INNfo

Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Volume 2, Issue 19


PAII News & Announcements:
The United States Postal Service Increase Rates

Effective Monday, May 14th the United States Postal Service set new pricing for all classes of mail except Periodicals, which is delayed until July 15th.

New Rates are as Follows:

• First-Class® letters $0.41 (first ounce) $0.17 (each additional ounce)
• First-Class® Large Envelopes $0.80 (first ounce) $0.17 (each additional ounce)
• First-Class® Packages $1.13 (first ounce) $0.17 (each additional ounce)
• Priority Mail® Flat Rate Boxes $8.95
• Priority Mail® Flat Rate Envelopes $4.60

More information can be found at www.usps.com
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PAII Membership Minutes:
Staples Discount Program

We would like to remind you that PAII has a member discount program with Staples Business Advantage. This program is designed to provide your properties with substantial savings on everyday business expenses like office supplies. This program offers an average discount of 60% off manufacturer list prices on items featured in their pre-priced "Unbelievably Low-Priced Catalog" and an average 40% off their large stock catalog. Whether you phone, fax, or order online, Staples offers fast and free delivery, so your order is always there when you need it. This contract is offered exclusively through Staples Business Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, Inc. You will not find these prices in your local Staples retail stores, Staples Direct mail order catalogs, or Staples.com without signing your property up today.

Register your property today and begin taking advantage of the savings. Go to our website at www.paii.org and click on the Staples link at the bottom of our homepage or contact peter.dangerfield@staples.com for more information.
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PAII Forum Digest:
Innsitter Recommendations, & 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.

Innsitter Recommendations
We are looking for an experienced Innsitter that would be interested in innsitting for a property with twenty-three rooms and suites. We are looking to plan a few little get-a-ways over the summer and need an innsitter. If you have recommendations for someone in the Shenandoah Valley area that might be interested we would love to hear about them.

Search Engine Optimization Companies
We're relatively new in the B&B business (approaching 2 years). Have any of you dealt with, or used a company, by the name of Mainstreethost.com? If so, any positive or negative feedback would be very much appreciated.

Satisfaction Survey For Exiting Guests
Does anyone have a "how can we improve your stay" type of survey that you would be willing to share with me?

RE: Towels & Dryer Balls
Dryer balls come in pairs and can be purchased at stores like Bed Bath & Beyond. They're soft plastic with nubs all over them and are designed to be thrown into the dryer with a load of wet items (usually towels). We use dryer balls in lieu of fabric softener. The towels are soft and fluffy like they are when one uses fabric softener, but the cotton is not permeated with fabric softener chemicals (which reduces absorbency).

Bang for Your Buck & Website Design
I did a thread search and didn't find anything on this subject so I thought I'd see if any of you have any insights that you are willing to share on this subject. Have any of you noticed obvious increases in occupancy when you've launched a new website? I am getting quotes for a new design and am just wondering if it will likely be a good bang for my buck?

Google "Awaiting Next Update"
How can one contact Google and the Local Business Center of Google by phone? Our inn has been waiting since March 19th for the Google map system to show our inn but it is not listed yet. Another inn that closed two years ago is on the list. When I go into my account, all I get is the message "Awaiting next update". It would be nice to talk to a live person at Google.

Need Your Thoughts: Aspiring, But Can a Person Alone Run a B&B?
I am a single B&B owner with five rooms for rent. Opened up March, 2006 and have been open full time all year round. I also work full time outside the home (over an hour each way to work). It has been the only way I could fulfill my dream of becoming an innkeeper and purchasing/restoring a six bedroom Queen Anne home.
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PAII Food Feature:
The Steamboat Inn's Dried Apricot & Raisin Breakfast Focaccia
Let us feature a recipe from your inn!
Please send your submission (and a photo of the dish if available) to L1simpson@msn.com.

The Steamboat Inn (thesteamboatinn.com) in Steamboat, OR offers this delicious recipe for Dried Apricot & Raisin Breakfast Focaccia. This is a quick focaccia. It can be assembled and in the oven within 45 minutes. Yeild: One 8- to 10-inch round.

Ingredients
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup raisins
2 teaspoons grated lemon or orange zest
2 tablespoons yeast
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons oil
3/4 teaspoons salt
3 cups all- purpose flour

Instructions
Combine apricots, raisins, nuts, and zest; set aside. In a large bowl, combine yeast and warm water. Set aside until yeast is dissolved. Add sugar, oil, salt, fruit mixture and 2 cups of the flour to yeast; mix well. Add remaining flour and mix until dough is a soft texture. Knead briefly and roll or pat out 8 to 10-inch round onto a greased baking sheet.

Dimple dough with fingertips. Brush lightly with oil and sprinkle with sugar. Let rise 30 minutes in a warm place. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 25 minutes or until bread is evenly brown.
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PAII Pointer:
Brick Cleaning Tips

• Use a power washer for this job. Because it uses
water from the hose, you never want to use it in
temperatures below 40 degrees.
• The force of the water alone is enough to clean the
dirt off the shutters. It will take more for the brick. My
suggestion is to use oven cleaner. It works on tough
cement stains, so it should work on brick too.
• Be sure to rinse thoroughly and make sure no
pets or children are in the area you are cleaning.
• Do not combine other cleaning products with the
oven cleaner.
• Using oven cleaner takes a lot of patience. If the
oven cleaner doesn't work, you can try turpentine in an
inconspicuous place to see if it removes the paint
from the surface.
• Mineral spirits or paint thinner are two more
suggestions that could work on paint run-on. Keep in
mind that oil-based paint is harder to remove than
latex paint.
• Sometimes white spots that appear on brick or
stucco are called efflorescence. These white spots
are caused when mineral salts in mortar dissolve due
to water.
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About INNfo

INNfo is published weekly. Annual subscription is included in the price of membership.

Publisher
Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII)

Editor-in-Chief
Laura Middleton

Production Coordinator
Laura Middleton

Editorial Staff
Laura Middleton, Karen Hudgeons, Jeanine Zeman

Editorial Suggestions and Contributions
Editorial comments and suggestions are welcomed. In addition, if you have a suggestion or would like to contribute news and announcements for INNfo, please contact INNfo’s Editor-in-Chief, Stacey Bleistein, at 856.310.1102 or laura@paii.org.

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.

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