Innkeeping and Writing

In the Winter 2010 issue of Innkeeping Quarterly , Professional Association of Innkeepers International President and CEO Jay Karen, in his Key Notes column titled “Your Customer Base is Changing—Are You?”, implores innkeepers to target the Generation X demographic and forget about all the other groups out there. Mr. Karen writes, “I contend that innkeepers need to pay attention to the feedback of your Gen X customers more than all others.” He also states that innkeepers should “alter [their...Read Full Story

Recently, in the midst of what can only be described as one of the worst stretches of economic road in the history of the United States, more room availability was added to the Stowe lodging market. This is a tribute either to the unflappable optimism of people who think that offering lodging is a good way to make money, or the resilience of the Stowe market. I think it's a little of both. I've always been uncomfortable applying the business model to something like innkeeping. The best inns I...Read Full Story

I did a quick head count of the innkeepers in Stowe recently, and out of nearly 60 inns, motels, lodges, and B&B;'s, I came up with about a half dozen places staffed by innkeepers with kids. That number is probably shrinking, too, and with good reason. Few people are willing to run an inn at the level needed to devote adequate time to your family and your business. I know that in the seven years we've done this, we've struggled at times, and only within the past couple of years have we been...Read Full Story

So many of our guests think that they would like to run and inn some day….when they retire…. Here are some books you should read if you think you want to run a Bed and Breakfast Inn–whether is is a California property or elsewhere. Keep in mind that while you may “retire” to run an inn, it is still a profession and does involve work…and more laundry than you can imagine! Innkeeping as a profession is a great, wonderful business, that will demand time, energy and effort–all to make it look...Read Full Story

Yes, it is that time of year when we put away the decorations at the  Albert Shafsky House  and think about heading to the California Bed and Breakfast (CABBI) which will be held in Monterey later this month…This year it happens to fall on Super Bowl weekend and we are so looking forward to wearing our favorite team jerseys to the event.  Go Niners! This year the conference will be combining the aspiring innkeepers with the “old hands” (like us I suppose now).  Rita is going to be speaking...Read Full Story