Category Archives: Amenities

Hosting Honeymooners

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Did you ever think of putting together a Honeymoon Package for you bed and breakfast? Bed and breakfasts can be very romantic–especially for the newly married.  Depending upon your B&B’s amenities, you could offer any of the following:

  • Beautiful fresh cut flowers in your own room
  • Choice of a chilled bottle of champagne, wine, or sparkling juice.
  • Box of chocolates by their bedside
  • Chocolate covered strawberries
  • Scented candles
  • Two luxurious robes
  • CD’s of romantic music
  • Romantic movies the couple can choose from for viewing in the privacy of their own room
  • Complimentary snack basket
  • Pampering that comes with a “his and her” massage
  • Relax at a spa and enjoy a facial and manicure
  • Private couples mineral bath
  • Gift certificate to local restaurant and/or local shopping
  • 2 tickets to a local popular attraction
  • Dessert served in the dining room by candlelight
  • Rose petal turn-down service (silk rose petals scattered on your bed)
  • A luscious gourmet breakfast served in your suite or the dining room

If you have a Honeymoon Suite or even a private cottage, you can let your guests stay there. You can even make the package “a la carte” and let them decide which services they would like to you to provide.  

When they make an online reservation, have them specify in one of the comments boxes on the confirmation page. Be sure to feature this package on your website, in your blog, and on social media.  You can help make their honeymoon be filled with treasured memories!

Posted in Amenities, Blog and Social Media, Guests, Promotion

Are You Media Friendly?

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Professional digital camera Stock ImagesPublic relations word tags Royalty Free Stock PhotosMarketing concept: smartphone Publicity Stock Photography

Why not make it easy for a journalist or reporter to do a story on your bed and breakfast? Have a press kit on your website.  Consider asking, “Are you a journalist working on a story about inns or bed and breakfasts? We would love to help you with your story or article.”

The press kit can include:

  • Media contact‘s name, phone number, e-mail address (owner, innkeeper, public relations person for your B&B)
  • The history of the bed and breakfast: location, year it was built, original owners, type of architecture, date it became a bed and breakfast, etc.
  • Information about the innkeepers/owners: where they are originally from, their career history, their hobbies, pets, kids, etc.
  • Awards you and your B&B have received: from bed and breakfast associations, cooking contests won, your AAA rating, your Better Business Bureau grade, etc.
  • Press coverage: list of and link to articles in newspapers, magazines, online attention
  • High resolution photos of the inside including the rooms as well as the outside of the bed and breakfast as well as the best breakfasts and other food you serve
  • Map of area and nearby attractions
  • Videos made about your B&B or ones that you have had filmed to promote your bed and breakfast
  • Amenities: private hot tub, fireplace, library, spa, garden, etc.
  • Current promotions: such as special packages and upcoming events like weddings
  • Online guest reviews: share positive guest testimonials
  • Your blog

Anything that you think will enhance your reputation as providing exceptional hospitality, this is your opportunity make it accessible for the press to report on it.  Even curious potential guests will be impressed by it when they see it.

If you do not mind members of the press coming to your bed and breakfast to interview you and/or make a video, then be sure to state that on-site tours can be arranged.  There is nothing better than free publicity!

Posted in Amenities, Associations and Ratings, Blog and Social Media, Food, Promotion

Bed and Breakfast Gazebos

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Landscaping around gazebo Stock ImagesGazebo On The Pond Royalty Free Stock ImagesSummer Gazebo Royalty Free Stock Photography

As bed and breakfast owners, you know it is the little things that make a big difference.  Did you know that just by adding a gazebo to your property, you are making it more appealing to potential guests?

A gazebo is sometimes octagonal or tent shaped and can be free standing or attached to a garden wall.  It is typically built with wood and has standard roofing materials.  It can be open on all sides or have netting to keep out bugs.

Gazebos have a variety of styles and serve a variety of purposes:

  • A quiet place to enjoy the view outdoors
  • Provides shade
  • Shelter from rain
  • Ornamental feature in landscaping lawns
  • In weddings, it is used for exchanging vows and cutting the cake

If you have a gazebo, do you feature it by landscaping around it and by using it for outdoor events?  If you do not have a gazebo, is there room for one and do you know your reasons for adding one?

You don’t have to be a professional builder in order to build one yourself. They can also be purchased from home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot.  It would be great to feature pictures of your gazebo on your website. You can also talk about its construction in a new blog post.

 

Posted in Amenities, Decorating, Gardening and Lawns

Bed and Breakfast Gardens

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Decorative Bicycle In Garden Stock ImagesReflection of a waterlily Stock PhotoBirds Royalty Free Stock Photography

Bed and breakfasts have been very creative with the way they design and develop their gardens.  There are so many terrific ideas to make it a breathtaking, peaceful, and romantic place for your guests.  Your garden may have or can include:

  • benches
  • bird baths
  • bicycle or boot used as a planter
  • conifers
  • curving paths
  • fish ponds
  • hosta plants
  • magnolia bushes
  • ornamental grasses
  • perennials
  • pines
  • planters
  • pottery
  • reflecting pond
  • rock garden
  • roses
  • shrubs
  • terraced wall garden
  • tulips
  • waterfall
  • water lilies
  • woods

Your garden will attract the beauty of gorgeous butterflies and hopping bunnies as well as the pleasant chirping of birds and sound of babbling brooks.  You can make it informative by placing little signs throughout to label what you planted.  You can make it as personal as you want by naming your garden and inscribing its benches.  If it is a historical bed and breakfast, you can use the names of former residents.

There is no limit to the joyous possibilities of your ever changing and growing garden.   By planting things that bloom at different times in the year, it can look great all year round.

