Winter 2011 IQ by Ingrid Thorson

Winter 2011 • Volume 5, Issue 1

innkeeping quarterly

smart reading for smart innkeeping

“Buy Local” Message Drawing Customers to Independent Businesses Page 5

Providing Compassion Through Escape Inn Offers Respite to Women Battling Cancer

Social Media Super-Glue: Adhering to New Marketing Strategies

Professional Association of Innkeepers International

Hail to Kale and Healthy Breakfasts

ce en r e f on 11 C g e pin Pag e ~ ke nn how I t es de S w h rt Tra No &

Winter 2011 • Volume 5, Issue 1

innkeeping quarterly

feature article 17

smart reading for smart innkeeping

Providing Compassion Through Escape

special section 11

The Northwest Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show

departments

cover story

“Buy Local” Message Drawing Customers to Independent Businesses

Key Notes

By The Numbers

Innkeeper 2 Innkeeper

Winter “Winners”

Industry News Beat

Marketing Matters

Food Glorious Food

Industry Events

PAII News and Information Center

Advertisers’ Index

Innkeeping Quarterly (IQ), is PAII’s quarterly periodical. PAII has been dedicated to fostering the knowledge and expertise of keepers of the inn for over 20 years. In line with this mission, each issue of IQ features members of the innkeeping community and covers topics that are important to those in the innkeeping industry: real estate, food, finances, customer relations, operations, marketing, and more. IQ: smart reading for smart innkeeping Professional Association of Innkeepers International www.innkeeping.org • 800.468.PAII © 2011, Professional Association of Innkeepers International

IQ smart reading for smart innkeeping

About IQ: IQ is published quarterly. Editorial comments and suggestions are welcomed. To contribute, please contact Ingrid Thorson, 856-310-1102, Ingrid@paii.org. Editorial Office: PAII, 207 White Horse Pike Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 IQ Staff: Contributing Editors: Ingrid Thorson John Felton Contributing Writers: Ellen Chenaux Heath Croft Danielle Hanscom Yvonne Martin Debrah Mosimann Stacy Mitchell Kristie Rosset Sharon Rowe Joyce Schulte Lynnette Scofield Kathryn White Design: Imbue Creative PAII Staff: Jay Karen President and CEO Brook Patterson Director of Vendor Services Jennifer Quattlebaum Director of Education and Events Isabel Abreu Membership Sales Coordinator Ingrid Thorson Marketing & Communications Manager Marty DeLuca Bookkeeper

Key Notes N

ow that we are really moving forward with the “Better Way to Stay” campaign, an interesting conversation is being had in the hallways of the various conferences I’ve been attending. The basic implication of the word “Better” in the name of the campaign is that a stay at a B&B is going to be “better” than a hotel or other lodging option. Throwing the gauntlet down like that will be effective in garnering attention and for our creative process. In other words, we’ll be able to do a lot with the “Better” approach. But, it brings up an issue—there are a lot of B&Bs out there that might not be a better way to stay. As a champion for our industry, it’s not easy for me to publicly talk about the below-average B&Bs. Yet, I think it’s something we have to address in the context of the industry’s upcoming consumer campaign. Here we are poising ourselves to tell the world that B&Bs are better than hotels…encouraging Gen X and Y to come our way. But what happens if they give us a shot and have a terrible experience at a place where the innkeepers are neglecting their duties to good hospitality? Obviously, PAII nor any other entity can or should try to establish quality control for all B&Bs. That would be futile. Yet we have to recognize the unique situation we have. Think about restaurants for a moment. If someone dines at a local, independent, mom-and-pop restaurant and has a bad experience, do you think she is going to ever go out to eat again at another local, independent, mom-and-pop restaurant? Of course she will. But, if she tries a B&B (local, independent, mom-and-pop) and has a terrible experience, do you think there’s a good chance she’ll never try another B&B again? Of course there is. The fact is that all innkeepers deal with the

“guilty by association” syndrome: all B&Bs are guilty of the trans gressions and negative stereotypes perpetuated by a few. As a result of this unfortunate “syndrome” that we face as innkeepers, I feel a unique obligation and responsibility to work harder to promote best practices and to have more discussions with innkeepers about the need to evolve. Maybe that is why I’m taking more liberties in providing my own personal two cents on what I think many innkeepers could be doing better. Recently at the Heartland Conference in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, I led an open discussion, during which I asked the question, “What can the average innkeeper be doing to improve the guest experience that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg or take up too much more time in the day?” The innkeepers in the room piped up with some interesting observations and suggestions. Over the next several weeks and months, I plan to have more open discussions with innkeepers about how we can all improve the guest experience without having to necessarily bend over backwards. Look for the conversation on my blog, on Twitter, Facebook and at the many local, state and regional conferences on my schedule. Do you have thoughts or comments you want to share? Email me at jay@paii.org.

Jay Karen President & CEO

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly • 3

5 “Buy Local” Message Drawing Customers to Independent Businesses by Stacy Mitchell

growing body of evidence indicates that “local” and “independent” are on the minds of more people as they decide where to shop and what to buy. So far, it’s a trend that has been most pronounced in the food sector, where farmers markets and neighborhood greengrocers are booming. But now this desire to support enterprises that are small-scale and local is spreading beyond food, boosting the prospects of independent businesses of all kinds. “Buy local first” campaigns, which are now underway in over 130 cities, have played a key role in sparking this new-

found public awareness and enthusiasm. These highly visible marketing and educational initiatives are run by local business organizations, which may have anywhere from a few dozen to few thousand members, ranging from independent retailers to community banks, local producers, service providers, and more. Examples include the Louisville Independent Business Alliance, Local First Utah, and Stay Local in New Orleans. These initiatives are having an impact, according to national surveys conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance for the last four years. The most recent

survey, which gathered data from more 2,700 independent businesses in January, found that those in communities with an active “buy local” campaign experienced revenue growth of 5.6% on average in 2010, compared to only 2.1% for those in places without such an initiative. Moreover, business owners who were members of “buy local” campaigns reported a wide range of positive impacts. Two-thirds said public awareness of the benefits of choosing an independent

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly

6 business had increased over the last year. Almost half reported that the campaign had brought new customers to their business and 55% said it had made existing customers more loyal. More than two-thirds said local media coverage of independent businesses had increased and 51% said that city officials were now more supportive of the needs of independent businesses. B&B owners and innkeepers are among the many kinds of independent businesses that are finding value in being involved in these organizations. “I attended a meeting about a year-and-a-half ago and I was convinced that the mission was exactly what we needed to combat the chain hotels, which don’t really give visitors the flavor of our community,”

This lets us tap into those unique experiences for our guests, and give them a taste of southwest New Hampshire… explained Jan Davies McDermott, who owns Davies House Inn in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is a member of Think Local First, a county-wide coalition of about 225 independent businesses. Although her primary reason for joining was to support the broad educational message of Think Local First, McDermott says that Davies House Inn has benefited in specific ways as well, includ-

The New Rules Project Visit www.newrules.org/retail and click on “Rebuilding Local Business” to access a wide range of resources, including: ➤➤ How to Start a Buy Local Campaign — a basic tip sheet on how to get started in your community.

ing referrals from other member businesses. “It’s a linkage that keeps me top of mind,” she says. For Eric Lorimer, who owns Jack Daniels Motor Inn in Peterborough, New Hampshire, one of the benefits of joining Monadnock Buy Local has been getting to know other businesses and being able to offer his guests more advice about the one-of-a-kind restaurants, services, and stores in the region. “This lets us tap into those unique experiences for our guests, and give them a taste of southwest New Hampshire,” he explains. Origins and Growth of the Movement Today, an estimated 40,000 businesses are members of more than 130 “buy local

Resources for Starting a Buy-Local Initiative in Your Community

➤➤ Buy Local Slide Show — dozens of examples of decals, posters, ads, and other materials from around the country. ➤➤ Key Studies — the best available research on the economic and other benefits of locally owned businesses. ➤➤ The Hometown Advantage Bulletin — sign up for monthly updates with the latest news, research, and innovative ideas for rebuilding local business. Two national organizations provide excellent how-to resources and advice for starting a local business alliance and buy local campaign: American Independent Business Alliance • www.amiba.net AMIBA helps Independent Business Alliances start and grow, offering on-site workshops, a how-to guidebook, templates, and advice for organizers. Business Alliance for Local Living Economies • www.livingeconomies.org BALLE works to build local business networks, offers a 100-page kit for creating Local First campaigns, hosts a large national conference every year.

innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

7 first” initiatives around the country, which is a remarkable level of growth given that the very first of these took place in Boulder, Colorado, just over a decade ago. Still going strong today, the Boulder Independent Business Alliance was the brainchild of David Bolduc, owner of a local bookstore, and Jeff Milchen, a community organizer who now serves as outreach director for the American Independent Business Alliance (see sidebar on page 6). The idea soon spread to other cities, slowly at first, and then quite rapidly in the last few years. Local business alliances are now active in a wide range of communities, from small towns to big cities, and they dot every region of the country from Tampa to Minneapolis, and Tucson to Portland, Maine. The primary activity of most of these groups is educating people about the value of local independent businesses and pro-

8.5 and 2 52

Once armed with information, many of these customers will begin to shift that ratio, bypassing chains and choosing local businesses more often. moting those businesses both through a wide range of materials that members display and distribute, including posters, window decals, banners, thank-you-forsupporting-this-independent-business cards, restaurant table-tents, print and online business directories, t-shirts, and more. Collectively, local businesses, through their storefronts, countertops and web sites, have the ability to reach large numbers of people at relatively low

cost and to build “local” as a strong shared brand. Most also do print advertising and host events, and almost invariably attract interest from local media. Each radio, television, and newspaper interview provides an opportunity to talk about the value locally owned businesses provide to the community and to broaden the reach of the campaign. The goal is not so much to change the habits of those who shop exclusively at Wal-Mart, but to catch the attention of a much bigger segment of the population: people who shop at both local stores and chains, but have never given much thought to the difference. Once armed with information, many of these customers will begin to shift that ratio, bypassing chains and choosing local businesses more often. (continues, next page…)

The percentage of males and females respectively that booked additional travel while on a trip using their mobile device. This figure comes from a research study of 1400 people looking at how mobile devices were being used with travel. — Total Media The percentage of the 152 million adult leisure travelers — or some 79 million people — already use social media. — ITB Travel Trends Report 2010–2011

by the 123

4 5 6 7 8 9 NUMBERS 45

The percentage of respondents from a survey of more than 1,000 US lodging owners that expect to increase rates.

