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WBBG Advocating for Clallam County BnBs
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President's Message

 
Happy New Year! I’m writing this message from my basement office as we are living downstairs while we have the kitchen, family room, and bathroom remodeled on the main floor. It’s been a sweet time of resting and re-focusing and I’m excited for what’s in store for WBBG.

The WBBG Board met for a 2-day winter retreat in December at Carson Ridge Luxury Cabins down at the beautiful snowy Columbia Gorge. A focus of the meeting was improving member recruitment and retention and increasing bookings and benefits for WBBG member inns. As usual, the board also found a little time to have fun and enjoyed a trip to stunning, snowy Multnomah Falls and meeting with some local innkeepers. And good news- WBBG gained a new board member: Connie King of Rivermist Lodge in Stevenson. Connie will be representing the Volcano Region member inns.

Co-VP’s of Membership Joanne Lechner (Eagles Nest Inn) and Linda Dike (The Guest House) presented a plan for reaching out to current, past, and potential new members via phone and email, at WBBG spring regional meetings and some local association meetings to promote the new WBBG-Washington Hospitality Association discounted corporate membership and benefits.  Joanne will be working more closely with associate and aspiring members and Linda with the innkeeper members. Linda mailed out the WBBG membership certificates during the first week of January so please contact her at vpmembership@wbbg.com if you have not received yours.

New VP of Marketing Alan Fielding (Camano Heights Mansion) is anxious to get you more business! He challenged the board to do whatever it takes to drive more business your way. Alan presented a marketing plan which will include working with the marketing committee, QA Advisor Jill Britt and Technology Advisor/Website Chair Bob Spencer to finish the new city pages and continue working hard to dramatically improve traffic to the WBBG website over the next 6 months.  He also plans to work with the committee on creating a travel newsletter, creating a timeless rack card, continuing Facebook posts, and creating a new contest to attract new guests. He will also be asking innkeeper members for photos to use for WBBG marketing so stay tuned.

The WBBG Board will be meeting next on March 13 in Coupeville at the Blue Goose Inn, and again on October 2 in La Conner at Katy’s Inn. Members are always welcome and meeting minutes are posted in Members Only at WBBG.com.

Best,
Julie


 

WBBG Advocating in Clallum County

WBBG Board members and local innkeepers testified at Olympic Peninsula’s Clallam County Planning Commission on December 21 as the commissioners considered proposals that will restrict B&Bs in the rural parts of the county. WBBG was able to make a difference in the outcome of the proposed changes.
 
From board member Janet Abbott (George Washington Inn, Port Angeles), “The Planning Commissioners seemed very receptive to our comments, and I was pleased with the direction of the meeting overall…The challenge is clearly differentiating between our B&Bs that are run as businesses, meet all code, hold all necessary licenses and are thoroughly inspected vs other so-called B&Bs that are operating under the radar… In an effort to manage all of the other properties (including vacation rentals), the county has the potential of over-regulating an already regulated business and discouraging or preventing future B&Bs. Thank you to Julie, Bob, Linda and Joanne for your support and for taking the time out of busy schedules, especially during the week before Christmas, to be here on our behalf.”

The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for January 18 in Port Angeles and we are expecting some push back against bed and breakfasts. WBBG will be there to support local innkeepers.

Washington Hospitality Corporate Membership - Update

WBBG had more good news this month. 19 members signed up so far for the WBBG-Washington Hospitality Association discounted corporate membership along with 3 more current members for a total of 22 (WBBG needed at least 15 participants).

This is a huge win for participating members as they will be able to enjoy legal and business resources and some significant savings on credit card processing, health care, and office supplies and printing.  WBBG will also benefit from more advocacy and a seat for WBBG on the Washington Hospitality Association Board.  There will be another opportunity for members to join during spring quarter beginning April 1.

Save the Date

Washington Tourism Alliance Tourism Summit
(advocate for state tourism funding)
January 24 in Olympia (Free)
___________________________________________________________________________________

AIHP Inspire Summit
January 29-Feb 1, Long Beach CA 
___________________________________________________________________________________

Washington Hospitality Association Hill Climb and Taste Our Best Government Affairs Advocacy Event  
February 6 in Olympia (Free)
___________________________________________________________________________________

Oregon Innkeepers Conference
Ashland, Or March 6-7
WBBG Members get Oregon Member rates
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WBBG Board Meeting
Blue Goose Inn, Coupeville WA (Free),
rsvp at president@wbbg.com
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PAII Innkeeping Show 
St. Charles MO March 26-29

Member News

Just Inn Time, Our Newest Associate Member
 
Welcome Nicole Ostrowski, Just Inn Time Traveling Innsitting.  
I will let Nicole introduce herself!


