Bed and Breakfasts

And I do www.the-bohemian.com In the Bed and Breakfast industry today however, there is no longer a standard issue structure. Plenty of Victorian homes have opened their doors to guests, but just as many unique properties have done the same, from carriage houses and cottages to yurts and storefronts. The offerings for accomodations are endless, which is why excellent hospitality will continue to set you apart.

Successful innkeeping goes beyond clean rooms and a country breakfast. Thinking about or just starting in the field? There are questions you will want to ask yourself. Perhaps booking a room? These same questions may help you enjoy a more satisfying stay in what continues to be a popular option within the lodging and travel industry. Be prepared, Be happy...you can still do your research and... Be surprised!

Breakfasts and Bedtimes. There are still B&B's that lockup and instill 'curfews'. The reasons can range from security to comfort, and the innkeep may not come out and say it, but if you're planning a night on the town or late wedding dance the last thing you want to feel like is a naughty teenager creeping in after midnight. For aspiring innkeepers this is important, are you comfortable hitting the feathers before everyone is in or will you worry and even be concerned about the possible disruption of other guests? You might be creating a career of sleepless nights. New Ulm, Mn is the city of Festivals, we party, plus The Bohemian is big, roomy and solid with a layout offering lots of privacy so I've long ago put this issue to rest. The lock-up question still is tops on the list at check-in, and the sigh of relief I usually hear when I tell them "I don't" is audible. I want to welcome guests without alot of regs and restrictions. Guests are on vacation, not at camp. Which brings me to breakfast, making sure it's not continental unless clearly marked is a whole other column, but for right now, try your best to offer a range of time. It is half their stay and they are looking forward to it, but if you have done your job and gotten decent beds they just might not want to get up at the crack of dawn. Granted you may have to, but for heavens sake, give guests the freedom of sleeping in. For many innkeepers who may have offsite jobs this might not be a viable option, but it is another question: How fine can you draw the line between guest comfort and your own needs?

The greatest gift you can give the guests and ultimately the sucess of your business is the effortless grace in which you move about in their presence. It affords them a peaceful freedom, an unexpected and priceless amenity: Genuine Hospitality.

There are oodles of online directories and they will all solicit a % of your bottom line. As you struggle to create a web presence for your own B&B site you will also need to be able to be located through major search engine players because no matter how good your own seo they will rank above you. As these online guidebooks offer the consumer more(including booking, reviews and gift certificates) they will continue to afford the traveling public options you can not offer on your own. It is their job to be number one in the ranking and they are doing it with our collective dollars. We need 'heads in beds', and these directories can steer them there, but ultimatly our job is to take care of the guests once they arrive. We have only so much energy and man power left after the beds, breakfast and don't forget bathrooms, so you want to give your dollars to the companies who are going to work the hardest for you. Now here is the easy part:
Innstar.com has done the research for you. This is a guy named Bill Wayne, who owns an Inn. You can read all about him at the site and how his rating system works.

That shared, here is who I'm listed with and why:

i love inns
And I just love these guys. They are super nice when I call and very helpful. They offer neat contests and creative marketing oppurtunities, partnering with many industries to cross promote bed and breakfasts. They also have lots of free stuff I can share with my guests like cereals and face cream. They have been around for a long time and have an informative newsletter.
Pamela Lanier's Bed and Breakfast Guidebook Pamela has been around forever and has just revamped her site. I like it. Excellent customer service.
BedandBreakfast.com Probably the biggest and most recognized. They do a terrific job at intergrating B&B's into mainstream travel. I like to remind them that may or may not be my guest and how that affects my business over all. Always a good round table discussion.
bbonline An innstar 5 and almost # 1 everytime on any search engine looking for B&B 'anything', but the only e-mail I get from them is my renewal notice...I do like the cool counter they have for visitors to your site and I get hits that generate stays.
Purple Roofs
A target audience that, again, translates into bookings.
MBBA My state association and they have a good blog.

I am all for referrals! Rebecca commented that Canada's best bed and breakfast site is BBCanada.com so I will trust her and pass this site on for those traveling in that region or with B & B's there.

Bellhop.com Offering some great options right now. Seems like a good site with a cute little dog too.

In addition to striving to be a good host, I also want to help my guests make the most of their visit to the New Ulm area. I do believe they expect an 'expert' on the local tourism scene. In much the same way, those coming for romance may also be looking for a little nudge. There have been proposals under the oaks, carriage & limo rides and great theme baskets galore...but sometimes a little prep work is in order. And, as much as I'd like, I won't have you all as guests to share some ideas...but there are a few experts in the romance department. Try 300 Dates to get you started. Staying at a Bed and Breakfast is pretty romantic, but from what I hear from thousands of guests each year is, We Still Need Some Help!