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly

8 Buy-local campaigns work in part because they are not simply empty marketing slogans. They aim to educate and their messages are grounded in empirical research. They highlight, for example, the many studies that have shown that a $100 spent at locally owned businesses generates three times as much local economic activity than $100 spent at national chains. This is because independent businesses purchase more goods and services from other local businesses than chains do, keeping more dollars circulating in the local economy and supporting more local jobs. Other research shows that communities with vibrant local business districts score higher on measures of social and civic health, and that local businesses often have a much smaller environmental footprint than their chain competitors. While they may point out the differences between independents and chains, all of these campaigns maintain a strong positive focus. They are much more prolocal than anti-chain. They encourage people to choose locally owned businesses

innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

All sorts of good things can grow out of these connections, including more business-tobusiness activity. more often, but do not suggest that they can eliminate chain store spending entirely. Mutual Support While public education is the primary activity of most of these organizations, they also foster networks of mutual support among independent business owners. Rachael Solem, who has owned and managed Irving House in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for 21 years, says that, of the many organizations she’s involved in, only two provide the kind of professional development and camaraderie that comes from interacting with other business owners. One is PAII and the other is Cambridge Local First, a coalition of

some 400 local businesses. Both bring together “people in the same position I am,” she says. “That is extremely helpful, eye opening, and comforting.” All sorts of good things can grow out of these connections, including more business-to-business activity. “Instead of pulling out the Staples catalog, now I’m going down to our local office supply store,” explained Lorimer of the Jack Daniels Motor Inn. In a recent survey, the Portland Independent Business & Community Alliance in Portland, Maine, found that 60% of its members had switched to local suppliers for some of the goods and services they used to buy from national companies. Some have switched from a national bank to a local bank, for example. Others are now putting clients up at local B&Bs rather than chain hotels. Nancy Lawrence, who owns Portmanteau, an artisan shop that makes and

E S C A P E S By the Side of the Road located in Harrisonburg, VA

Escapes Sold: 685 Check to Owner: $135,698

HAS W E

CHANGED

I N C R E A S E D

BUSINESS:

O C C U PA N C Y

BY 66%, GROSS SALES BY 22% A N D R E V PA R BY 3 8 % I N A Y E A R ! Janice & Dennis Fitzgerald By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages Harrisonburg, Virginia

LivingSocial Escapes offers marketing partners… Duval House located in Keywest, FL

Escapes Sold: 822 Check to Owner: $121,254

• Vibrant exposure within intelligently targeted travel emails • Global reach as part of LivingSocial’s 135-market network • Heads-in-beds during need periods with no up-front costs • Up-front payment (15-days) and pre-paid customers • Final bookings directly with the hotel—you own the customer-relationship and manage your inventory • New travelers, buying on impulse, who were not already in-market for your property • Brand building that’s amplified through sharing & social media For more information, email Escapes@LivingSocial.com or visit LivingSocial.com/GetFeatured

American River Inn located in California Gold Country

Escapes Sold: 498 Check to Owner: $40,512

presents

E S C A P E S

10 sells handbags and totes, and is a founding member of the Portland initiative, says the campaign has not only had a significant impact on both residents and tourists, but has also fostered more cross-marketing among local businesses. Lawrence now reserves space in her store to display a few books from a nearby independent bookstore, which, in turn, displays a few of her bags. This cooperation has helped both stores expand their customer base. It also serves to remind customers that locally owned businesses have a stake not only in their own well-being, but in the well-being of the whole community. That’s a powerful message, says Lawrence. “Many customers really appreciate how much our businesses support one another and the community.” ■ Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the New Rules Project, where she directs initiatives on independent business and community banking. Her latest book, Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses, was named one of the top ten business books of 2007 by Booklist.

innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

INNKEEPING conference&trade show April 4-6, 2011 Southeast Portland, Oregon Hosted by the Professional Association of Innkeepers International

Get the most progressive and in-depth education for running successful B&Bs and inns Innovative Strategies for Increasing Business â&#x2013; â&#x2013; The Most Up to Date Trends in Online Marketing â&#x2013; â&#x2013; Local Sourcingâ&#x20AC;Ś.Why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Important and the Most Cost Effective Way to do it â&#x2013; â&#x2013; Nationally Acclaimed Keynote and General Session Speakers â&#x2013; â&#x2013; And Much Moreâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x2013; â&#x2013;

Swap ideas with your peers: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working these days, and what isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t? 40 Vendors waiting to help you save a bundle at the trade show Re-energize your love of innkeeping!

The 2011 Northwest Innkeeping Conference and Trade Show is hosted by the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, in cooperation with:

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Montana Bed and Breakfast Association Idaho Bed and Breakfast Association winter Guild 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ innkeeping quarterly British Columbia Bed and Breakfast

We hope this regional event will entice you to attend our national show in Little Rock

Welcome to the PAII Northwest Conference & Trade Show!

January 23–26, 2012.

Take this opportunity to drive to Portland and spend a couple days away from your inn to get connected. With intent we gave the agenda a true Northwest slant — we’re sure you will find it valuable.

Monday, April 4

vendors and stop by the PAII Booth to visit with staff and learn more about the association. We can’t wait to say hello!

Pre-Conference Sessions

Tuesday, April 5

EXHIBITOR CONNECTIONS Exhibitor Connections are an exceptional opportunity to learn about technological topics in a longer, more in depth format. Expect excellent and comprehensive education offered by these experienced exhibitors.

Registration Desk Open 7:30 am – 5:00 pm OPENING & GENERAL SESSION

9:00 am – 12:00 noon

8:30 am – 10:30 am

• Demystifying SEO (Search Engine Optimization) • 7 Building Blocks to your Internet Success

How to Convert Low Lying Fruit

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Don Farrell, “Chief Cultivator” with Fresh Revenues

• Beat Your Competition Online • Internet Intensive Workshop TRADE SHOW GRAND OPENING AND WELCOME RECEPTION 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Celebrate the kickoff of your 2011 Northwest Innkeeping Conference and Trade Show experience by finding old friends and making new ones. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, visit with

12 • Innkeeping Quarterly • Winter 2011

This high energy session is designed to show, not just tell, innkeepers how to increase conversion rates (inquiries to actual reservations made) from the 40–50% we hear about in the B&B world to 80% and better. We will play a few shop calls and even make a live call to show the audience that we can go from good to great by following 5 simple formula steps. This session is fun, it is interactive and it is tactical so people walk away with things they can do to better themselves now.

WORKSHOPS 10:45 am – 12 noon

Unlock the Secrets to Your Business Did you know that there are innkeepers in today’s industry whose businesses are flourishing?! Do you want to know the secret? It’s truly no longer about just throwing money at the problem. The answer is: you must get involved! Hear from an internet marketing professional and a handful of these successful innkeepers who are experiencing all time highs. Remember, if you keep doing the same thing the same way, you can expect the same results.

Northwest Innkeeping Show Schedule (subject to change)

Monday, April 4 8 am – 5 pm

Registration Open

9 am – 12 noon

Demystifying SEO (Search Engine Optimization) — Presented by RezStream

9 am – 12 noon

7 Building Blocks to Your Internet Success — Presented by Acorn Internet Services

Noon – 5 pm

Exhibitor Move In

1 pm – 4 pm

Internet Intensive Workshop Presented by BedandBreakfast.com

Food Demo: Gluten Free & Vegan Diets (includes book signing by Vegan Cookbook Author, Wendy Gabbe Day)

1 pm – 4 pm

Beat your Competition Online by Understanding Blogging and Google Presented by Avelient, Inc.

Learn about the Vegan lifestyle as well as gluten free diets in this fast-paced food demonstration and panel.

5 pm – 7 pm

Trade Show Grand Opening and Reception on Trade Show Floor

Making the Media Your Friend This panel of Convention Bureau staff, Destination Marketing professionals as well as Corporate Media Specialists will tell all. How do you go about getting the coveted “free” marketing that is available online, on TV, in magazines and elsewhere?

TRADE SHOW OPEN Noon – 2:00 pm

Lunch served on the Trade Show Floor Noon – 1:30 pm

WORKSHOPS 2:15 pm – 3:30 pm

What is my Inn Worth/Exit Strategies Made Easy This session will help Innkeepers recognize when is likely the best time to ‘pull the trigger’ on their Exit Strategy. Too often, Innkeepers decide that ‘now’ is the time to move on, and because their Exit Strategy is either in an incomplete form or is unrealistic, they likely aren’t prepared to realize the full measure of return on their investment of time and $$$.

The Bed Bug Epidemic Where did the bed bug epidemic come from and why have they become such a problem for B&Bs in particular? Innkeepers will be offered in-depth insight into the unique challenges that bed bugs provide and solutions that will be most effective for the industry.

Tuesday, April 5 7:30 am – 5 pm

Registration Open

8:30 – 10:30 am

Opening General Session & Keynote Address

10:45 am – 12 pm

Workshops

12 pm – 2 pm

Lunch in the Trade Show

2:15 pm – 3:30 pm

Workshops

3:45 pm – 5 pm

Workshops

5 pm – 7 pm

Reception on the Trade Show Floor

7 pm +

Dine Around On Your Own

Wednesday, April 6 Trade Show is Closed — Move out day 7:30 am – 11:30 am

Registration Open

9:45 am – 11:00 am

Workshops

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Workshops

12:30 pm

Departure

Winter 2011 • Innkeeping Quarterly • 13

From Farm to Table…Local Sourcing

This is an important part of the regional destination brand. Hear from professionals who do this well and affordably as well as suggestions for farmers, cheese-makers, vintners and others who are willing and ready to work with B&Bs.

WORKSHOPS 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

GENERAL SESSION 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Expose Yourself. Putting Personality Up Front to Increase your Business. Presented by Tim Brady, Brand Pandemic and Innkeeper, Forty Putney Road B&B, VT

Developing a new website can be exciting as well as daunting. How will I show my online booking? How will make the user experience the best possible? What site design layout has the highest ROI? What pages are necessities? What as an acceptable bounce rate? How will I measure success? Can I see what a user is doing? These questions and more will be answered.

It’s time to bare it all. Big hotels are trying to be more like us, how can we be sure that we don’t become more like them? In this general session you will see how putting your inn’s personality in the spotlight can shift your business to a new level and separate you from the pack. Not suitable for minors; this hour will be crammed with the real deal, nothing held back, high energy, information you need to truly “expose yourself.”

Survey Says! What do Inn Goers Really Want?

WORKSHOPS

Vital Checklist for Website Redesign

You know what your repeat guests love about your inn, but the reservations you are losing can make the difference between a profitable inn and on that’s barely scraping by. This workshop will provide an analysis of a year’s worth of quarterly surveys of approximately 50,000 consumers and 5000 innkeepers along with specific ways that you can learn what works (and what doesn’t work) so you can please more people, more of the time. Surveys will be broken down nationally and specifically for the Northwest.

Regional Wine & Cheese Pairing EVENING RECEPTION IN THE TRADE SHOW 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Don’t miss this last chance to take advantage of great show deals and network with your fellow innkeepers! 7:30 pm • Dine Around on your own. This is an opportunity to sign up for dinner by topic. Join like-minded folks for a dutch-treat meal. Sign-up sheets will be located at registration & you must be signed up by 3pm on Monday, April 4.

Wednesday, April 6 Registration Desk Open 7:30 am – 11:30 am

14 • Innkeeping Quarterly • Winter 2011

9:45 am – 11:00 am

Thrive! Make More Money in the Northwest PAII statistics show that smaller Inns have lower occupancy and ADR than their larger counterparts. It doesn’t have to be that way. Every Inn, large or small, should be aware of what you can do to compete profitably in a demanding travel marketplace, regardless of geography.

