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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, February 27, 2007
Volume 2, Issue 9


PAII News & Announcements: March 10 Pre-Reg Cutoff, Photos Needed, & More!

March 10th Pre-Registration Cutoff

Register for the PAII Convention before March 10th to get the best registration rate. After March 10th, attendees need to register on site in Myrtle Beach and the fee goes up $30 per person.

The PAII block at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel is full. We have other hotel options for you—visit the lodging information page on the PAII website or call the PAII office, 800.468.7244, for more information.

Don't miss innkeeping's best resource:

  • 65+ Workshops to help you increase revenue, decrease expenses, and make guests happier!
  • 75 Exhibitors with everything you need to run your inn; many have show specials that will save you money!
  • Hundreds of other innkeepers with whom you can share ideas, make friends, and have fun!


We Need Photos of YOU for Convention!

PAII is creating a photo slide show for this year's convention in Myrtle Beach, SC, and we need your help! Whether or not you're able to join us in Myrtle Beach, this year, please send us digital photos of you and your staff: The more smiles the better, and candids are more than welcome! Be sure to include descriptions of the photos, your B&B's name and location, and mail to stacey@paii.org ASAP! Thanks, and we'll see you at the convention!


Six Days Left & Almost 300 PAII Industry Study Participants!
Thank you to the almost 300 innkeepers who have taken the PAII Industry Study Survey online. The deadline for completing the questionnaire is in six days—March 5th—so please consider joining those who have already participated in this important study and let's surpass the 300 mark!

The questionnaire takes about an hour to two hours to complete. This year, the study will include information about capital expenses, a new feature. The survey is designed so that you can log in and out, and work on answering the questions as you have time available. Click here to take our survey.


Beach Blanket BBQ
Dinner Party Outdoors at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center
Wednesday, March 28, 7:30-10:00 p.m.
Pre-registration required—March 10th deadline

Put on your best beachwear for a casual evening that includes a dinner featuring regional culinary favorites and a chance to socialize with great folks from near and far. Learn the Shag from the locals and kick up your heels to the beat of live music. (Optional event: $65 per person for food and entertainment; cash bar.)


Howard Helmer's Amazing Flash-in-the-Pan Omelets
Tuesday, March 27, 7:00-8:00 a.m.
Pre-registration required—March 10th deadline

If you've never seen the world's fastest omelet maker in action, get ready for an informative and very entertaining breakfast. You will enjoy the best omelet you have ever tasted—made by YOU practicing your newly learned flash-in-the-pan technique! (Optional event: $18 per person)

Register for the convention or sign up for the events above by going to PAII Convention Registration. If you are already registered for the convention, you can add one or both events by filling in a new form online.

2007 PAII Convention
March 26-29
Myrtle Beach, SC
www.paiiconvention.org
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PAII Membership Minutes: Your Cookbook, Communication Loop, & More!

Do You Have a Cookbook?
If you have a published cookbook and are attending the upcoming convention in Myrtle Beach, we would like to offer you the opportunity to have PAII sell it at our bookstore in the exhibit hall. If your state association has a cookbook that they would like to display, let us know this, as well. This is a great way to get the word out about your book and share your recipe secrets with your peers across the country!

If you are interested in participating, simply email karen@paii.org with the title of the book, the name and location of your inn, the author name(s) and the retail selling price. We will contact you with the details on how the program works. Please note that you will be responsible for hand-delivering the books to the bookstore and picking up any left over inventory at the end of the show. PAII cannot be responsible for shipping. The deadline for inclusion is March 9th.


Is Everyone in the Communication Loop?
PAII's weekly e-mail newsletter, INNfo, and our monthly electronic newsletter, innkeeping, are presently only e-mailed to the primary contact listed in your record. We know you sometimes get busy and put them on the back burner to read later; however, many times "later" never comes! If you would like to designate another person at your property or company to receive these important e-mails in addition to yourself, we will be happy to do so:

  • Up to two contacts for aspiring innkeepers,
  • Up to three contacts for inns with 1-5 rooms,
  • Up to four contacts for inns with 6-10 rooms,
  • Up to five contacts for inns with 11-20 rooms, and
  • Up to six contacts for inns with 20+ rooms.
This way, you will be sure not to miss important deadlines, announcements, updates, and marketing or media opportunities. Just e-mail laura@paii.org with the contact name and e-mail address and we will make that change effective immediately. It can't hurt to have others in the loop!


Have a Question or Thought You Would Like to Discuss?
Just a reminder to new members that we have a terrific Mentor Program available with over 65 participants who are ready, willing, and able to help you! Our mentors can answer those nagging questions, offer advice, discuss a new idea, lend a different viewpoint, help you work out a problem, or point you in the right direction. Simply contact karen@paii.org and we will be happy to have one of our mentors get in touch with you.

