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In This Issue

  • Presidents Letter
  • Regional Meetings
  • Red Chair Update
  • WBBG Mobile Site LIVE
  • Annual Meeting Update
  • Facebook Forum
  • Associate Members

Information for Our Members

Download presentations from the 2014 Meeting from our website. Visit the Members Only section and choose Member Resources.

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Letter from the President

President's Message

The Spring board meeting was held at the Farmhouse B&B on Whidbey at the end of March. The big news was the newly responsive WBBG.com was up and working. Thanks to Dave Petro (Ravenscroft Inn) for overseeing the overhaul. More from Dave below.

There has been more activity on the Government Relations front, but it has not yielded results as yet. We continue in the pursuit of a more rational Fire Sprinkler code from the SBCC, but this saga will not be done for months yet. Thanks to Josh Goldfinger (Plum Lodge) for his tireless efforts on our behalf.

We spent a significant discussion on membership criteria – specifically on three issues. First, we consulted the original criterion relative to the innkeeper living on-site or in close proximity to the inn. With better communications means, how far –exactly – is close proximity. The board determined that the key was accessibility in an emergent situation. WBBG will continue to apply a rule of thumb that each member inn have a good plan for how guests are to contact the innkeeper in the event of emergency, regardless of how close the innkeeper is to the inn.

The board next took up the question of inspections. We all feel that inspection is a key component of WBBG membership. If, however, an inn has been recently inspected by Select Registry or B&B.com’s Diamond Collection inspection team, then perhaps the urgency of our Quality Assurance inspection is less acute. We allow for the frequency of inspections to be 3 years if an inn has experienced consistent high ratings in our inspections. Perhaps we could accept the authority of certain other inspections. We will not stop inspecting. However, if Jill or another QA inspector is not available an inspection could be postponed if there are recent inspections by other recognized groups. In no case shall the requirement for inspection be waived.

Finally, our criteria state that each inn must offer breakfast as a part of the overnight stay. All agreed that it is acceptable to offer a discount if the guest chooses to forgo breakfast. We also agreed that a voucher to a nearby restaurant provided at no additional cost was a way of offering breakfast.
Our “Inspected and Approved” language is important and we do not want to diminish that. Guests at our member inns are looking for an authentic experience, and it is important to our brand that they receive it.



Bob Spencer
President, WBBG

Three More Regional Meetings This Month

There is still time to attend one of our Regional Meetings.   Join your fellow innkeepers for an afternoon of education, networking, and lunch. Hear a successful innkeeper share some of his tools and techniques for increasing revenue; get an update on your state B&B association; and spend time comparing notes with colleagues. 

Feel free to bring a guest – perhaps an innkeeper who has not yet taken advantage of WBBG membership. Most meetings are free for members and available for a small fee for non-members.

Questions? Contact the workshop organizer Deanne Fielding at fieldingmama@yahoo.com,
or Julie McAferty,vpmembership@wbbg.com.You may also contact the hosting inn directly.

 

WBBG Spring Meeting Schedule


When:  April 20, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Where:  Sea Cliff Gardens Bed and Breakfast, Port Angeles
Topic:  "Marketing to Generation X-The Future of the Bed and Breakfast Industry"
Speaker:  Dave Petro, Ravenscroft Inn, Port Townsend
Register:  https://portangelesworkshopwbbg.eventbrite.com


When:  April 21, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Where:  Inn at Mallard Cove, Olympia
Topic:  "Leveraging Your Strengths in the Shared Economy"
Speaker:  Bob Spencer, Meritage Meadows Inn and Cinq Cellars, Redmond
Register: https://olympiaworkshopwbbg.eventbrite.com


When:  April 28, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Where:  Inn at the Lake, Newport
Topic:  "Your Ticket to Success:  Four Pillars to Putting Heads in Beds"
Speaker:  Alan Fielding, Cameo Heights Mansion, Touchet
Register: https://newportworkshopwbbg.eventbrite.com 


About the Meetings...