Back to Basics Marketing Does it seem like all you hear about these days is social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube? Want to maximize your return on investment? Take a step back and learn how traditional marketing principles and planning can insure the successful integration of print media, advertising campaigns and inter-personal networking with social media.

Surviving the Off Season The off season doesn’t have to induce anxiety. Learn from industry peers who have learned to not only survive, but thrive during the hardest months.

WORKSHOPS 11:15 am – 12:30 pm

What’s New with Facebook and How Can it Help Increase Business? As with most everything on the internet, Facebook keeps changing at the speed of light — Fans have been replaced with

“like”— Many availability systems have the ability to be added to your wall — You can easily feed your Facebook directly to your Blog or Twitter — You can add your own “Custom Pages” to support specials, news or simply enhance your availability calendar — You can add imagery to enhance your visitor experience!

Risk Management & Contingency Planning

Realizing this is a huge topic, we will break down some specific subjects to help attendees gain perspective on what Risk Management should be. We will also help attendees

think in specifics about contingency planning. How do you verify your full business income in case of a total loss? We will provide the most up to the date information and advice.

Plating & Garnishing Breakfast… New and Innovative Ideas Learn about all things breakfast from innkeepers and restaurateurs who rise to the top. Leave this innovative workshop with hands on knowledge, new ideas and a fresh insight at how your inn approaches the most important meal of the day.

REGISTRATION PRICING AND POLICIES Registration

Members

Non-Members

Standard Registration

$199

$229

One Day Registration (Tuesday)

$120

$130

One Day Registration (Wednesday)

$79

$89

PreConference Sessions are free and listed below. While walk-ins are welcome, we ask that you pre-register so we may let our presenters know approximately how many people to expect. Demystifying SEO • Sponsored by RezStream

FREE

7 Building Blocks to Your Internet Success • Sponsored by Acorn Internet Services

FREE

Internet Intensive Workshop • Sponsored by BedandBreakfast.com

FREE

Beat your Online Competition by Understanding Blogging & Google Sponsored by Avelient, Inc.

FREE

REGISTRATION POLICIES Online registration will close at noon (Eastern Time) on Friday April, 1. Registration will be available onsite after that.

2011. Request must be received in writing. For more information, contact Jennifer Quattlebaum, Director of Education and Events at Jen@paii.org or 856-310-1102.

CONFERENCE CANCELLATION POLICY

LODGING INFORMATION

You may cancel for any reason with a full refund minus a $25 per person administrative fee prior to March 20, 2011. No refunds or credits will be issued on cancellation requests received less than 14 days prior to the start of the Northwest Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show, which starts on April 4,

Monarch Hotel and Conference Center 2011 12566 S.E. Ninety-Third Avenue Clackamas, OR 97015 800-492-8700

Winter 2011 • Innkeeping Quarterly • 15

17 Providing Compassion Through Escape The Lavender Inn offers respite to women battling cancer. by Heath Croft

ne night in January, in an upstairs shower at the Lavender Inn, a woman began losing her hair. It had been two weeks since her first round of chemotherapy. Until then, she had been in denial about this unavoidable side effect of her treatment. How grateful she must have been that the inevitable happened in the company of other women like her instead of at home with her husband and children. She wouldn’t have wanted her children to worry. Another woman there offered

to show her how to fashionably wrap a scarf around her head. These women understood better than anyone what she was facing because they had all been where she was in their own cancer treatment. Some of them were facing it again. It was no coincidence that these women were together at that precise moment. They were all attending the Lavender Inn’s INNcourage retreat, a three-day transformational getaway for women undergoing cancer treatment at

the Ventura County Medical Center in California. Kathy Hartley, owner of the Lavender Inn, has hosted the retreat in Ojai for three years. She says she does this because it provides moral and emotional support to underserved women who are facing one of life’s greatest challenges. Hartley says the retreat is not limited to any type of cancer. In fact, some attendants are suffering from multiple forms of the disease. “Everybody’s touched by cancer in various ways,” Hartley says. Her father is a cancer survivor, and she says it was the support they received at the City of Hope

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As a member of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, you can enjoy a $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card when you join or renew as a Plus Member. Or, if you join or renew as a Business Member, you’ll receive a $10 Sam’s Club Gift Card. For details and to take advantage of this offer, visit SamsClub.com/paii. For a Club near you, call 1.800.881.9180 or visit SamsClub.com.

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly

18 in Duarte, Calif., that made her want to do something like this at her inn. Having owned the Lavender Inn for eight years, she says she modeled the retreat after girls’ weekends that are frequently held there. “That’s the way I envisioned it,” she says. “I guess there’s no real explanation.” Donna Iverson was one of the women waiting downstairs, ready and willing to offer support to her comrade who was forced to face the harrowing effects of chemotherapy. “She came out with a handful of hair,” Iverson says. She says that it was important for this woman to be in the company of others who could relate to what she’s going through without overreacting. In 2002, Iverson was diagnosed with stage III invasive breast cancer. After under going a bilateral mastectomy, she received chemotherapy and radiation. In 2009, her cancer returned and had already spread to her lymph nodes. More surgery and additional rounds of chemotherapy and radiation ensued. Thankfully, Iverson is currently in remission again. However, her cancer is metastatic, which means that it could be just a matter of time before it returns. Iverson says she read about INNcourage in Ventana Monthly magazine and was immediately intrigued. “I thought, ‘Yeah, I want what they’re having,’” she says. After speaking to the office manager at VCMC’s oncology clinic, she was put in contact with Hartley. Because of Iverson’s responsibilities to both her work and her children, she was not able to attend previously, but began planning to be at the retreat this January. “I was excited,” Iverson says. “I love meeting new people.” She says that since her diagnosis, she has been very involved with the cancer community, especially with the Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation. She says that by the end of the retreat, it was as if they’d all known each other forever. innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

She says that by the end of the retreat, it was as if they’d all known each other forever. “We immediately all became friends on Facebook,” Iverson says. While she has no problems talking about what she’s been through, Iverson understands some women want privacy regarding their condition. “I know that there were some women there that weren’t comfortable with cancer,” Iverson says. She says that some women don’t want to talk about cancer because they’re afraid of being treated differently. Iverson says she doesn’t feel that way at all. “I have cancer,” she says. “I needed for people to treat me differently.” She also says that talking about it helped her remember her humanness. “I needed the reminder that I am not Superwoman,” Iverson says. She says that some of the activities at the retreat were very individual while others encouraged participation. “The one thing that stood out to me was the counseling,” she says. Both private therapy sessions and group discussions were offered to the women by a trained professional who was there to help them cope with their challenges. “They connect with other women who are going through something similar,” says Brook Montagna, a licensed therapist and mental health counselor who donated her time to INNcourage during its first two years but has since moved to Arizona. She says the connections that these women make with each other are tremendously beneficial. According to her, many of the women find resources through each other that they

wouldn’t have known otherwise. Montagna says that for many of the women who attend the retreat, this is the only time they’re able to relax and rejuvenate due to personal and financial obligations. She says that, in addition to battling cancer, many have children or others that they have to care for and have little or no time to pamper themselves. Hartley says the women are treated like queens during the retreat. They receive facials and massages, and there is no cost to them at all. According to Hartley, each of the women is considered underserved which means she has some type of critical issue at home. Some women do not have insurance. Or, like Iverson, some are single parents working multiple jobs. In any case, they are all women who would not normally have the means of getting away from their cares for an extended period of time. For some women, Hartley says this is the only chance for them to “take their worries off their cancer.” “Some have never been to a hotel,” Hartley says. “Some have never been to a bed and breakfast for sure.” According to Hartley, the women are all residents of Ventura County and are selected by nurses at the oncology clinic. “They feel like they won the lottery,” she says. She says the women are notified privately so that others don’t feel left out. Hartley says the women cannot be considered at risk medically, and many of them try to schedule their chemotherapy treatments for the day after the retreat. She says that some of the women chosen are emotionally stronger than others in order to create a more balanced atmosphere, and the nurses are active participants in choosing a group of women that will mesh well in a group environment. Though the women stay busy with the activities afforded to them at the inn, there is also considerable time for them to rest and to nap if they prefer. One of

19 the first day’s activities, after lunch on the veranda, is a hike that each of the women is encouraged to participate in if she is able. The women also work in the kitchen together and all pitch in to prepare dinner for each other. Fireside chats, pajama breakfasts and a gentle form of yoga by candlelight are part of the activities planned for the ladies. Hartley says that a bed and breakfast is more conducive to this type of retreat than a hotel or conference venue. She says the ability to be close-knit is crucial to its success. “A hotel just doesn’t work like that,” Hartley says. “The women are so separated in a hotel.” She says that she invites eight to 10 women each year due to the size of her inn. By inviting a limited number of participants, each woman can room alone. As the retreat’s organizer, Hartley places a priority on each woman’s privacy. Admittedly, she understands the concerns that innkeepers have about

essentially giving away free nights especially during this down economy. “It doesn’t have to be three days,” she says. At the least, Hartley says, innkeepers could offer two days and one night for this type of retreat. However, the longer the event the stronger the bonds can form between the women. Hartley says she picks the slowest time of the year and blocks out the dates in advance on her online reservation system.

“I would never do it on a weekend,” she says. “I need that money as well.” Since the retreat is offered at no cost to the participants, Hartley says she scouts for donations from local establishments by sending letters to a select group of possible contributors. “I don’t get turned down much,” Hartley says. “But, I don’t ask much.” Of the restaurants she approaches, Hartley asks for lunch or dinner for 10 women. Ojai’s

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20 Feast Bistro has been donating an entire dinner to the women attending the retreat since the program’s inception. Chef Susan Coulter says that, although the past two years have been financially challenging, she and her partner, Beryl Schwartz, are still quite committed to the project. “These people can really use the help, and they so enjoy it,” Coulter says. She says that even her employees are excited to work when the ladies of INNcourage arrive for dinner because of the immense pride they take in serving these welldeserving women. “The feeling you get back is well worth it,” she says. Coulter says that all inns experience slow business during certain times of the year, and innkeepers could follow Hartley’s lead. “It’s an inspired idea,” Coulter says. Mary Nelson provides facials to the

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Although she began the retreat because she wanted to touch somebody’s life, she admits the recognition the inn receives as a result of it is an added bonus. women during the retreat. She says that in her line of work she doesn’t often have the opportunity to touch someone’s life profoundly. “I appreciate that,” Nelson says. “I value that I can do that.” Nelson’s father owned the Lavender Inn property in the 1950s. In 1982, she remodeled it and opened a bed and breakfast which she operated for 13 years. Nelson says she

remains attached to her history with the inn, and the ability to use her new work as a skincare professional to help the INNcourage women there is humbling. Hartley says that a nearby grocery store gives $25 worth of food, which she uses to purchase food for meals prepared for the women at the retreat. She also receives contributions from a local Trader Joe’s. “Every little bit adds up,” she says. “The very first year I pretty much paid for everything myself.” However, Hartley applied for and received a social service grant. Now, in its third year, INNcourage is recognized by the Ventura County Medical Group and is covered under its 501(c)(3) status. This defines the retreat as a not-for-profit entity and donations made to it are tax deductible. Hartley says she uses the grant money in an effort to allay the costs incurred by closing the inn and funding the program.