Each mentor has filled out a questionnaire regarding their areas of expertise, past experience, and topics of comfort so we will assign "matches" based on your specific need at the time. If they can't help you, we will go down the list to the next mentor who meets the criteria and so on. We have a very diverse group of individuals with varying experience levels participating so there should always be someone available to call or e-mail you when you have a question. Then the next time you need a mentor, you simply call us back and we will assign a different mentor based on your new need and their availability.

Everyone is invited to participate in this program! If you can't find the answers you need on the Forum, or if you prefer to remain anonymous, this is yet another great PAII benefit that you can utilize. (back to top)


PAII Forum Digest: Looking for a Convention Roommate, Ironing Sheets, & 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.

Looking for a Convention Roommate
I've made reservations, but am looking for a roommate for the PAII Convention. The room is a deluxe/double with ocean view. Smoking is allowed. So, if there is a smoker/smoke tolerant member (gender does not matter) looking to share a room, please contact me at the number below. Thanks. Looking forward to seeing everyone. Jo at Phoenix Risin' B&B (www.phoenixrisin.com) 410.462.2692.

Ironing Sheets, Pillow Cases, & Tablecloths
We are buying a B&B and should be moving in April. We have heard that a rotary iron will make quick work of ironing flat things. We have heard of two: Mangel (not made for a long time) and Miele (a German manufacturer). Have you used one of these? How well do they work? Are they worth the investment? Is a used Mangel a good option or should we bite the bullet and by a new Meile?

Red Wine Stains
What is the best way of dealing with red wine stains? Fortunately, we have not had to deal with damage of this nature, but know that it will eventually happen.

Ironing Sheets, Pillow Cases, & Tablecloths

There is no written rule about ironing sheets or pillowcases and very few people will comment on them not being ironed since few if any do it at home and far fewer have ever slept on starched and ironed bed linens. You will not get comments about the linens NOT being ironed, but you sure will get comments when they are starched and ironed—Heaven to sleep on.

Weddings at Your B&B

We are having our first wedding and need to know how to develop a contract and any "DOs and DON'Ts" for having a wedding on your property.

Victorian Decorating
We are going to begin managing a B&B in a Victorian home, along with our rather traditionally styled B&B. Can any of you who have a Victorian inn direct me to a site that will give me ideas on decorations, especially wallpaper? We want it nice but don't want to break the bank by decorating!

Beware of Citysearch.com

For over 2 years I spent about $40/month on a Citysearch.com listing. Then a new sales rep was appointed to my area. After discussing options, I increased my monthly spending to $200 with Citysearch.com in the summer of 2006. In summary, I experienced the WORST, snake-like customer service from Citysearch.com. BEWARE of talented sales people that say "let's raise your exposure for a couple months and we can always change it, whenever you want."

Easiest Way to Upload PMS Data to Quickbooks?
I manage a 15 room inn which currently uses Guest Tracker for our PMS. I'm finally ready to move to a new PMS after this busy ski season. Currently, I transfer all my room rents and taxes into an Excel Sheet that my accountant uploads to QuickBooks. (Yes, I know, endless opportunities for errors.) I need help planning my transition to a new PMS that can easily upload to QuickBooks. And I would prefer that we (the accountant in a different state and myself) can both use/look at/edit the same QuickBooks accounts. Anyone have any tips on what to do or not to do? Especially anyone that uses Rezovation and has had success or troubles with uploads to QuickBooks.
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PAII Food Feature: John F. Craig House B&B's Bread Pudding
Let us feature a recipe from your inn!
Please send your submission (and a photo of the dish if available) to L1simpson@msn.com.

Chip & Barbara Masemore from the John F. Craig House B&B (www.johnfcraig.com) in Cape May, NJ, offer this delicious, simple recipe for a wonderful bread pudding. Great for leftover muffins and breads!

Instructions
Mix 10-12 cups of coarsely chopped breads, cakes, croissants, or any combination; 10 eggs; 1 quart whole milk; sugar and cinnamon (to taste). Next, coat baking dish with Pam, and add breads. Mix eggs and milk, seasonings, and sugar. Pour over bread. Can sit overnight. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake 45-60 minutes until set and lightly browned.

Make sauce: Mix 4 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract, 1/2 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons flour. Bring 2 cups milk to boil and add egg mixture. Cook slowly until thickened and pourable. Keep warm until ready to serve.
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PAII Pointer: Bowls, Basters, & Beyond
After cleaning your dishes in the dishwasher, consider letting other washable items dance the Sunlight® salsa (e.g., light fixtures, removable parts of smaller appliances, and anything not affected by hot water or detergent). General rule: If it fits, put it in!
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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
Stacey Bleistein

Production Coordinator
Laura Middleton

Editorial Staff
Pam Horovitz, Stacey Bleistein, Karen Hudgeons, Laura Middleton, 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 stacey@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.orgwww.paii.org

Title Image Courtesy of Jumping Rocks

©2007INNfo, 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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