"Leveraging Your Strengths in the Share Economy"
Like it or not, the share economy is real and it’s growing. And it’s way bigger than just AirBnB. It encompasses cars, dining, tools, pet care…you name it. Younger consumers – the ones innkeepers need to stay in business down the road – are driving it, but middle-aged consumers are getting on board too. Learn what exactly the share economy is, its implications for innkeepers, and how to leverage your strengths to participate successfully.

The featured speaker will be Bob Spencer. He and his wife Karen have owned and operated Meritage Meadows Inn in Redmond for the past five years. Bob also operates Cinq Cellars Winery on the same property. Prior to innkeeping, Bob was a serial entrepreneur, starting several companies – a few of which, he says, were successful. Bob also has served as the president of the WBBG for the past three and a half years and he hasn’t been impeached – yet. For this workshop, Bob will be channeling David Britt, the original author of the presentation.


"Marketing to Generation X - The Future of the Bed and Breakfast Industry"
Dave Petro will be the featured speaker. Dave recently said goodbye to a career in high technology to pursue his artistic passions by opening the Ravenscroft Inn in Port Townsend in 2013. The Inn quickly garnered acclaim for daring to be different in a Victorian town. Ravenscroft Inn incorporates design and hospitality cues influenced by first-class accommodations around the world, and is especially popular with Gen-X guests. Let Dave show you how he took his first innkeeping adventure to #1 on Trip Adviser in just seven weeks. Leave with tips on how to market to the new generation of bed and breakfast guests and how to get your inn on their “favorites” list.

"Your Ticket to Success: Four Pillars to Putting Heads in Beds" This presentation will focus on these four topics:
• Yield management through data tracking
• Social media as serious business
• The good news about guest reviews
• Impulse marketing

The presenter is Alan Fielding, innkeeper at the award-winning Cameo Heights Mansion. In 2005 Alan and his wife Deanne began converting a beautiful, if unfinished, family residence into a bed and breakfast. Though they had never stayed in a B&B, Deanne’s research led them to conceptualize a luxury destination quite remote from any large population center. Cameo Heights Mansion opened in October 2007 with one room while construction continued throughout the rest of the mansion. Since then, occupancy has grown from 34% to 71% and revenue increases an average 22% per year. Cameo Heights received national and international recognition as one of a Top Ten Romantic Places in the World award from Bedandbreakfast.com. Alan and Deanne have learned a lot from
their experiences and Alan will share some of the ideas that they feel drive their success.

 

Still Time to Host the Red Chair 

The Red Chair is getting ever closer to its arrival in WA State in August.  It is seen here snowshoeing at Crater Lake in Oregon.

This week we will get the application forms mailed to individual inns who have robust social media presence. The current list of inns is found below. We will of course continue to add inns as time allows. This is a good time to ramp up your social media presence and create good habits that you can carry through the summer.  Social media is today’s word of mouth so you need a voice in the conversation. We know there are more member inns out there that would be great additions to the Red Chair Travels in WA.  We would love to hear from you.

Check out the chairs adventures in Oregon.  Start thinking about the great photo opportunities to be found in outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, sailing, climbing, kayaking, rafting and much more. WA has all this and more to showcase to potential visitors.  What about posing the Red Chair in scenic alfresco dining in neighborhood cafes or against pastoral sunsets in wine country.  Let your creativity be your guide.  Think about who else in your community you can partner with to help spread the word and start making those connections now.  Let me know if you have any questions.


Dave Petro - vpmarketing@wbbg.com
 
Red Chair Hosting Inns as of 4/15/2015 – pending completed applications
 
The Anchorage Inn           Harrison House Suites
The Guest House B&B       Ravenscroft Inn
The Inn at Mallard Cove    9 Cranes Inn
The Swantown Inn           The Shelburne Inn
Three Tree Point B&B        Cameo Heights Mansion   
Meritage Meadows B&B     Boreas Inn
Dungeness Barn House     Domaine Madeleine
Miller Tree Inn                  Inn at Blackberry Creek
Angel Song Retreat B&B


Read about the Red Chair on Facebook.  "Like" them to see updates on the Red Chair Travels!