21 “I don’t make money,” she says. “But, I don’t lose as much money.” She admits though that the overwhelming response to the program has gone far beyond what she initially anticipated. “You get so much more support than you expect,” Hartley says. “It makes me want to do more.” Hartley says that if she is able to get more grants in the future, she could possibly host the event twice a year. Although she began the retreat because she wanted to touch somebody’s life, she admits the recognition the inn receives as a result of it is an added bonus. “I am promoting the Lavender Inn like crazy,” Iverson says. “I have told everybody.” Iverson says that she felt so at home and at peace during the inn’s retreat that she plans on having her wedding there as soon as she finds a groom. “It’s cemented that place in my heart,”

The Lavender Inn and INNcourage have also been tweeted and blogged about online. she says. “I’m sure many innkeepers would love to hear that.” Hartley says the inn receives a number of mentions in area newspapers and magazines because of the retreat. The Lavender Inn and INNcourage have also been tweeted and blogged about online. She has also been approached to address both the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs in her area. According to her, these community service organizations often make donations to programs like INNcourage after such speaking engagements.

Hartley says that she is willing to act as an adviser to innkeepers who would consider offering a retreat like hers at their inns. “I can share anything with any innkeeper that wants to do it,” she says. Hartley suggests contacting a local hospital or cancer association affiliate. She (continues, next page…)

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22 says cancer clinics and infusion centers can also be of assistance. “Look for connections in the community that can help,” Hartley says. “It’s funny how you get a lead from one person to another.” Though some women are reticent at the beginning of the retreat, Hartley says many connect instantly. She says that women who have been battling cancer longer than others often become big sisters to those who are newly diagnosed. “They support each other,” Hartley says. She says the bonds that are formed during INNcourage often last long after the retreat. In fact, Hartley says she is still in touch with women who attended the first year. The last day of the retreat includes the oncology staff and is also

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The last day of the retreat includes the oncology staff and is also open to family and friends. It is often full of tearful goodbyes. open to family and friends. It is often full of tearful goodbyes. Hartley says the women come in a little tired, but leave feeling rested and content. “I think you can tell that they’re feeling good on the inside,” Hartley says. She says that a large part of the INNcourage program is getting the women to focus on their inner beauty. Part of that task

involves helping them to feel more positive — even with their bald heads. “Sometimes that’s the first time that they’ve ever taken off their wigs,” she says. ■

innkeeper

by Kristie Rosset, Innkeeper, Lookout Point Lakeside Inn

You’re Invited! Join the BWTS Pledge Club… As innkeepers, we’ve all had spur of the moment, fly by

Charleston. In just 3 hours, more than 20 innkeepers,

the seat of our pants ideas. Some work, some don’t.

vendors and associations took the leap in making a

AnneMarie and I had one of those ideas in Charleston,

pledge, totaling nearly $55,000 over 3 years!

upon hearing the Better Way To Stay enthusiasm of Jay

Would you please consider joining us? Make a pledge

Karen and Twila Syckmiller. Would it work? We were

to give $1,000 or more each year for 3 years (2011, 2012,

certainly willing to give the idea of a BWTS pledge cam-

and 2013) at the “I’m PUMPED” level. Or $500–999 at the

paign our whole-hearted efforts.

“I Love It” level. Or $100–499 at the “Count On Me” level.

I’m convinced that the Better Way to Stay campaign

Just complete the Pledge Card and mail to PAII at 207

will have significant positive impact for our entire indus-

White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035. Here’s a

try. The campaign requires significant dollars. It requires

hearty WELCOME to the Pledge Club. It sure feels good

money not just this year for the launch, but future years

to me to make this commitment.

to sustain the momentum and interest. Hence, the Better

Thanks, and here’s to successful and fun innkeeping! ◆

Way to Stay PLEDGE CLUB was born last month in

Pledge Card

I believe in supporting the Better Way to Stay Campaign. I pledge: ❒ $1,000 per year for three years (2011, 2012, 2013) ❒ $500 per year for three years (2011, 2012, 2013) ❒ Other amount $____________ per year Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ B&B/Inn:_______________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________________ Phone:_________________________________________________________________________________ Mail to PAII at: 207 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly • 23

Winter “Winners” The $100,000 Beard How the B&B Industry Raised $100K with One Beard The offer to shave off a beard netted $100,000 in less than three days from the B&B industry!

he B&B industry is Davey; poised to take on the Goliath hotel industry with an international branding campaign intended to show the world a better way to stay. Yet, the industry needed to raise funds to launch their campaign entitled Better Way To Stay. To raise money at the Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show, Jay Karen, President and CEO of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International offered to shave off his beard if collectively innkeepers, B&B vendors, allied associations and B&B directories could raise $35,000 during the three day conference. It was a lofty goal, but Karen knew it would jump start the branding campaign. The campaign started with a $1,000 donation from Mary Jo Brink, owner of the Hartstone Inn in Camden, ME for the right to shave off the beard. Little did Karen know the strength of the industry might put all the hair on his body in jeopardy. A number of fundraising tactics were quickly put into place. Innkeeper Dean Carlson from the Mermaid and the Alligator B&B in Key West had already offered lodging and put together a seven day trip, valued at over $6,500, that included airfare for two, recruiting donations from many Key West attractions, restaurants. Throughout the show, raffle tickets for the Key West trip were sold. Veteran fundraiser, Twyla Sickmiller of the Maxwell House in Mt Airy, NC did a fabulous job of chairing the conference fundraising activities, recruiting and organizing helpers. Additionally, two veteran innkeepers and PAII Board of Directors members, Kristie Rossett of the Lookout Point Inn in Hot Springs, AR and Anne Marie DeFreest of the Inn at Round Barn Farm in Waitsfield, VT launched a pledge club with their $1000 per year pledge for the next three years. A number of innkeepers followed. Allied Associations and directories like Select Registry followed other donors like BedandBreakfast.com to donate to the campaign. The Historic Inns of Rockland, a small consortium of four Rockland, ME inns donated $1500 from the association and each of the innkeepers individually donated, motivating other inn consortiums to follow suit with donations, innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

such as the West Virginia and Wisconsin B&B associations. Together, the B&B Team and Bushnell and Bushnell, two small businesses servicing the B&B industry, donated nine percent of the total $100,000, putting their pocketbooks behind their commitment to the industry. Example after example followed where small inns, B&Bs and industry vendors made generous donations, adding to those B&B associations and innkeepers who’d already donated. As the conference went on the interest built, and the commitment of an industry determined to fund a campaign to help travelers discover today’s inn and B&B experience increased. Some speculated if the goal was not met, perhaps half the beard could be shaved. Other more optimistic innkeepers suggested if the goal was exceeded, perhaps legs should also be shaved on stage. Everyone hoped the goal would be met; no one expected it to be nearly tripled. The outcome shows the tenacious belief in the industry from all those involved. ■

The Better Way To Stay campaign is a grassroots branding and media campaign to introduce today’s inns and B&B experience. Through outreach via the innkeeper community and direct to travelers, the B&B industry is determined to show the world the value of the B&B experience.

PAII Announces 2011 Industry Award Winners

he Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII), the largest organization representing the needs and interests of the innkeeping business, announced the slate of their annual award winners, all of whom were recognized at the Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show in Charleston, South Carolina. “Each year we are honored to show our appreciation and admiration for people and organizations which have made an indelible mark on our industry — either over the long haul or as a result of recent actions,” says Jay Karen, PAII’s chief executive officer. The Hardy-Bell Award is given to a member of PAII who has made a significant and long-term contribution to the organization. The 2011 award winner is John Felton, former innkeeper at the One Main Street B&B in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. John served on the PAII board of directors for many years and continues to serve as a volunteer editor for Innkeeping Quarterly magazine. “John was often the most sought-after voice of reason on our board, and he was unflagging in representing the voice of the small B&Bs,” says AnneMarie DeFreest, owner of the Inn at the Round Barn Farm in Waitsfield, Vermont, and chair of the PAII board of directors. The Award of Merit is bestowed upon individuals who have made a lasting and positive impact on the entire innkeeping industry. Eric Goldreyer, the founder and former chief executive of BedandBreakfast.com, who sold the company to HomeAway.com earlier in 2010, is the 2011 recipient of this award. “Eric and his work were nearly synonymous with the B&B industry for fifteen years,” says DeFreest. “Through the efforts of BedandBreakfast. com, Eric was able to lead innkeepers into the new age of internet marketing, as well as draw significant levels of exposure to the B&B product through meaningful PR work. We are grateful for the tireless efforts he made to advance this industry.” Recipients of the annual Champion Award have accomplished a significant victory on behalf of innkeepers or our industry at the local, regional, national or international level within the past year. “We honor these people and organizations for championing a cause important to our corner of the lodging and hospitality industries. They are shining examples of going above and beyond,” says Dan Brown, innkeeper at the Swift House Inn in Middlebury, Vermont, and PAII’s awards committee chair. The following are all recipients of the 2011 Champion Award: Kathleen Panek, innkeeper at the Gillum House in Shinnston, West Virginia. Kathleen was the brainchild and stimulus behind the “B&Bs for Vets” initiative, which attracted the support and participation of over 900 B&Bs and inns from coast to coast. Participating properties donated at least one free room night to active duty or retired military personnel the night before Veterans Day this past November 10th. This program garnered significant

coverage from local and broadcast media from coast to coast, as well as introduced the B&B experience to several thousand first-timers. Jim Ford and Jeanne Muir, innkeepers at the Thomas Shepherd Inn in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Jim and Jeanne spent countless hours supporting the “B&Bs for Vets” program, fielding emails and phone calls, getting the web site launched and updating hundreds of entries over many weeks. Their efforts were critical in making the initiative a success. The U.S. Travel Association. Only due to the efforts of the U.S. Travel Association was the passage of the 2010 Travel Promotion Act possible. This piece of legislation, which received unusual bipartisan support in Congress, creates the first-ever national travel promotion and communications program to attract more international travelers to the U.S. The Travel Promotion Act will counteract the downward trend of inbound travel by creating a campaign to promote the United States as a premier destination and explain changing travel security policies to foreign visitors. Hoyt Dottry, innkeeper at the Walnut Lane Inn in Lyman, South Carolina. Through his role as president of the South Carolina Bed and Breakfast Association, Hoyt has taken on many causes on behalf of the state’s innkeepers. Of note, Hoyt wrote successful grant applications to receive financial support from the state’s tourism office. He worked closely with officials from both Horry and Kershaw counties to update their B&B ordinances. These feats were accomplished in addition to his work on the association’s print and online directories, oversight of the monthly newsletter, gift card program and so many more initiatives. Shar and Brian Scott, innkeepers at the American Country Bed and Breakfast in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In 2010, Shar and Brian succeeded in founding the new Idaho Bed & Breakfast Association to serve the interests of innkeepers throughout the state. In its first year of existence, the association recruited dozens of new members, held an annual conference and received financial support from the state tourism office to create new marketing materials aimed at promoting the state’s B&Bs. Barbara Shadomy, innkeeper at the Stonehurst Bed and Breakfast in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon renovating a property in the Atlanta market to operate it as a B&B, Barbara discovered that only “homestays” of up to two bedrooms were legal. Due to Barbara’s leadership, she was able to work with the city to rewrite the ordinance, which now allows for B&B operations in properties with up to ten bedrooms. This allowed all existing properties in the area to be legal and licensed. ◆

