In This Issue:
PAII News
Membership Minutes
PAII Forum Digest
PAII Food Feature
PAII Pointer
About INNfo

PAII INNfo Archives
2006 Volume 1
November:
Issue 1
Issue 2
Issue 3
Issue 4

December:
Issue 5
Issue 6
Issue 7
Issue 8

2007 Volume 2
January:
Issue 1
Issue 2
Issue 3
Issue 4
Issue 5

February:
Issue 6
Issue 7
Issue 8
Issue 9

March:
Issue 10
Issue 11
Issue 12
Issue 13

April:
Issue 14
Issue 15
Issue 16
Issue 17

May:
Issue 18
Issue 19
Issue 20
Issue 21
Issue 22

June:
Issue 23
Issue 24
Issue 25
Issue 26

July:
Issue 27
Issue 28
Issue 29
Issue 30

August:
Issue 31
Issue 32
Issue 33
Issue 34
Issue 35

September:
Issue 36
Issue 37
Issue 38
Issue 39

October:
Issue 40
Issue 41
Issue 42
Issue 43
Issue 44

November:
Issue 45
Issue 46
Issue 47
Issue 48

December:
Issue 49
Issue 50
Issue 51
Issue 52

Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Volume 1, Issue 6

PAII News & Announcements: Register for the PAII Convention by December 15th

Just 4 more days to get the early-bird discount on your PAII Convention registration! Registering by December 15th is the most affordable way to attend the most important innkeeping event of the year. Members may register online or call the PAII office, 800.468. PAII (7244). For more information about the convention, click here. (back to top)


PAII Membership Minutes: Roommates for the 2007 PAII Convention & More

Need a Roommate for the 2007 PAII Convention?
If you want to share a hotel room in Myrtle Beach during the PAII Convention, post a message on the PAII Forum in the ANNOUNCEMENTS section (just above the GENERAL DISCUSSION section on the Forum Home Page). Individuals should contact each other directly.

PAII's special rate at the Sheraton is just $129 per night, so sharing makes your lodging very, very reasonable. To book a room for the convention, click here.

Forum Discussion Group Etiquette & User Rules
When you post a response related to an existing thread, be sure to add your message to the same thread rather than starting an entirely new one. Only post items that are of interest to the entire group and stay on topic in the discussion; use off-list email for personal communications and specific questions to individuals and/or companies. If you have a question for PAII, be sure to contact membership@paii.org or call 800.468.7244 in order to receive a prompt reply, as we do not monitor the forum 24/7.

Antitrust Laws
Be careful in posting or commenting on issues that might result in violations of antitrust laws. Remember that associations by their very nature are made up of competitors, and that the law precludes you from colluding on price or terms and conditions of sale. Therefore, be careful in discussing prices, those charged by vendors, the rates you charge your guests, or the prices of items sold in your gift shop. For example, it's okay to say that you charge higher rates in the summer than in the winter, or that you mark-up prices for coffee mugs. However, a discussion of specific rates or prices, especially by innkeepers within the same region, might be construed by the government as price-fixing.

Defamation
Do not post any defamatory, abusive, or profane materials. Information posted to the list is in the public domain, so use caution when discussing products, services, companies, and people. Do not state or imply that a vendor or another innkeeper has acted illegally or in bad faith. You can question the value or quality of service provided by a vendor (whether or not the vendor is a PAII member), but it could be libelous to suggest that a vendor is violating the law or has failed to perform contractual duties.

When in doubt, it's best to remember that hundreds of other people will be reading what you write and that the PAII discussion group is not a "private" conversation. For additional information on forum "etiquette," go to the forums page in the Members Only area of our website and click on Discussion Group Etiquette and User Rules.

Fall Business Survey: Last Chance to Participate!

Over 100 inns have responded to our fall business survey thus far, so we will have some great information to share with you in next week's INNfo. We would still like to hear from more of you to get a broader picture. So please click here and complete the 5-minute survey. It's important for all of us to know how the industry is doing as a whole, and important for you to know where you stand on a national level, so please participate! (back to top)

PAII Forum Digest: Directories, Websites, & 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.

