Welcome to the November 2007 Issue of our Running a B&B Newsletter

In this Edition:

  • Hopton House Double Gold Award Winner
  • Country Living Course Review
  • New Course Dates
  • Top  Tips to Creating a B&B that Guests Keep Coming Back To
  • Black Country Urban Park

We’ve had a lovely autumn here at Hopton House with some lovely weather and the B&B achieving 90% occupancy in September.

We also had some great news last week in the Excellence in Tourism Awards run by Tourism West Midlands when we were awarded a gold award in both the B&B of the Year and Tourism Website of the Year categories. We now go forward to represent the West Midlands in both categories. You can see us receiving our awards here http://www.biz-tv.net/

Country Living Course Review

I ran the first “Are You Ready to Run a B&B?” course last week. It was a really enjoyable day with all of the participants saying how much they got out of it.

The course provides an overview of everything you need to know before you set up your B&B including an overview of skills and experience needed, legal requirements, the national accessibility scheme, quality standards, green tourism, house layout and more.

It was attended by the deputy editor of Country Living, who will be writing a review of the course for the magazine in the New Year.

  • The next “Are You Ready to Run a B&B?” Course is on Saturday 8th December at Hopton House and will cost £125.
  • And on 14th November I will be running a one day course “Marketing Your Tourism Property” which looks at all the ways – both traditional and innovative that you can market your business.
  • The more comprehensive Setting Up, Marketing and Running a B&B Course will be held on 19th and 20th November 2007 at Hopton House. The cost is £250 per person.

Reduced rate accommodation packages are also available – please contact me for details - a perfect opportunity to enjoy a weekend away in South Shropshire.

Top Tips to Creating a B&B that Guests Keep Coming Back To!

1.    Get the basics right

A comfy bed, a good simple breakfast made from locally sourced ingredients, clean rooms and a smile

2.    Know what your guests want from your B&B

I do a target market exercise on the course and I think this is one of the most important things to understand before you set up. If you’re in the middle of nowhere on a famous long distance walk, there is a good chance your typical guest will be a serious walker who wants a bath, a comfortable bed and good cheap home cooked meal – all at a reasonable price. You provide these and you have happy customers. If you’ve set up a highly priced luxury B&B with a minimum 2 night stay and no walking boots inside rule you may be in trouble

3.    Add a bit of luxury ( if that is what your market wants – see 2 )

Use quality white (ironed) bed linen and top with a throw and a few coordinating cushions. Make sure your towels are fluffy and soft.

4.    Create a home from home

Most people come to a B&B because of the personal touch and interaction with the owners. They want somewhere like home but better! Nice pictures on the wall, a few ornaments, maybe flowers or plants in the room. If they want a hotel room they’ll book into a hotel.

5.    Add the Extras

One of the most frequent comments in my guest book is “All the little extras make all the difference”. Supply conditioner as well as shampoo, shower gel and nice bubble bath. Provide mineral water in the room and a small dish of chocolates ( these always get eaten )

6.    Pay Attention to Detail

Another frequent comment is around my attention to detail. If its dark when guests arrive the lights will be on, curtains drawn and some gentle classical music playing in the background. The room kettle will be full and fresh milk supplied in a flask. The bubble bath bottle and shower gel will be full and a new roll of toilet paper will be on the holder.

7.    Make your guests welcome

Guests will come in the first place because of the way you have marketed your B&B and how closely it meets their needs. They will return because of the way they have been treated whilst they’re staying with you. So make them feel welcome but don’t be too pushy, if they want to chat then do so but beware of those signals which say “we want to be left alone!”

8.    Go and stay at a few B&Bs and borrow some ideas!

Every time I go away on holiday or for business I pick up a new idea which I take back to incorporate in my B&B. I picked up the classical music tip from a hotel in Oxford we stayed at. It was a wet miserable December day and I’d had a horrible journey so it was lovely walking into the room with soft lighting on and classic fm playing on the radio.

9.    Keep Reviewing and Improving

I’m always looking for ways to improve my B&B and enhance the customer experience. People’s travel experience and expectations continue to grow so you’ll need to keep reviewing and improving what you offer. Ask your guests what they like about you and what they’d like you to do differently.

Black Country Urban Park

And finally., although I spent 20 years in the South I’m Black Country born and bred, with many of my guests coming from that part of the country. So I’m very keen to support the Black Country’s bid for the prize of £50 million worth of lottery funding to create the Black Country Urban Park.  This is being run as a competition by ITV. If you’d like to support their bid then have a look at the website where you can register for your opportunity to vote for the winner.

Happy B&Bing

Karen

www.bedandbreakfastacademy.co.uk

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