The Innkeeping Blog

Well, there is a good bit on my mind these days, as you can tell from the long title of my column this month.  I’m busy with last-minute preparations for the Innkeeping Show in Austin, which starts in a few days (although you will get this while we’re all in Austin learning and laughing together).  This column will focus on my two cents about the big purchase in our industry that was announced recently, as well as some other exciting news.  Be sure to click through and read this month’s column!

Limited-time TripAdvisor Promo with PAII

We’ve worked out an arrangement with TripAdvisor, so that all innkeepers in the B&B industry can continue to receive the 50% off deal for their new Business Listings Program through April 8^th .  You must use discount code TRIPDISC to get the deal.  If you haven’t investigated their new Business Listings program, I encourage you to check it out.  Basically, for a fee you can now add your email address, phone number and hyperlink to your inn’s web site on your TripAdvisor property page.  This is a new program for the entire lodging industry, and they’ve had several thousand properties already sign up.  I think innkeepers should sign up for three reasons:  1) you’ve poured a lot of time and effort into your own web site, and by having a direct link, you stand a better chance of getting TripAdvisor guests over to your site, 2) through your web traffic analytics program, you now have the ability to directly track the traffic coming to your web site from TripAdvisor…many innkeepers are now reporting this web link as one of their top sources of traffic, and 3) the 50% off price is low enough to give this a shot for at least the first year.  Properties with fewer than 11 rooms would normally pay $600 and properties with 11-25 rooms would pay $1,000 for this link – innkeepers can pay $300 and $500 respectively with this coupon code.  Go to www.tripadvisor.com/BusinessListings to sign up!

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Click here to read the story, which is mostly about a new web site offering “professional” reviews.

I chatted with author, Laura Bly, for an hour and a half the other night. 

What do you think about a review site made up of reviews solely from the web site’s employees who visit the properties?  Even though it doesn’t seem as though they’re interested in covering B&Bs, do you think consumers would see these kinds of reviews as more valuable than peer travelers?

PAII staff members, Michele McVay (Director of Education and Events) and Ingrid Thorson (Marketing and Communications Manager), recently spent a day with Kathryn White of the Beechmont Inn in Hanover, PA. The purpose of their trip was to get a sneak peek into the life of an innkeeper. I asked Michele to chronicle the day for our blog readers. The photo to the right is of Ingrid, Kathryn and Michele. – Jay Karen, PAII President & CEO

Michele wrote…

The trip to Hanover, PA near Gettysburg started out with much frustration, two lanes shut down at the Ben Franklin Bridge, two mile back up, and running late already from dropping my screaming one year old off at daycare. I finally make my way to Ingrid’s on the north side of Philly and after picking up my second much needed cup of coffee from Dunkin Donuts we are finally off. It just takes minutes on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to be removed from the sounds, smells and traffic of the city. I take a deep breath and exhale, glad to just sit back and let Ingrid drive. We stop along the way to pick up a bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse, we couldn’t possibly arrive without a gift and we may all need a drink after our host lets us in her kitchen.

The drive to Hanover went quickly, with Ingrid and I laughing and sharing stories and nervously sharing our trepidation about what Kathryn will think of our cooking skills or rather lack thereof. Kathryn, of course, is Kathryn White, long time PAII member and innkeeper extraordinaire of the charming and impressive 1830’s, 5,000 square foot federal, 7-room Beechmont Inn. We arrived safely to be greeted by the very hospitable Kathryn and were put to work almost immediately.

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That’s not a typo. It’s just a long acronym. It stands for “what have you done for me lately?” I suppose we’re not always best at tooting our own horn, but we have some fantastic things going on I want to share with everyone – a few things we’ve already announced and others that will be news to members. As I travel to state association meetings throughout the country, I’m often asked by non-members (including many former members) about what PAII is like today and what we are doing. Similarly, when we talk to busy members about renewing their membership, we find many have been too busy to really pay attention to what’s happening. You pay dues to PAII – so you should know what’s happening. Here’s a short list of what’s happening now. There’s a lot more in the on-deck circle, so stay tuned for more!

Prescription Drug Program
Soon PAII members will be receiving in the mail a letter and two cards that give you access to discount prices on prescription drugs at nearly all major pharmacies. We know being self-employed doesn’t always afford you the best health coverage, including many times weak or no pharmacy coverage. With this card, you and your family can enjoy attractive savings. If you don’t want to wait for the direct mail piece, simply go to http://www.sunrxdiscount.com/paii to print your own card now. At this web site you can go ahead and check the prices you’ll pay for your prescriptions – both over-the-counter and mail order. This is not an insurance program, but rather a nationwide discount program. If you have good prescription coverage, this program might not benefit you – but do yourself a favor and check it out! I’ve been using the card myself, and have enjoyed the savings.

IQ Circulation

Beginning this January, Innkeeping Quarterly magazine will be circulated to all innkeepers throughout the United States, not just PAII members. To date we’ve been sending this leading trade publication to members every quarter, as well as a different group of 3,000 non-member innkeepers. The advertisers want the greater reach, and we believe the entire industry should be reading the timely content in this publication. We’re looking for a few good writers! If you have significant writing experience and want to contribute to the industry’s only trade magazine, please email Ingrid Thorson at ingrid@paii.org

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