Findmybnb.com
Does anyone have information about this website?

Directories
All inns should be using a statistics program on your website to determine who is giving you business. I have discovered that the directories information on clicks to your website are not the same as reported from your stats program. All inns that want the best bang for your buck should invest a few dollars in a stats program.

Health Coverage....Or Lack Thereof
I am a new member of PAII, and am excited to begin networking with the many professional members of this organization. As I look to open my B&B in upstate NY next year, I am also looking to obtain health insurance as I will no longer be covered under my corporate plan. I am seeking some advice from fellow NYers, or those in states that are also not covered, as to suggestions for reasonable healthcare plans for a single person in his 30s.

Innstyle: Great Customer Service
More than six months ago, I was searching for nice linens for our dining room. Our table is large and I needed tablecloths 70 inches wide and 160 inches long. At that time, Innstyle had nothing that would work. My rep said she would keep searching for me.

Websites
As a soon-to-be startup, I was wondering if anyone has recommendations on website design, specifically design software that is compatible with Macintosh, or reputable design firms that do a good job for a reasonable price.

Bedandbreakfast.com: Additional Details #4
In terms of reviews being valuable, while you may not personally like them or think they are valuable, that is a much different view than we hear day-in and day-out. Every day we get consumers asking about them, every day we hear how valuable they are on Trip Advisor, and everywhere you turn in the media they are talking about “Web 2.0” which is largely based on consumer-driven content, feedback, etc.

We just attended the annual PhocusWright conference in November. One very important point we learned: Consumers now rate reviews higher than maps and photos in terms of desirability. Consumers say they expect maps and photos—that is a no-brainer—but they want to only use sites where they can see reviews.

Re: Quiet Whirlpool Tubs: Is It Possible? #9
We installed six whirlpool tubs. Noise was a big concern. Our research showed that Aquatic had the best listing for quiet tubs. We bought them off the PAII website for almost half price from Ted at Old Tyme Hardware. We also put down horse mats, hard thick rubber mats that we bought from a farm supply company to help absorb noise. They weren't expensive and they work. The tubs sell rooms. (back to top)

PAII Food Feature: Fitzgerald's Irish B&B's Ham & Eggs Brunch Braid
Let us feature a recipe from your inn!
Please send your submission (and a photo of the dish if available) to stacey@paii.org.

Fitzgerald's Irish B&B (www.fitzgeraldsbnb.com) offers this creative creation for your breakfast buffs. Serves 10.

Ingredients
4 Ounces of Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup of Milk
8 Eggs (Divided)
1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
Dash of Ground Black Pepper
1/4 Cup of Red Bell Pepper (Chopped)
2 Tablespoons of Sliced Green Onions With Tops
1 Teaspoon of Butter or Margarine
2 Packages of Refrigerated Crescent Rolls
1/4 Pound of Thinly-Sliced Deli Ham
1/2 Cup of Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place cream cheese and milk in bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Whisk until smooth. Separate 1 egg using egg separator; reserve egg white. Add the yolk and remaining 7 eggs, salt and pepper to bowl; whisk to combine. Add chopped bell pepper and onions to egg mixture. Melt butter in 10” frying pan over medium-low heat. Add egg mixture; cook, stirring occasionally, until eggs are set but still moist. Remove pan from heat. Unroll 1 package of crescent dough; do not separate. Arrange longest side of dough across width of 12” x 15” cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining package of dough. Seal perforations. On longest sides, cut dough into strips 1.5 inches apart, 3 inches deep (there will be 6 inches in the center for the filling). Arrange ham evenly over middle of dough. Spoon eggs over ham. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. To braid, lift strips of dough across filling to meet in center, twisting each strip one turn. Continue alternating strips to form a braid. Brush lightly beaten egg white over dough using pastry brush. Bake 25-28 minutes, or until deep golden brown. Cut into slices and serve. (back to top)


PAII Pointer: Pet-Safe Decorating

Remember to remain doggy- and kitty-conscious when decorating this holiday season. Try to hang strings of lights out of furry friends' reach, and watch out for your mistletoe and poinsettia placement—these holiday plants are poisonous to pets. (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