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Frequently
Asked Questions
1.
How many B&Bs / Country Inns are there?
There are approximately 20,000 licensed properties exist in the United States,
according to the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII)
2.
Why stay at a B&B?
One of the delightful characteristics of a bed-and-breakfast is that they're
all different. Some offer a romantic get-away. Others offer historic buildings,
antique furniture and ornate gardens.
PAII suggests that travelers
make a list of the things that are important for your trip: Do you need internet
access, or are you looking to escape the TV? Will you be traveling with children?
Do you have dietary restrictions, allergies, or disabilities? Do you like privacy
or a chance to socialize over a glass of wine? Then, find the B&B that offers
the services or special interests that you require in the area you are looking
to visit.
Bottom line, many chain hotels
today are mimicking the services of B&Bs (offering continental breakfast,
providing concierge services, etc.) but where B & B's will continue to excel,
hands down, is in personalized service.
3.
Are there different types of B&Bs?
The following definitions have been developed as a guide to the terminology
used by the innkeeping community to distinguish the various kinds of properties
and operations prevalent today. For a complete list, please request PAII
B&B definitions & Distinctions.
Bed and Breakfast Inn (B&B)
A lodging establishment that also functions as a residence for the owner-hosts.
Breakfast is served to overnight guests and may be quite lavish. A professional
B&B meets all the appropriate zoning, safety, health and legal requirements
of their state and local government. Small B&Bs often provide a part-time
or seasonal occupation for their owners, who do most of the work, often with
some help for housekeeping and other chores. Larger B&Bs (8 rooms or more)
generally require the full-time year-round attention of one or more owners.
Country Inn
This kind of lodging property has all the characteristics of a B&B Inn,
but serves an evening meal in addition to breakfast. Some country inns serve
dinner to overnight guests only, and the cost of dinner and breakfast is generally
included in the room rate (called the Modified American Plan). A country inn
with a "full-service restaurant" serves meals to the general
public. Most country inns have 10 or more rooms.
Home-Stay (Host Home)
An owner-occupied private home where the business of renting rooms is secondary
to its use as a private residence. Most home-stays rent three or fewer rooms,
and many operate for a limited season. Breakfast is the only meal available
and may be self-serve. In some jurisdictions they are required to be licensed.
A reputable home-stay is a member of, and usually inspected by, a reservation
service organization (RSO).
Many B&Bs also have special
niches such as: spa travelers, historical or architectural interests, scrapbooking,
wine tastings, fishing or ski enthusiasts, pet friendly, food aficionados, etc.
4.
What economic impact do B&Bs have on the travel industry?
There are approximately 20,000 licensed bed-and-breakfasts and country inns
in the United States representing nearly 170,000 rooms, according to the Professional
Association of Innkeepers International (PAII). While new inns continued to
open in 2004, the increase was offset by the reversion of some properties to
single family homes, particularly in resort areas where real estate prices have
escalated. Average occupancy rates at B&Bs improved in 2004 to 41.4%, up
from 39.9% in 2003. The average cost of a room increased slightly from $142.73/night
in 2003 to $143.90.night in 2004 with rooms priced from as low as $40.00 all
the way to $875.00. The 4.6% gain in RevPar drove the industry revenue to an
estimated $3.2 billion in 2004.
Leisure travel continues to
dominate this sector, with particular interest from cultural and historic travelers
who enjoy staying at unique or historic properties. Weddings, family reunions,
and special events continue to be regular features at over half of all inns.
Urban inns that cater to business travelers are seeing continued recovery of
this sector with as much as 20% of their revenue come from business.
5.
What type of impact do B&Bs have on the community?
B&Bs can be a mutually beneficial business to any community. To start, B&B/country
inn owners renovated more historical buildings than any other industry segment.
Additionally, their efforts also help to preserve the history, traditions, and
culture of their towns, cities, and/or regions. Old pictures, books, furniture,
memorabilia are returned to the historic homes in which they originated by way
of innkeepers or the original families who owned the homes, allowing them to
serve as repositories for the preservation of history in their locale.
Buildings housing B&B/country
inns average 99 years in age, though 2% of all newly opened inns are purpose-built
as commercial lodging.
B&Bs can generate mutual
customers for other businesses in the community. The obvious businesses that
will benefit from inn guests include restaurants, theatres, tourist and special
interest attractions. The not so obvious businesses that can benefit from inn
guests include florists, gas station owners and convenience stores.
Finally, innkeepers are extensively
involved in their communities, unlike hotel managers who move from one location
to another. The personal commitment to the quality of the community by owner-innkeepers
is very high, and cannot be measured.
6.
Inn Owners - who are they?
Statistics continue to show that innkeepers chose to make long-term careers
in this industry. Some 42% of the owners in the 2004 study have operated their
participating inn for 7 or more years. Bed & breakfast inn careers and investments
also continue to attract new owners and innkeepers. Some 34% of inns have been
operated by their current owner for 1 to 3 years.
While they continue to operate
their own inns, over half of the participants in the study also relied on outside
sources of income, in addition to the proceeds of the inn. This overall ratio
has held constant over the past three PAII studies.
7.
Innkeeping - how can the dream become a reality?
Staying at a bed and breakfast is very different from running a bed and breakfast.
For the B&B guest, the experience is about relaxing at a unique property
where an experienced innkeeper pampers you the moment you step through the door,
who helps connect you with the places and things you'd most like to see and
do. Behind the scenes, for the innkeeper, this means having a wide-range of
skills sets that include cooking, cleaning, fixing, organizing, marketing, accounting
and more.
PAII's job is first to help
aspiring innkeepers decide if they have got the temperament and the skills that
will make you a successful innkeeper. Some of the areas we suggest that aspiring
innkeepers explore include Business Planning and Start Up Capital, Marketing
and Public Relations, Food Preparation, presentation and Safe Handling, Bookkeeping,
Taxes and Cash Management
8.
What are some of the challenges and pitfalls new B&B owners face most often?
- Not having enough capital
- Having invested too much in the business
to make it pay off
- Failing to market actively
- Not providing quality service and product.
Specific pitfalls for innkeepers
include:
- Underestimating the time commitment of
the position - 24/7 takes on a whole new meaning when you live and work in
a place where people pay to sleep and eat.
- Deciding to serve dinner as well as breakfast
is often a big mistake if there is fine dining in the area.
- Not enjoying serving people-Service such
as: Getting excited about helping someone surprise their spouse on an anniversary.
Going out of your way to make a proposal for marriage very special for the
prospective couple.
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