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly • 25

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g innin W d r a w ns s an A a olutio W S 0 t u 201 O ree ide ived th or Ins e f c r e r a e s Y on s Soluti t award u 3 O e d W , i . s s In ward ativity a e r c 3 b W e w Silver best in ign and e h t t n s all ood de represe g r o f nts of s a d r r t a n d e 0 stan or er 3,00 v O . head f g o n t i ut d d o a c ete he nsideO I p . m y o r c o teg sizes n ach ca e n ociatio i s s s d A r ( a rd d aw er Awa orida Bed an v l i S won ainns. the Fl d i r r o o f fl ) . w ry catego ite (ww tel and s b e w t o as ards (H Breakf s w A r e ar Fall lv i d e S C , ) t a n d com m), an ) for In o g c . n s i l g l rfa Lod atceda w. n n i . w n (ww n I (ww e s u air Ho ). The Bl nn.com i e s u o blairh

Do You Have News?

are, If you have something to sh ease please email your press rel arding or a couple paragraphs reg n at your news to Ingrid Thorso Ingrid@paii.org.

Marketing Matters Social Media Super-Glue: Adhering to New Marketing Strategies by Sharon Rowe

mart innkeepers are keeping pace with today’s social media evolution through a commitment to spending one hour each day in the marketing of their business. So, what should you be doing in that hour? It could involve: ●● attending an educational webinar ●● writing a blog ●● updating website content ●● crafting a monthly newsletter ●● reading online marketing or hospitality blogs ●● posting to a Facebook business page ●● Tweeting timely information to your followers ●● networking with your community Chamber members ●● composing a press release ●● building a Google Map to support the area activities page of your website ●● building videos ●● watching Google Alerts & Tweets from travel writers seeking press content Does this sound like your business plan? Or, does it make you want to run into your kitchen and look up a new muffin recipe and hope that all of this business about blogging and tweeting and map building will go away? The reality is, dedication to learning and executing all of these techniques is essential to the success of all businesses, small and large. Your guest demographic is varied, and so are their preferences as to how they would like to stay engaged and converse with you. It is not a question of which method you select for that communication; you have to employ all of them as a part of an overall marketing strategy. As a business owner, you have limited resources (be it time, money, or staff ) so it is critical to utilize all of the tools at your disposal to make the best use of those resources as you work your plan to stay in touch with your guests (both past and future). We have several suggestions to share that will serve as your “super-glue” to reinforce your social media marketing arsenal and help you incorporate

27 your existing plans with the most current marketing strategies available. Feed.Informer.com is one of our favorite free tools. With a relatively small expense to have a developer customize and code this tool on your website, you can attractively import the titles and the first 20–50 words of your blog post over to your website home page. Why is this important? First, it is a very easy and efficient way to update to the content of your home page. Search engines, especially Google, crawl the home page of your website every 7–10 days, rewarding sites with refreshed content detected on each new crawl by maintaining or improving their placement. Second, it frees you up to not have to write a blog as well as make other updates to your home page. We still encourage you to make other updates to your home page when you can, but this blog feed serves as a healthy dab of glue, pulling your blog efforts over to your website — provided, of course, that you are blogging at least once a week. Examples of this tool can be seen at: HermannHill.com, vertical display on the lower right side of their home page; 1837BB.com, horizontal display at the bottom of their home page. RSS Graffiti is a free tool that has proven effective in driving blog posts over to the Facebook business page. There have been a variety of other tools tested (Facebook Notes, TwitterFeed, and others) with some degrees of success, but also a good deal of inconsistency. RSS Graffiti on the other hand, is currently performing very well. We can all probably agree that Facebook does prefer to change the rules of engagement frequently, so we do remain vigilant as these changes occur. Here again, this tool allows you to write a blog post, and also feed it over to your Facebook fans or likers, saving you time but meeting the needs of folks preferring to hear from you through Facebook. The Acorn blog (http://blog.acorn-is.com) features an informative video on how to set RSS Graffiti up yourself. See Educational Byte .015 for all of the steps. Note: RSS stands for real-simple-syndication and is a technique to drive information from one place/source to another. FeedBlitz is a publishing sharing tool, allowing you to integrate social networks with your email campaigns. From the customer/guest perspective, they may not understand how to set up an RSS feed for themselves. With FeedBlitz you can winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly

28 help them by offering this simple “subscription” tool. What this tool does is translates RSS feeds into email. It allows your readers/followers to subscribe and unsubscribe themselves to your blog without any additional work. There is a cost to you as the publishing business; about $10/month for up to 500 subscribers. Facebook feeds to Twitter is another way to maximize your efforts of writing something once and sending out to your fans who prefer their news feeds from their Twitter account. Facebook has recently opened up an Administrative App that sends posts from your Facebook business page out to your Twitter account (and does not include any posts from your personal profile page). Preview Acorn’s Educational Byte 0.19 on our Blog (http://blog.acorn-is.com) to see the stepby-step instructions on setting up this feed. As a newer Facebook App, it is a little quirky but with some persistence you can get this set up pretty easily. Nutshell Mail is a free social media tracker tool offered by Constant Contact. It allows you to track and update

innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

29 Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Foursquare, LinkedIn, YouTube, CitySearch, and MySpace from one email digest delivered every day to your email in box. Review the Acorn Blog post of 12/31/10 (under our ‘free tools’ blog topics) which includes a video that recaps how this tool works. Schmap = GeoTweeting. This is a simple map tool that works on Twitter, allowing you to post a map with your Tweets, along with images, comments, reviews, and other details you would like to share with your followers on where you are or what you’ve been enjoying in your area. Think in terms of using this to promote the businesses in your community that your guests would enjoy during their next visit. If you think a restaurant is good, a coffee shop is hip, or a performance venue is worth taking in, so will they! Facebook Review Tabs. There are many tabs you can include on your Facebook business page, and the Review tab is one of the most recent applications you can add easily on your own. It provides yet another way for your Fans or “likers” to share their perspective of your business. We are seeing an increased interest by search engines (yes, Google), in the number of reviews you have and the activity level you have with the social media environment. Don’t be afraid of these guest reviews. Think of it as a chance to stay engaged with your public and continue a dialog with them. Acorn published a blog dated 1/22/11 which includes a short video on how to add this Review Tab to your Facebook business page: http://blog.acorn-is.com/2011/01/ acorn-is-educational-bytes-more-about.html

binds everything together, keeping your guests mindful of what is going on in your town and at your inn, ultimately influencing their next booking at your inn. ■ URL References FeedInformer — http://feed.informer.com/ RSS Graffiti — http://www.facebook.com/RSS.Graffiti FeedBlitz — http://www.feedblitz.com/ Nutshell Mail — http://nutshellmail.com/ Schmap — http://twitter.com/schmap Facebook Review Tab — http://blog.acorn-is.com/2011/01/ acorn-is-educational-bytes-more-about.html Facebook to Blog/Twitter Feeds — http://www.facebook. com/twitter/ Sharon Rowe has worked with Acorn Internet Services since 2005 and is Manager of Professional Client Services, working with clients to expand their internet marketing tool kit through careful analysis of their web stats, organic payPMper click Lanier_Realty-AD-InnsMag_1-11.pdf 1 placement, 1/7/11 9:35 campaigns as well as exploring newsletters, blogs, and other social media opportunities.

Claiming Your Listing(s) We encourage you to think beyond Google Places. You also have listings on Yahoo, Bing, Facebook, Yelp, GetListed.org and others. A lot of weight is placed on Google but don’t forget the importance of these other powerful and popular engines for searching for information. It is easy to find your listing, claim it, and better manage the details and consistency of information posted about your business. If you claim it, you prevent others from posting inaccurate or inconsistent content. Own it and control it. We hope this recap of the latest in social media communication and organization techniques has been helpful. Make this the year that you commit to one hour each day to learn and become more fluent with one or more of these tools. Before long, you will find yourself blogging, posting, and tweeting with ease. The goal is to engage your guests in conversation before, during, and after their visit to your inn. Social media is the glue that winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly 1/7/11 9:32 PM

Food Glorious Food Hail to Kale and Healthy Breakfasts by Eight Broads in the Kitchen

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egetables are a must for a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.” Jim Davis, cartoonist Offering guests a healthy breakfast is a challenge. The essence of what innkeepers do is pampering our guests with food that is often rich, sweet, and decadent. But we can do healthier and still “wow” our guests. One way to serve healthier is by incorporating vegetables in your breakfasts. Slice ’em or dice ’em. Roast ’em or toast ’em. Steam ’em, sauté ’em or grill ’em. Vegetables are healthy, versatile, flavorful, and colorful! And there are so many to choose from. Asparagus, broccoli, peppers, spinach, eggplant, artichokes, parsley, basil, Swiss chard, kale, onions, mushrooms, peas, corn, and that great fruit

innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

we like to think of as a vegetable, tomatoes, fresh or sun-dried. Toss the vegetables with a little olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and a smidgen of pepper, maybe a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Sauté them. Or roast them on a cookie sheet in a 425 F oven for 30 minutes. Or spoon them into a well-oiled grill basket and cook on the barbecue for about 8 minutes a side. And don’t forget sweet potatoes or yams. This little potato packs a great nutritional punch with its fiber, vitamins, calcium and more! More perishable than other potatoes, they should be stored in a dry, dark, 55–65 F area for a week or less. Don’t refrigerate the raw potato as it will become hard and lose some of its flavor.

