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Tuesday, November
28, 2006
Volume 1, Issue 4
PAII News
& Announcements: Calling All Writers & More
Calling All Writers!
Did you know that you could earn up to $300 for writing an article
for PAII? The PAII staff is hard at work on the editorial schedules
for next year, and that means we're putting out the call for innkeepers
who are knowledgeable about some aspect of innkeeping, and who can
also write well. Every innkeeper is an expert at something related
to running a B&B. Perhaps you've perfected the art of saying
"no" to a guest so that they still feel like a winner.
Or maybe you've developed a top-notch training program for your
housekeepers. Are you a solo innkeeper who's incredibly organized
or holding down a job in addition to running your inn? Whatever
your particular strength, writing an article about it is a great
way to strengthen our whole industry. Perhaps you just have a very
funny story about yourself, your innkeeping partner, or one of your
guests. If interested, we'd love to hear from you. Drop a line to
Stacey Bleistein at stacey@paii.org,
and let her know what you'd like to write about. Our newsletter
articles run between 750–1500 words on a variety of topics.
We can't guarantee that we'll be able to use everyone's article,
but no one knows about the inns and outs of running a B&B
like another innkeeper!
Get Ready for the Next PAII Industry Study!
The questionnaire for the 2006 PAII Industry Study of Operations
and Finance will go out early next year, so it's a good time
to encourage all of our members to begin planning to participate
in the study. This study is PAII's most requested research and provides
the foundation for business plans, bank loans, expansions and renovations,
and for benchmarking your inn's progress. We don't anticipate needing
to make many changes to the questionnaire, and we hope that by getting
it out early in the year that a record number of you will be able
to participate. If you've been open for at least one year, you'll
be eligible to participate, and as a PAII member you'll receive
an invitation to complete the survey once it's ready to go. If you're
a new or aspiring innkeeper, take a look at the PAII chart of accounts
(which follows) to make sure that you're tracking everything we
ask about:
Revenue Accounts
- Gross Room Rental
- Gift Shop Sales
- Food Revenue
- Beverage
Revenue
- Meeting Room Rental
- Spa Services
Expense Accounts
Inn Expenses
- Lodging Salaries & Wages
- Benefits
- Commissions
- Linens & Terry
- Payroll Taxes & Related
- Room & Housekeeping Supplies
Restaurant Expenses
- Restaurant Salaries & Wages
- Benefits
- Beverage Cost of Sales
- Food & Beverage Other Expenses
- Food Cost of Sales
- Payroll Taxes & Related
Other Operating Expenses
- Auto Expenses
- Bank Fees
- Business Taxes & Fees
- Donations
- Dues & Subscriptions
- Equipment Rentals
- Cost of Guest Food & Beverage
- Gift Shop
- Insurance
- Interest
- Legal & Accounting
- Marketing & Promotion
- Maintenance, Repairs, & Fixtures
- Office Supplies
- Outside Services
- Telephone
- Training
- Travel & Entertainment
- Utilities
- Miscellaneous
Who Needs a Vacation?
A recent research brief tracked purchase behavior according
to the "life event" that precipitated the purchase. Interestingly,
among the expected items like furniture and computers that show
up on every list regardless of whether or not the category was new
marriage (or new divorce), new baby, sending kids off to college,
or retiring was: (you guessed it!) a vacation! We've heard of honeymoons,
and "babymoons" here at the PAII office, but never a "sending
the kids to college" moon! Hmm, maybe there's room for yet
another clever package? Send us
your ideas!
(back
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PAII Membership Minutes: 2007
PAII Convention & Holiday Promotion Reminder
2007 PAII Convention: March 26–29
Myrtle Beach is easy travel to a relaxing destination. Although
Myrtle the Turtle is the 2007 PAII Convention mascot, Myrtle Beach
was not named after a turtle, it was named for the many wax myrtle
trees growing wild along the coast. Traveling to this beautiful
South Carolina beach town is easy when you fly into the small and
convenient Myrtle Beach Airport (MYR) on one of the many carriers
that service the area:
- Air Tran
- Continental
- Delta/ASA/COMAir
- Northwest
- Spirit
- United
- USAirways
Note that you can save money by not renting a car. The Sheraton
Myrtle Beach, just eight miles from the airport, has a complimentary
shuttle that will transport you from and to the airport. Just call
the hotel when you arrive. And since the Sheraton is only about
four blocks from the beach, many restaurants and attractions are
within walking distance.
If you are considering driving to Myrtle Beach, you can locate
it on your map just 74 miles south of Wilmington, NC on the Atlantic
coast. Other local driving distances to Myrtle Beach: 193 miles
southeast of Raleigh, NC; 224 miles southeast of Charlotte, NC;
257 miles north of Charleston, SC.
Click here for complete travel information: for flying,
and for driving.
Holiday Promotion Reminder
Now that the holiday shopping season is in full swing, we wanted
to remind you to prominently feature your gift certificate program
on your website. An interesting survey released yesterday by the
National Retail Foundation tells us that 61 million people are expected
to shop online at work this holiday season, up 18% from last year.
This is also a great time to let past guests know about your gift
certificate program and winter promotions. A getaway weekend—what
a unique and romantic gift! You might want to take this opportunity
to review and update your policy and procedures relating to gift
certificate redemption. (back
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PAII Forum
Digest: Smoking Dilemma &
More
If you have not had time to log on to the Forum
located in the Members
Only section of www.paii.org,
here are some of the interesting topics that have been discussed
this past week.
Smoking Dilemma
We rarely get someone who is obviously a heavy smoker. We had a
couple stay with us who were both heavy smokers, and although I
do believe that they abided by our non-smoking policy, when they
left there was still a fairly strong odor in their guest house,
probably from their clothing and belongings. They recently called
to schedule another stay with us and I am very tempted not to accept
their booking. Have any of you had occasions when you have denied
a booking and, if so, how did you handle it politely?