Our Mobile Website is LIVE

Our mobile website was rolled out at the end of March. The responsive site looks beautiful and performs well on the desktop, smart phones and tablets.  Google will be pleased! Google will not lower our ranking in mobile search results like it will for non-mobile-friendly sites at the end of April.
The desktop browser version of the site is unchanged.  Magic happens when the site is viewed on a tablet or smart phone.  As the display size shrinks, the site begins to move to a more vertical layout and collapses menus to touchable “hamburger” icons.   We have kept important features like featured inns front and center.  You can easily scroll to additional page elements found further down the page.  There is no need for pinching and stretching the display, or scrolling to the right, to view and interact with on-screen controls.   All screen elements like text boxes and check boxes have been made slightly larger, or moved slightly apart, for better touch-ability. The map based interface is now finger friendly as well.
Check us out on your device today!  We expect that there will be some issues to resolve in these early days.  Please let me know of any issues you discover.  You can contact me via Email me at vpmarketing@wbbg.com.
The tablet display on the left and the smart phone display on the right in the images below.

It's Your Meeting. Make it Work for You
WBBG Annual Meeting November 2-3

Take advantage this fall of a huge benefit to your WBBG membership: the annual meeting and conference. It’s here where you get to have a say in the business of the association, and to acquire first-hand knowledge of issues and information relevant to the business of innkeeping. And WBBG members enjoy a $50 discount off of the regular registration rate.
 
The planning committee is hard at work designing a conference that meets your needs. So what are your needs? Topics you’d like to hear about? Speakers you’d like to hear from? We've got some ideas, but want to hear from you too! We’re aiming for a “roll up your sleeves” kind of event, providing education that lets you put your new found knowledge and ideas to work immediately – maybe even at the conference itself. 
 
As useful to your business as this event intends to be, however, all work and no play may not entice you to leave your inn for a few days. How about enjoying Walla Walla and the surrounding wine region of our state?  The Marcus Whitman Hotel has offered a great deal on room rates: $109 per night plus tax for a king room; $119 for a double queen; $139 for an executive tower king. Join fellow WBBG members to learn and have fun this November. 
 
Share your topic/speaker ideas by emailing

Give yourself a break and spend a few days in Washington wine country. Whether you imbibe or not, and whether you live near or far, why not say goodbye to a busy summer season in style at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, sharing ideas and stories with colleagues from around the state? We've got a great deal on room rates: $109 per night plus tax for a king room; $119 for a double queen; $139 for an executive
tower king.

The planning committee is finalizing the program now; stay tuned for more details right here each month, and continue to check out WBBG.com

Share your topic/speaker ideas by emailing vpmembership@wbbg.com. Keep abreast of conference updates here.

WBBG Facebook Forum

Visit the WBBG Member Forum, our private group on Facebook. The Member Forum is a great place to ask questions and get support from other members.  If you want to be a participate and did not receive your invitation, please contact Jill Britt at qa@wbbg.com, or Julie McAferty at vpmembership@wbbg.com.

Support our Associate Members

English Insurance Group
Bed and Breakfast Insurance
Kristin English
kristie@englishinsurancegroup.com
http://englishinsurancegroup.com
Heartwarming Treasurers
Specially designed gift baskets
Sue Wolfe
heartwarmingtreasurers@yahoo.com
http://www.heartwarmingtreasurers.com
Comphy Co.
Quality Bed linens
shantell@comphy.com
TRC Insurance
Bed and Breakfast Insurance
Scott Roberts
scott@trcisu.com
http://www.trcisu.com
Think Reservations
Reservation Systems
Richard Aday
richard.aday@thinkreservations.com
http://thinkreservations.com
Bed Voyage
Eco-luxury bamboo bedding
Sharon Stuart and Val Thorkildsen
sharon@bedvoyage.com
425-949-8216
Serta Mattress Company
Mattresses at wholesale prices
Ed Baran
ebaran@sertanational.com

 
Greenwich Bay Trading Company
Specialty soaps for inns and bnbs
Denise Huntley
customerservice@gbsoaps.com
http://www.gbsoaps.com

 
Heart N Soul Innsitting
Interim Innkeeping
gizlar3@w-link.net

 
Copyright © 2015 Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild, All rights reserved.


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