31 They can be cooked and then frozen in a tightly sealed container after they have been sliced, cubed, or even mashed. Mash with a dash of maple syrup for a great side with eggs. Or toss the slices in a bowl with olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, and lots of freshly cut rosemary and roast at 400 F until done. And cubed, the sweet potato is great with cranberries for a healthy hash. “Yes,” you say, “but how do we incorporate the vegetables into our breakfasts?” Omelets. Frittatas. Stratas. Tacos (using a corn or other vegetable tortilla or taco shell). As a bed for poached eggs. Or in pancakes. Even as a colorful side. Eggs dishes with vegetables are great for nearly all guests, including, of course, vegetarians, as well as those on a gluten-free diet. Use soy milk and eliminate the cheese for those who are lactose intolerant. 14 Ways to Healthier Breakfasts 1. Cut down on the egg yolks. For every 3 eggs the recipe calls for, use 2 whole eggs and 2 egg whites. In baked goods beating the egg whites first results in a fluffier lighter finished product. 2. Substitute fruit and vegetables for fat in baked goods. You can replace up to half the fat in a recipe with an equal amount of pureed fruit or vegetables, such as applesauce, prunes,banana, pears, peaches, pumpkin or squash. 3. Sneak in vegetables. Add shredded vegetables like carrots, zucchini or pumpkin to quick breads, muffins or cakes. (continues, next page…)

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly

32 Mediterranean Strata Lynnette Scofield, William Henry Miller Inn, Ithaca, NY • 1 ½ cups finely chopped yellow onion • 1 cup finely chopped scallion (both green and white parts) • ½ pound mushrooms, thinly sliced • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 10 stalks of asparagus, blanched and chopped • 1 zucchini (grilled and sliced for good flavor) • ½ bunch of Swiss chard, cleaned and boiled for three minutes, then drained and chopped • 1 ½ loaves whole wheat bread • 2 ½ cups grated extra sharp cheddar • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan • 12 large eggs • 3 ½ cups milk (we use non-fat) • Dijon mustard, salt and pepper to taste In a large skillet, cook the onions, scallions, and mushrooms in the olive oil until the onions are softened. Add the other vegetables and stir until all of the vegetables are tender. Arrange half of the bread cubes in a greased or sprayed 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the vegetables over the bread, and sprinkle half of the cheeses over the top. Repeat with the remaining bread, vegetables, and cheese. Mix the eggs with milk, Dijon, salt, and pepper, and pour evenly over the bread mixture. Cover and chill overnight. In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 F. Bring the dish to room temperature and then bake in the center of the preheated oven for 50–60 minutes.

innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

4. Substitute plain yogurt or pureed low-fat cottage cheese for half or more of the sour cream in a recipe. 5. Use low-fat equivalents — such as Neufchatel — instead of regular cream cheese. 6. Add a little oatmeal to pancakes, muffins or quickbreads. You may also need to add extra liquid. 7. Substitute 1/4 to 1/3 of the white flour in a recipe with whole wheat or oat flour. 8. You can cut the sugar in most baked goods by about 1/4 without noticeable difference in consistency or flavor. 9. Honey and maple syrup are healthier options for sweetening than processed sugar. 10. If a recipe calls for cheese, choose Swiss cheese for the lowest sodium. 11. Substitute skim milk in recipes. If the recipe calls for whole or 2% milk, skim milk will reduce the fat. If the recipe calls for water, use skim milk instead to add calcium. 12. Cut down the salt. You can usually reduce salt by a quarter to a half of what is called for in a recipe. Increase other salt-free spices and seasonings to punch up the flavor. 13. Home-made white bread is healthier than grocery store loaves because we omit the high fructose syrup.

33 14. Fill them up with vegetables! Use more fruit and vegetables and less “batter” per serving in quiches, stratas, omelets and pancakes. Of course there are many more ways to serve healthy breakfasts. One guilt-free option is Danielle Hansom’s homemade Swiss Bircher Muesli. Another is Ellen Chenaux’s Vegetable Frittata. Or Kristie Rosset’s Breakfast Sundae. These recipes and many more can be found on our blog, www. bedandbreakfastfoodie.com. And visit us on facebook! ■ The Eight Broads in the Kitchen are innkeepers from across the U.S. who have become great friends over the years. All of us run small inns where breakfast, desserts, and dinners are all part of what we do. Our inn recipes define us, are eclectic, practical, and just downright fun. We strive to make the travel experience truly something wonderful to remember, highlighted by the wonderful creations coming from our kitchens, the signature of what we do.

Ellen Chenaux, Birchwood Inn, Lenox, MA

Kristie Rosset, Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, Hot Springs, AK

Danielle Hanscom, Brampton Inn, Chestertown, MD

Joyce Schulte, Chambered Nautilus Bed and Breakfast Inn, Seattle, WA

Yvonne Martin, White Oak Inn, Danville, OH Debrah Mosimann, Swiss Woods Inn, Lititz, PA

Lynnette Scofield, William Henry Miller Inn, Ithaca, NY Kathryn White, Beechmont Inn Bed and Breakfast, Hanover, PA

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Advertiser

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www.bbteam.com

www.bedandbreakfast.com

www.deneenpottery.com

www.essentialamenities.com

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www.hdsupply.com

Inn Consulting Partners

www.innpartners.com

Inns Magazine

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Innstyle

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Inside Out Solutions

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B&B Team, The BedandBreakfast.com Deneen Pottery Essential Amenities Fuller Soaps HD Supply

Interim Innkeepers Network Living Social Markel Insurance Co.

www.interiminnkeepers.net

www.livingsocial.com

www.inninsurance.com

Advertiser

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NPC

www.npc.net

PAII

www.innkeeping.org

16, 22, Back Cover

Pamela Lanier

www.LanierBB.com/ MembershipBenefits

www.perceptivegraphics.com

RezStream

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Sam's Club

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www.selectregistry.com

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Inside Front Cover

www.virginiainnbroker.com

Inside Back Cover

www.watcomfg.com

Perceptive Graphics

Select Registry Stash Tea TMG, Virginia Inn Brokers Watco

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly

IndustryEvents March 2011

SEPTEMBER 2011

Bed & Breakfast Association of Kentucky Conference Dates: March 14 – 15 Location: Berea, Kentucky Contact: http://www.kentuckybb.com/anual-conferences.php

Texas Bed and Breakfast Association Dates: September 11 – 13 Location: Austin TX Contact: info@texasbb.org

Iowa Bed and Breakfast Guild Date: March 21 Location: Panora, Iowa Contact: iowabedandbreakfastguild@gmail.com

JANUARY

Webinar: How to Set Up an Online Store for your Inn Date: March 22 Location: Online (2pm Eastern) Contact: jen@paii.org

2012 Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show Dates: January 23 – 26, 2011 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Contact: www.innkeepingshow.com

APRIL 2011 2011 Northwest Innkeeping Conference and Trade Show Dates: April 4 – 6 Location: Clackamas, Oregon (Southeast Portland) Contact: www.northwestinnkeepingshow.com

To view the most current Industry Events Calendar, visit http://www.innkeeping.org To add your event to the calendar, contact Ingrid Thorson at ingrid@paii.org or call 800-468-7244.

Montana Bed and Breakfast Association Dates: April 11 – 12 Location: Pray, Montana Contact: www.mtbba.com

MAY 2011 New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association Annual Conference Dates: May 1 – 3 Location: Niagara Falls, New York Contact: http://nyshta.org New Mexico Bed and Breakfast Association Dates: May 4 – 5 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico Contact: www.nmbba.org

JULY 2011 MS/LA/AL Annual Conference Dates: July 17 – 20 Location: Gulfport, Mississippi Contact: www.missbab.com

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Welcome New and Welcome Back Former Members! ASPIRING INNKEEPERS ALABAMA Carmen Stewart Dothan, AL ARIZONA Elizabeth & William Dow Gold Canyon, AZ CALIFORNIA Gia Fisher Studio City, CA COLORADO Gabriel Escamilla Golden, CO Coleen Hampf Wheat Ridge, CO CONNECTICUT Susan Namerow Avon, CT

MICHIGAN David DeWitt Lake Orion, MI NEVADA Lawrence Havlick Reno, NV NEW YORK Eric Brodar New York, NY OHIO Teresa Hagerman Columbus, OH Jim Klopp Hudson, OH Kathy Klopp Hudson, OH Gerald & Elaine Riggle Greenfield, OH

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Lindsay Clark Washington, DC

PENNSYLVANIA Raymond Alexander Cranberry Twp, PA

FLORIDA Debbie Hughes Fort Myers, FL

Larry Conner Yardley, PA

GEORGIA Penny Wright Atlanta, GA

RHODE ISLAND George Blake Newport, RI

Terry Dawson Clermont, GA

TENNESSEE Laura & Mike Purswell Brentwood, TN

ILLINOIS Peggy Van Wagoner Barrington Hills, IL

TEXAS M Guerra Austin, TX

INDIANA Maureen Mall Kokomo, IN MASSACHUSETTS Laura Bowden Boston, MA Marilyn Sexton Bellingham, MA MARYLAND Diane & Donald Crane Dayton, MD Jenn Easton Garrett Park, MD

Greystone B&B Graham Laxton Vancouver, BC www.greystonebb.com Flying Cloud Bed and Breakfast Vivian Reinhart Nanaimo, BC www.flyingcloudbedandbreakfast.com Earthsea Inns Inc. Shaun Shelongosky Tofino, BC www.innchanter.com Bee & Thistle Guest House Lynn Ferguson Vancouver, BC www.beeandthistle.ca Villa Marco Polo Inn Eliza Livingston Victoria, BC www.villamarcopolo.com A Apples ~N~ Wine B&B Liz Cyr Summerland, BC www.applesniwne.com Nova Scotia Normaway Inn David MacDonald Margaree Valley, NS www.thenormawayinn.com

ALABAMA Point Clear Cottages Robert Berglin Point Clear, AL pointclearcottages.com ARKANSAS Allseasons LuxuryProperties Pat Fitzsimmons Eureka Springs, AR Country Oaks B&B Carole Weber Mountain View, AR www.countryoaksbb.com White House Inn B&B Marilyn White Paragould, AR www.whitehouseinn.net Ward Mansion B&B Joanne Stevens Conway, AR www.wardmansionbedandbreakfast.com 1884 Bridgeford House Bed & Breakfast Sam Feldman Eureka Springs, AR www.bridgefordhouse.com Heart of the Hills Inn and Cottages David Mitchell Eureka Springs, AR heartofthehillsinn.com

Ontario Jare’s Place Jeremy Greer Toronto, ON www.jaresplace.ca

ARIZONA Catalina Park Inn Bed and Breakfast Mark Hall Tucson, AZ www.catalinaparkinn.com

VIRGINIA Gerardo Giannoni Arlington, VA

Swiss Hotel (Ottawa) Sabina Sauter Ottawa, ON www.swisshotel.ca

INNKEEPERS

Peru San Felicissimo Alberto Spagnolli Perugia www.sanfelicissimo.net

The Big Blue House - Tucson Boutique Inn Lea Ramsey Tucson, AZ 144university.com

Canada Alberta Along river Ridge B&B Dianne & Merril Haskell Calgary, AB www.alongriverridgebb.com British Columbia River Run Cottages B&B Watkins Will Vancouver (Ladner Village), BC www.riverruncottages.com

United States ALASKA Hatcher Pass B&B Liz Hejl Palmer, AK www.hatcherpassbb.com

CALIFORNIA St. Bernard Lodge Sharon Roberts Mill Creek, CA www.stbernardlodge.com Hillcrest House Ann Callahan San Diego, CA www.hillcresthouse.com

MEMBER BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT PAII Announces Monthly Dues Payment Option Available for Gold (Only $16.58/month) and Platinum (Only $24.08/month) Memberships We recognize that cash flow is sometimes a challenge and innkeepers don’t have time to be bothered with invoicing. To make things easier, we are now offering innkeepers the option to pay your dues on a monthly plan.