Fire Code & Insurance Expert Needed
We are in the research phase of converting the third floor of our
Victorian house into two additional guest rooms. We want to hire
an expert to come to our house and examine our configuration and
make accurate, creative, and cost-saving recommendations as to fire
exits, windows, and the like. It's very easy for someone to say
that you need additional fire doors and fire escapes coming out
of the side of your building, but the true expert will know the
minutiae of the laws and tell you how you may fulfill the law, but
still do so in the most cost-saving and aesthetic way possible.
Capture Commission Expense as a Business Expense
For those of us who pay TA commissions and other booking commissions,
be sure and keep accurate records in order to capture these commissions
as business expenses. The 10%, 20%, and 30% commissions some innkeepers
are paying to get their rooms booked can add up to substantial business
expenses. Discounts, on the other hand, are not commissions. In
other words, the dollar amount that represents the discount is not
a commission: It is an agreement to sell the room at a lower rate
than the rack rate. Be sure to consult with your CPA so you have
the required documentation for the commission expense.
Requesting a Brochure Through "Postal Mail"
We have received this e-mail from the same person three times over
the last two months. The first time we sent the brochure, now we
are wondering if this is some sort of scam...someone who collects
stamps maybe? Does anyone else get these (i.e., "My husband
and I are planning a trip to Maine. Please send us a brochure and
rate card depicting your inn via postal mail.")?
Occupancy for the First Year
We are about to install public water and sewer. We presently have
private well and septic. The township has requested to know how
many guests will be staying at our inn for the first year. They
say this will determine the size pipes we need in order to hook
up, hence this will determine the cost of this project. When we
open, we will have five bedrooms and five baths. Can anyone help
me with a way of figuring this out?
Best Coffee Solutions
Can anyone offer suggestions from personal experience regarding
guests serving themselves coffee and tea in a central location so
it will always be available fresh and with consistent taste? We
were thinking of an organic blend and are tying to have quality
solutions well in advance of opening. Are there coffee systems and
coffee blends that your guests are crazy about? I would like to
hear about them.
"Grand Opening" Open House?
We are getting fairly close to opening and we keep getting asked
whether we are going to have an open house. It's a small town (5,000
people) and we would like to do an open house but are not sure how
to go about it. Would an open house just consist of opening our
doors for a few hours, baking some cookies, and letting people walk
through the house? Has anyone done anything more creative or any
other suggestions on DOs or DON'Ts?
Weekend Minimum Stays
I'm wondering about going to two-night minimum stays on the weekends.
I did two-night weekend minimums for our peak season (June thru
October) with success. Does anyone have any criteria or thoughts
on two-night weekend minimums for the entire year? (back
to top)
PAII Food Feature: Two Sisters Inn's Apricot
Cranberry Risotto
Let us feature a recipe from your inn!
Please send your submission (and a photo of the dish if available)
to stacey@paii.org.
Two Sisters Inn in Manitou Springs, Colorado (www.twosisinn.com),
has a tradition of always serving a completely different breakfast
to returning guests. This soy-inspired recipe of theirs for apricot
cranberry risotto can be found in Carol Gordon's book, Sleep
On It (Hyperion, 2006). Serves six.
Ingredients
1 cup fat-free milk or soy milk
2 cups vanilla soy milk
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup arborio rice
1 cinnamon stick
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
Raspberries and mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
Step 1:
In a heavy saucepan, combine milk, soy milk, brown sugar, rice,
cinnamon stick and nutmeg. Place over medium-low heat and bring
to a boil, watching carefully that it does not boil up and overflow.
Reduce heat, cover, and reduce heat to as low as possible. Simmer
until rice is done, about 30 minutes.
Step 2:
Stir in apricots and cranberries and cook
for several minutes until fruit is slightly softened. Remove from
heat and pour into six 1/2 cup ramekins. Let cool for 15 minutes
and then cover and refrigerate overnight to allow mixture to thicken.
Step 3:
The next day, place ramekins in a microwave or low oven to warm
slightly before serving. Garnish with raspberries and mint leaves.
(back
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PAII Pointer: Staving Off Holiday Stress
In the midst of the holiday season, we can oft find ourselves in
the midst of holiday stress. To relieve a headache, give yourself
a free acupressure session by pressing one index finger between
your eyebrows. To buoy yourself out of the blues, boost your serotonin
(the "happy hormone") by eating vegetables, whole grains,
and fruit. (back
to top)
About INNfo
INNfo is published weekly. Annual subscription is included
in the price of membership.
Advertising Rates & Information
Weekly sponsorship ads are available. Please send all inquiries
to Marlene Sapir at marlene@paii.org
or 856.310.1102. MC/VISA/AMEX/DISCOVER accepted.
Publisher
Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII)
Editor-in-Chief
Stacey Bleistein
Production Coordinator
Laura Middleton
Editorial Staff
Pam Horovitz, Stacey Bleistein, Karen Hudgeons, Laura Middleton
Editorial Suggestions and Contributions
Editorial comments and suggestions are welcomed. In addition, if
you have a suggestion for an article or would like to contribute
an article for INNfo, please contact INNfo’s
Editor-in-Chief, Stacey Bleistein, at 856.310.1102 or stacey@paii.org.
Editorial Offices
c/o PAII
207 White Horse Pike
Haddon Heights, NJ 08035
Phone: 856.310.1102 • Fax: 856.310.1105
membership@paii.org •
www.paii.org
Title Image Courtesy of Jumping
Rocks
©2006 INNfo, all rights
reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means without written permission from the editor.
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