Perhaps there is an influential company nearby your property: a hospital, a factory, a big-business, etc. You might call up the HR manager and ask about employee-of-the-year awards. Or talk to someone on your city council. Is there a citizen-of-the-year award or something similar? Use your creativity. Expand your horizons.

Consider branching out to neighboring communities, as well as your own. Increase your circle of influence beyond your own backyard. Be imaginative.

Go ahead; try it out. Why not boost your inn’s image and make a difference to somebody in the community who deserves it? You can feel good about your donation and simultaneously gain more business to your bed and breakfast than ever before.

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