Take advantage by joining PAII Today!

English Tea Garden Inn Cindy Wolter Cloverdale, CA www.teagardeninn.com

Sidwell Friends Bed and Breakfast Larry Sidwell Mt. Vernon, IL www.sidwellfriendsbandb.com

Trinidad Bay Bed & Breakfast Jason Richie Trinidad, CA www.trinidadbaybnb.com

INDIANA Ivy House Bed and Breakfast Linda Nolte Fortville, IN www.ivyhousebb.com

Joshua Tree Dome Homes Keith Gillmore Palm Springs, CA joshuatreedomehomes.com COLORADO Carr Manor Gary Ledford Cripple Creek, CO www.carrmanor.com Rocky Mountain Lodge & Cabins Debbie Reynolds Cascade, CO www.rockymountainlodge.com FLORIDA Historic Hartman House B & B of Delray Beach Benita Goldstein Delray Beach, FL historichartmanhousebandb.com Casa 325 Guesthouse Georgia Favelli Key West, FL www.casa235.com 63 Orange Street Bed & Breakfast Jackie Kent St Augustine, FL www.63orangestreet.com Windemere Inn By The Sea Bed and Breakfast Elizabeth Fisher Indialantic, FL www.windemereinn.com Kenwood Inn Patricia Dobosz St Augustine, FL thekenwoodinn.com GEORGIA River Street Inn Regina Graham Savannah, GA riverstreetinn.com IOWA Eagles Landing B&B Roger & Connie Halvorson Marquette, IA www.halvorson.org/eagleslanding IDAHO The Mcfarland Inn Bed and Breakfast Nancy Harper Coeur d Alene, ID www.mcfarlandinn.com ILLINOIS Ray’s Bucktown Bed and Breakfast Ray Reiss Chicago, IL www.raysbucktownbandb.com

MICHIGAN Boyden House Bed and Breakfast Gail Kowalski Grand Haven, MI www.boydenhouse.com Inn at the Park B&B Carol Ann Hall South Haven, MI www.innpark.com

LOUISIANA Garden District B&B raynell dunham New Orleans, LA

Big Bay Depot Mara Ausenbachs Big Bay, MI ausenbachs@me.com

Druda’s Inn LLC Cliff Conine Natchitoches, LA

MISSOURI The Inn at Hermannhof JiaMin Dierberg Hermann, MO

MASSACHUSETTS Carriage House Inn Jim Mellett Chatham, MA www.thecarriagehouseinn.com

Burke Manor Inn Lori Lacassagne Gibsonville, NC burkemanor.com NEBRASKA Olde Main Street Inn Jeanne Goetzinger Chadron, NE www.chadron.com/oldemain

1750 Inn at Sandwich Center Jan Preus Sandwich, MA www.innatsandwich.com

Somewhere Inn Time Gary Scheel Ste Genevieve, MO wwwsomewhereinntime.ned

Sturbridge Country Inn Kevin MacConnell Sturbridge, MA sturbridgecountryinn.com

Dickey House B&B Lawrence & Michaelene Stevens Marshfield, MO www.dickeyhouse.com

Inn at Duck Creeke Judith Pihl Wellfleet, MA www.innatduckcreeke.com

Weston B&B Dorothy Emery Weston, MO MISSISSIPPI Cedar Grove Mansion Colleen Small Vicksburg, MS www.cedargrove.com

The Oaks on Cape Cod Lawrence Shapiro Eastham, MA www.InnattheOaks.com

Cole House James Waltman Philadelphia, MS www.thecolehouse.net

MARYLAND Private Stay by MadlyLiving Mariby & Candice - Corpening & Camille Fort Washington, MD www.MadlyLiving.com

Como Inn Mary Katherine Gwin Como, MS www.comoinnms.com

Bartlett Pear Inn Alice Lloyd Easton, MD bartlettpearinn.com MAINE Holbrook House Michelle Allvin Bar Harbor, ME www.holbrookhouse.com Aygarth Station B & B Jane Holland Bar Harbor, ME aysgarth.com Old Granite Inn LLC Edwin Hantz Rockland, ME oldgraniteinn.com

Melia Hill Inn Will Caez Gretna, NE www.innbb.com Roca Country Inn Phil Cochran Roca, NE www.roccacountryinn.com

Rocking Chair Bed & Breakfast Cindy Nickle Broken Bow, NE www.rockingchairbandb.com Inner Maker B&B Rejuvenation Center Jeanne Hain-Wiemer Seward, NE www.innermaker.com/bed-breakfast.html Willow Pond Martin McAndrews Gering, NE www.willowpondbandb.com

Painted Lady of Columbus Jennifer Miller Columbus, MS www.apaintedladyofcolumbus.com NORTH CAROLINA Asheville Seasons Bed & Breakfast Tom Goslin Ashevile, NC ashevilleseasons.com

Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Chloe Tuttle Williamston, NC www.bigmill.com

My Blue Heaven B&B Yvonne Dalluge Pawnee City, NE www.bbonline.com/ne/blueheaven

Larrington’s Guest Cottage Gale Larrington Springview, NE

Old Capitol Inn Mende Alford Jackson, MS www.oldcapitolinn.com

Tapoco Lodge Terry Hedrick Robbinsville, NC

Villa DiMaio Ann Marie DiMaio Angier, NC www.villadimaio.com Robert Ruark INN Jeff Ward Southport, NC

Bradford House Robert Westfall Branson, MO www.bradfordhouse.com

Colonial Inn of Martha’s Vineyard CJ Rivard Edgartown, MA www.colonialinnmvy.com

Zevely House Linda Anderson Winston Salem, NC www.winston-salem-inn.com

Patriot Inn David Minich Hemingford, NE www.bedandbreakfast.com/photohemingford-lodging-patriot-inn.html Oft’s Bed & Breakfast Gordon Mueller Bennington, NE www.oftsbb.com Nature’s Rural Retreat Randy Rupe Eustis, NE www.naturesruralretreat.com Locust Tree B&B Ardena Regier Oshkosh, NE

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Petr House B&B Karen Brabec Clarkson, NE www.nebraskabb.com/listings/ thepetrhousebandb-clarkson-nebraska.html Annie’s B&B Ann Cerv Clarkson, NE www.nebraskabb.com/listings/ anniesbandb-clarkson-nebraska.html Argo Hotel B&B Sandra McDonald Crofton, NE www.theargohotel.com/ Barn Anew Allan Maybee Mitchell, NE barnanew.com KrazyWoman B&B Marianne Slama Scribner, NE www.nebraskabb.com/listings/ krazywomanbandb-scribner-nebraska.html Parmele House B&B Carroll Hudson Plattsmouth, NE www.parmelehouse.com

Sisters’ House Mary Bott PO Box 264, NE www.thesistershouse.com

River Inn Resort Randel Smith Brownville, NE www.River-Inn-Resort.com

Villa Park House Matthew Schmid Spring Lake, NJ www.villaparkhouse.com

Tuscan Villa & Gifts Dane Halsey Pierce, NE www.piercenebraska.com/tuscanvilla/

NEW HAMPSHIRE Blue Goose Inn Margaret Morris Newbury, NH www.bluegooseinn-nh.com

Nathaniel Morris Inn Gail McFadden Manasquan, NJ www.nathanielmorris.com

Waterfjord House B&B Jake Johnson Johnson Lake, NE www.waterfjordhouse.com Liberty House B&B Pat Coldiron Seward, NE libertyhouse.biz Prairie Creek Inn Bruce Stahr Walton, NE www.pcibnb.com Wunder Roost B&B Jim Wunderlich Roca, NE www.wunderroost.com

The Brass Heart Inn Sheena Harte Chocorua, NH www.thebrassheartinn.com NEW JERSEY Normandy Inn Felix Valori Spring lake, NJ www.normandyinn.com Henry Sawyer Inn Barbara Morris Cape May, NJ henrysawyerinn.com Bay Head sands Ken Glass Bay Head, NJ www.bayheadsands.com

Williams Cottage Inn Jim Blahut Beach Haven, NJ www.williamscottageinn.com Island Guest House Bed and Breakfast Inn Joanne & Mark Spulock Beach Haven, NJ www.theislandguesthouse.com Peacefields Inn Bill Dey Allentown, NJ www.peacefieldsinn.com NEW MEXICO Blue Horse Bed and Breakfast Catherine Hansen Placitas, NM www.bluehorsebandb.com

PAII Welcomes Two New Staff Members

ennifer Quattlebaum is your new Director of Education and Events. Jennifer’s passion for hospitality began at age 16 scooping ice cream at the Salty Dog Café on Hilton Head Island. After graduating from the College of Charleston, she spent 5 years working for her alma mater traveling the Southeast as a campus recruiter. She then went to work for the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau selling “America’s Most Mannerly City” as a destination for meetings and conventions. In 2005, she opened her own project management business combining her skills in event planning and destination marketing. In 2010, Jennifer accepted the position of Director of Education & Events for PAII and absolutely loves it. Aside from the travel, her favorite (and most challenging) part of the job is working as an “education detective” and finding the most qualified, interesting and engaging speakers for PAII events. Jennifer and her husband, Frank, enjoy college football (Go Tigers), entertaining and occasionally catering local weddings and other events. They are raising two extremely active young sons and an equally active (and yappy) dog. You can reach her at jen@paii.org. Jennifer replaced Michele McVay.

rook Patterson is PAII’s Director of Vendor Services. She is responsible for the vendor sales aspects of the organization, including memberships, Key Supporters, tradeshow sales, as well as advertising efforts in IQ magazine, innkeeping monthly newsletter, innsales.com and innkeeping.org.

38innkeeping • innkeeping quarterly quarterly • winter • winter 2011 2011

After receiving her degree in Advertising from the University of Florida (Go Gators!), Brook began her career in advertising sales with Naylor Publications selling into association trade publications in Gainesville, Florida. She moved to Charleston, South Carolina and put her association knowledge to use at the National Golf Course Owners Association working for Jay Karen in membership sales. Brook also contributed to advertising sales in their national trade publication, Golf Business. She moved back to Tampa, Florida, further enhancing her career as a sales professional creating print and digital marketing initiatives for clients with The Tampa Tribune, The Robb Report, Tampa Bay Homebuyer and The Wall Street Journal. Jay was right — he said they’d work together again someday. In January 2011, the timing was perfect, and Brook came to work for PAII. She feels like she has found a home here, as it encompasses all the things she is passionate about — relationship building, event planning, advertising, food and hospitality. Outside of the office, this native Floridian loves to spend time with friends and family, soak in the sun and surf in the Gulf, and watch Florida football! Some of Brook’s favorite things to do are hang out in her grandparent’s orange grove, cook up a good southern meal, plan a party, shop for bargains, pretend she has a green thumb and organize any closet she can get her hands on. You can reach her at brook@paii.org. Brook replaced Marlene Sapir.