My name is Nicole Ostrowski and welcome! 
I grew up in Port Angeles, Washington, and have been lucky enough to spend the last 25 years travelling the world and staying in a myriad of Bed and Breakfasts and Inns, and had the amazing opportunity to note the differences and register the similarities in all of them.
I have worked as a restaurant manager and an office manager and after gaining invaluable experience in the innkeeping business in 2016 working at one of the premier Bed and Breakfasts in the country, the Sleeping Bulldog Inn (in Seattle) I am now here for YOU as well.
Please consider me for your innsitting needs while you are away.  I am willing to travel anywhere to provide respite for you as you get away from the 24/7 work that entails being an Innkeeper/Bed and Breakfast owner.  
Customer service is my top priority and with JUST INN TIME Traveling Innkeepingg Services, you can rest assured while you relax!!

Sincerely,
Nicole Ostrowski


Learn more about her here and contact her next time you need someone to fill in.         

Member Highlight : Booking.com

As associate members of the Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild, we’re excited to announce that we will be contributors to your monthly newsletter. As we enter the “shoulder season” we felt it necessary to discuss ways in which we can assist combating this.

With over 7 billion people on the planet, just because the weather changes does not mean that travel ceases in Washington. For example, in 2015 during the winter months we have seen as much as 56% growth in traveler booked bookings throughout Washington. Along with your local visitor’s bureau, we can take a team approach to capitalize on the off season traveler population across the globe. Shoulder season is a time to all work collaboratively, create the billboard effect by growing your online visibility, and give your business a chance to capture the international, off season traveler.

We attended the Olympic Peninsula Visitor’s Bureau Tourism Summit in Port Townsend in October and were featured as presenters on “Slow Season on the Olympic Peninsula: Working Together to Create Demand” and I’m more than happy to discuss this with you further. I recognize that each specific region across the state has its own unique attractions and statistics, and I’m looking forward to discussing how these figures can increase business.

I am here as a resource, whether our businesses are working together or not, and my contact details are listed below – give me a call, let’s talk!

Ryan Kolnick
Booking.com
415-260-4743

Support WBBG Associate Members

Indow
Window inserts 
Kristen Damschen
503-284-2260
comfort@indowwindows.com
http://www.indowwindows.com
 
Bed Voyage
Eco-luxury bamboo bedding
Sharon Stuart and Val Thorkildsen
sharon@bedvoyage.com
425-949-8216
 
InnsitterInc
Interim Innkeeping/InnSitting
Kimberly Kelly
kimberlykkelly@gmail.com
651-428-5230
http://pinksiren.blogspot.com
 
English Insurance Group
Bed and Breakfast Insurance
Kristin English
kristie@englishinsurancegroup.com
http://englishinsurancegroup.com
 
Heartwarming Treasures
Unique Angles 
BnB Photography
Marcus Berg
uniqueangles@gmail.com
Sunset Hill Stoneware
Handcrafted Custom Stoneware
Pat Bowser
pat@shstoneware.com
http://www.shstoneware.com
 
Think Reservations
Reservation Systems
Richard Aday
richard.aday@thinkreservations.com
http://thinkreservations.com
 
TRC Insurance
Bed and Breakfast Insurance
Scott Roberts
scott@trcisu.com
http://www.trcisu.com
Natural Felt/Cotton Cloud
Natural Beds and Bedding
Alie Ward
971-207-1649 or 503-208-2922
wardalie@gmail.com or sales@naturalfelt.com
www.naturalfelt.comwww.cottoncloudfutons.com
45th Street Hospitality
Quality Mattress, Bedding and Furniture
Terry Esch
970-596-0008
terry@45thstreethospitality.com
https://www.45thstreethospitality.com
Inn Partners
Consulting, Inn Valuation and Inn Transfer
Tim Piper
802-257-2360
timpiper@innpartners.com
http://www.innpartners.com
Serta Mattress Company
Mattresses at wholesale prices
Ed Baran
503-349-5056
Coral's Seamless Innkeeping
Interim Innkeeping Services
Coral Simdorn
503-781-1389
coral@seamlessinnkeeping.com
http://coralsseamlessinnkeeping.com
Advanced Vapor Technology
Portable Steam Cleaning Appliances
Randy Zielsdorf
800-997-6584
randy@advap.com
http://www.advap.com
Innkeeper's Advantage
Hospitality Software and e-Services
742-933-3330
sales@innkeepersadvantage.com
http://innkeepersadvantage.com
 
Odysys
Web development/booking engine
541-639-3175
kent.schnepp@odysys.com
http://odysys.com
Booking.com
Online accommodations booking website
Ryan Kolnick
ryan.kolnick@booking.com
www.booking.com
Just INN Time Traveling Innsitting
Interim Innkeeping Services
Nicole Ostrowski
415-987-5050
nicoleostrowskiseattle@gmail.com
http://www.justinntime.com
Comphy Co.
Quality Bed linens
shantell@comphy.com
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 president@wbbg.com.
Copyright © 2017 Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild, All rights reserved.


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