Posted in Amenities, Blog and Social Media, Gardening and Lawns, Guests

Bed and Breakfast Spas

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Your guests like to receive special treatment.  Your bed and breakfast may have a spa right on the premises to deliver just that.  An easy alternative is to schedule massage therapists to visit your guests’ rooms at your bed and breakfast.

Reasons for Spa Services:

  • Beauty treatments
  • Cleansing
  • Detoxification
  • Exfoliation
  • Improve complexion, circulation, and flexibility
  • Relaxation
  • Relieve aches, pains, and tension
  • Youthful appearance

Services:

  • Aromatherapy: relaxing with enjoyable aromas
  • Facials: including masks, exfoliating scrubs, acne treatments, etc.
  • Hair removal: waxing any unwanted hair
  • Manicure: finger nails and hands given royal treatment 
  • Massage: such as deep tissue, Swedish, prenatal, etc.
  • Pedicure: toe nails and feet given ultimate attention
  • Sauna: hot and steamy relaxation
  • Stones: strategically placed stones–hot to relax or cold to heal

Packages include a combination of services done on the same day.  Some B&B’s let their guests decide for half day or whole day treatments.  They can be pampered all day long!  Couples love couples massages.  All guests will love receiving care from the outside in!

 

 

Posted in Activities, Amenities, Guests, Promotion

Bed and Breakfast Tea Rooms

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Scones Stock PhotoTea time Royalty Free Stock PhotographyFresh Whole Chicken Salad Sandwich and Full Bowl of Tomato Soup Royalty Free Stock Photos

Several bed and breakfasts in America have tea rooms.  Their tea room can be open to the public or limited to their own bed and breakfast guests.  Tea rooms are great for small gatherings and often they serve brunch and lunch.  Each tea room has their own hours or they serve “by reservation only.”

Menu options can include:

  • Croissants
  • Quiche
  • Salads
  • Sandwiches
  • Scones
  • Soups
  • Sweets (like cookies and cakes)
  • Tea (bottomless usually costs extra)

Hours:

  • Regular year round hours
  • Reservation only
  • Seasonal hours
  • Sunday brunch

Events:

  • Baby shower
  • Birthday party
  • Bridal shower
  • Club meeting
  • Girls’ get together
  • Group meeting
  • Private parties

Some sell items such as:

  • Antiques
  • Jewelry
  • Tea
  • Tea cups
  • Tea pots

Marketing opportunities:

  • Blog: great fresh content for your website
  • E-mail marketing: send out information to those on your e-mail list
  • Photos of your bed and breakfast, tea room, food, and guests (with their permission)
  • Social media: Facebook fan page, Pinterest pins, Twitter updates, etc.
  • Website: you can have one of your main headings labeled “Tea Room”

When thinking of ways to increase your business, if you do not already have a tea room, this could be a great idea. For those who do have tea rooms, are you promoting them online? Kristi Dement of Bed and Breakfast Blogging is happy to help you with this.

Posted in Activities, Amenities, Food, Kristi, Promotion

B&B Guests: Relaxation #1 Priority

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Relaxation Royalty Free Stock PhotoRelaxed couple reading books on the couch smiling at camera Royalty Free Stock PhotoCrocheting Royalty Free Stock Photos

Some guests will retreat to your bed and breakfast simply because they want a calm scenic place to relax and do not have anything to do. They may just sit and watch the lovely ocean or mountain views your B&B may have.

Their idea of activity are quiet things such as reading, picnicking, and crocheting.  You can assure them they will have the peace and tranquility they are seeking when they become your guests.  If you offer an in-room massage or house a home library, be sure to mention that in your phone conversation and feature that on your website.

Posted in Activities, Amenities, Decorating, Promotion

All in the Details

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Do you ever notice that it is the little things that make a big difference?  For example, when I stay at a bed and breakfast and they include free use of their washer and dryer (and even supply the detergent and dryer sheets) that is an added bonus to me.

Other little details can include:

  • Friendly phone conversation
  • A professional hand carved sign to see as you approach
  • A warm greeting when you come in
  • A welcome note when you enter your room
  • Specific promotional package for your special occasion
  • Fresh flowers in your room
  • A guest book to write comments in
  • A guidebook to the local area and its attractions
  • A wide selection of books to read
  • Board games to play
  • Chilled wine bottle and wine glasses near the private hot tub
  • Filled basket of various snacks to choose from

The list of details can also be custom tailored to your bed and breakfast.  Perhaps you offer weddings or workshops.  The point is to get creative so that guests appreciate the little details you put into making their stay a happy and memorable experience they will fondly recall.  

 

 

Posted in Amenities, Decorating, Guests, Promotion

Girlfriend Getaways

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Did you know that your bed and breakfast could be the perfect getaway for girlfriends? Whether they need to get away from the stresses of family life or their job or they simply want to dedicate a weekend to hang with the girls, this is a perfect package option you can offer. Packages personalize the experience of your inn’s guests.

Your package could include:

  • A wine and cheese tasting
  • Tickets to a local performance or attraction
  • T-shirts and coffee mugs with the name of your B&B
  • Personal massages and other spa services
  • Lunch in a picnic basket
  • A floral arrangement
  • Gourmet chocolates
  • Private hot tub in their room
  • Cookies and milk brought to their room

After together time with friends, they will come home refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. Be sure to follow up with them and ask them to write down or tell you what they liked about their experience.  If they give a good testimonial, you can ask for permission to add that to your website, blog, and marketing materials.  Remember, like the song says, “Girls just want to have fun”!

Posted in Activities, Amenities, Guests, Promotion
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