Casitas de Gila Guesthouses Becky O’Connor Gila, NM www.casitasdegila.com/

Washington Irving Inn Stefania Jozic Hunter, NY washingtonirvinginn.com

Stone Gables Bed & Breakfast Richard Turnbull Cleveland, OH www.stonegables.net

Connellsville Bed & Breakfast Lucille King Connellsville, PA www.connellsvillebedbreakfast.com

Nora Dixon B&B Norris & Cynthia Tidwell Corrales, NM www.noradixon.com

The Vagabond Inn Patti Coles Naples, NY thevagabondinn.com

Weyrich Woods Lodge Donna Weyrich Frazeburg, OH www.weyrichwoodslodge.com/

O’Flaherty’s Dingeldein House B&B Dave Blaich Lancaster, PA www.dingeldeinhouse.com

NEW YORK Ilex Inn Richard & Glenda Jackson Ellicottville, NY www.ilexinn.com

Thyme in the Country Mary Koch Hudson, NY thymeinthecountrybandb.com

Bass Lake Lodge Michele Niehaus Chardon, OH https://innkeeping.site-ym.com

Hound and Hare Bed & Breakfast Zetta Sprole Ithaca, NY houndandhare.com

Kickstand Lodging Mary Tackett Spring Valley, OH

RHODE ISLAND Bristol House Bed & Breakfast, LLC Kathleen Seguin Bristol, RI bristolhousebnb.com

Noble House Farm Bed and Breakfast LLC De Murphy Newfield, NY noblehousefarm.com 1818 Sackets Harbor House Joni Hubbard Sackets Harbor, NY www.sacketsharborhouse.com berkshire mountain house Mona Berg Stephentown, NY Ashokan Dreams Anne-Marie Johansson West Shokan, NY ashokandreams.com Berry Hill Gardens B&B Jean Fowler Bainbridge, NY www.berryhillgardens.com/ Edge of Thyme B&B Eva Mae Musgrave Candor, NY www.edgeofthyme.com/ Rufus Tanner House Donna Powell Pine City, NY www.rufustanner.com Bush B&B Marge Kochan Little Valley, NY www.bushbedandbreakfast.com/ Mariaville Lake B&B Lorrie Runnels Mariaville, NY www.mariavillelakebb.com Through the Grapevine B&B Joan Smith Waterloo, NY www.throughthegrapevine.us/ Ophelia’s Garden Inn B&B Ophelia Papworth-Blakely Syracuse, NY www.opheliasgardeninn.com/ Los Gatos Bed and Breakfast Burney Baron Penn Yan, NY LosGatosBandB.com Hudson House Eileen Lia Haverstraw, NY

Halcyon Farm Bed & Breakfast June Leonard Amsterdam, NY www.halcyonfarm.com Country Cottage B&B Susan Pearson Gasport, NY www.countrycottagebandb.com

SOUTH CAROLINA Harbor House Bed and Breakfast Meg Tarbox Georgetown, SC www.harborhousebb.com

Welsh Hills Inn Bobbi & Jeff Noe Granville, OH www.WelshHillsInn.com

Vendue Inn Susie Ridder Charleston, SC www.vendueinn.com

Garver House Al & Natalie Cline Strassburg, OH garverhousebnb.com

Bed and Breakfast at Oliver Phelps Donna Delehanty Canadaigua, NY

Olde Stone House B&B Bruce Beck Mansfield, OH www.theoldestonehousebandb.com

1871 House Lia Raum New York, NY www.1871house.com

Beecher’s Den Connie Beecher Berlin, OH www.beechersden.com

1840 Inn on the Main Jaynee Straw Canandaigua, NY www.innonthemain.com

Fort Ball Bed & Breakfast Lenora Livingston Tiffin, OH

Porches of Pendleton Texas Ellis Pendleton, NY www.porchesofpendleton.com/

OKLAHOMA Echo Canyon Spa Resort Carol Van Horn Sulfer, OK www.echomanor@brightok.net

The Lake George Bed and Breakfast Marilyn Holmes Lake George, NY www.lakegeorgebb.com

Hidden Hills Hideaways Karen & Don Gardner Foster, OK www.hiddenhillshideaways.com

The Lodge Bed & Breakfast Joe & Nancy Fusco Caneadea, NY thelodgebnb.com

OREGON Cannon Beach Hotel Lodgings Lisa Fergus Cannon Beach, OR cannonbeachhotellodgings.com

Wishmaker House Bed & Breakfast Karen Smith Bellville, OH Orchard House Bed & Breakfast Andrew Kohn Granville, OH www.orchardhousegranville.com

Ashland Mountain House John Loram Ashland, OR www.AshlandMountainHouse.com The waves at Cannon Beach Frank Swedenborg Cannon Beach, OR www.thewavescannonbeach.com PENNSYLVANIA Tara - A Country Inn Laura Ackley Clark, PA www.Tara-Inn.com

Beaufort Inn Julie Myers Beaufort, SC www.beaufortinn.com Nicholson Mansion at Fairforest Lynn Mornane Union, SC info@nicholsonmansion.com The Stables Ponza Vaughan Camden, SC

Susanna’s Guest House Bed and Breakfast David Vornholt New Richmond, OH

American Hotel A Country inn Garth Roberts Sharon Springs, NY www.americanhotelny.com

OHIO Carlisle Inn Walnut Creek Matthew Haun Walnut Creek, OH www.carlisleinns.com

Carambola Inn Robbie-Lane Jackson Fuquay-Varina, SC www.carambolainn.com

John Rutledge House Inn Kathy Leslie Charleston, SC www.johnrutledgehouseinn.com South Dakota Canyonside Bed & Breakfast Madaline Custis Spearfish, SD TENNESSEE Legacy Farms Kellie Bryson Lebanon, TN legacyfarmstn.com Lake Tellico Lodge Deborah Rossi Greenback, TN www.tellicolakelodge.com The Olde Mill Inn Bed & Breakfast Hester Kuykendall Cumberland Gap, TN www.oldemillinnbnb.com Mountain Harbour B & B Mary Hill Roan Mountain, TN www.mountainharbour.net Goose Creek Farm Bed and Breakfast Karen Pattarozzi Dandridge, TN www.goosecreekfarmbnb.com

winter 2011 • innkeeping quarterly • 39

TEXAS Selah Inn Candy Hickerson Talco, TX www.selahranch.com VIRGINIA Fort Lewis Lodge John Cowden Millboro, VA fortlewislodge.com Montclair B&B Sheri Bang Staunton, VA www.montclairbnb.com Inn at Monticello Bob Goss Charlottesville, VA

The Churchyard Inn B&B Cheryl Waller Uniontown, WA www.churchyardinn.com WISCONSIN Blacksmith Inn On the Shore Joan Holliday Baileys Harbor, WI Blacksmith Inn On The Shore Bryan Nelson Baileys Harbor, WI www.theblacksmithinn.com Alpine, Inc. Emily Pitchford Egg Harbor, WI www.alpineresort.com

Inn at Hope Spring Farm William Frey Willis, VA www.innathopespringsfarm.com/

WEST VIRGINIA The Lake Manor LLC Kathleen Crumbaker Morgantown, WV www.lakemanorwv.com

Buckley Hall Inn Beth Lewis Mathews, VA www.buckleyhall.com

Carriage Inn Bed and Breakfast Marie & Donn Davis Charles Town, WV carriageinn.com

Inn at the Olde Silk Mill Anna Sanborn Fredericksburg, VA www.innattheoldesilkmill.com

Brookeside Inn and Retreat Center Michele Moure-Reeves Aurora, WV www.brooksideinnwv.com

William Cox Inn Janet Call Standardsville, VA williamcoxinn.com

Mt Airy B&B and Fine Arts Gallery Omar Quillen King George, WV www.mtairybnb.com/

Serenity’s Edge Paula Tiara Thaxton, VA www.serenitysedge.com

The Covered Bridge Bed and Breakfast Susan Church Philippi, WV www.thecoveredbridgebandb.com

Oak Grove Plantation Pickett Craddock Cluster Springs, VA www.oakgroveplantation.com

Hillbrook Inn Carissa Zanella Charles Town, WV www.hillbrookinn.com

Applewood Inn & Llama Trekking Linda Best Glasgow, VA www.applewood.com

WYOMING Devils Tower Lodge Frank Sanders Devils Tower, WY www.devilstowerlodge.com

The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm Amanda Gordon Sperryville, VA VERMONT The Red Clover Inn & Restaurant Pixley Tyler Hill Killington, VT www.redcloverinn.com Tucker Hill Inn Phillip Truckle Waitsfield, VT www.tuckerhill.com Four Chimneys Inn Pete Green Bennington, VT fourchimneys.com WASHINGTON Misty Valley Inn Rachel Bennett Forks, WA www.mistyvalleyinn.com

INTERIM INNKEEPERS ALABAMA A Perfect Choice Shell Payton Montgomery, AL CALIFORNIA Vivian Ehresman Chatsworth, CA ILLINOIS Inn-Valuable Innkeeping Services Darlene “Darby” McGuigan Huntley, IL www.inn-valuableinnkeeping.com OREGON Coral’s Seemless Innkeeping, LLC Coral Simdorn Portland, OR

40 • innkeeping quarterly • winter 2011

VIRGINIA Russ & Mary Harlow Lexington, VA WISCONSIN Amazing Innkeeper Relief Daloha Damron Madison, WI www.AmazingInnkeeperRelief.com

VENDORS CALIFORNIA Salon Sheets Peter Steur Oxnard, CA steurjr@aol.com www.salonsheets.com DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Living Social Doug Miller Washington, DC doug.miller@livingsocial.com livingsocial.com FLORIDA Booking.com Roger Littlepage Orlando, FL roger.littlepage@booking.com www.booking.com Clean The World Foundation Paul Till Orlando, FL ptill@cleantheworldfoundation.org www.cleantheworldfoundation.org Green Florida Properties Jeannette Moore Saint Augustine, FL JM@GreenFLBroker.com GreenFLProperties.com NORTH CAROLINA American Quality Foods Randy Fluharty Mills River, NC randyf@americanqualityfoods.com www.americanqualityfoods.com Hospitality Contract Furnishings Morgan Hunt High Point, NC morgan@hospitalitycontractfurnishings.com www.hospitalitycontractfurnishings.com Vietri Holli Draughn Hillsborough, NC hdraughn@vietri.com vietri.com NEW YORK The Etiquette Factor Barbara Lang Dryden, NY BarbaraLang55@gmail.com www.TheEtiquetteFactor.com Yuupon Scott Gierum Cliffton Park, NY natasha@propelmedia.com www.yuupon.com

OREGON Unique Angles Photography Marcus Berg Keizer, OR uniqueangles@gmail.com www.uniqueanglesphoto.com PENNSYLVANIA TheaterLift Jonathan Bradlee Exton, PA mediaform1@aol.com WASHINGTON Buuteeq Inc Adam Brownstein Seattle, WA adam@buuteeq.com www.buuteeq.com iMagic Jon Walker South Perth, WA customercare@imagicsoft.com www.iMagicHotelReservation.com/