|
|
|
|
In the May InnStep
Presidents Message
Regional Meetings
King 5 Northwest Best Escapes Winners
Welcome Back to Two Members
Is there Life After Innkeeping?
WBBG Annual Meeting Update
New WBBG 2013-2014 Lodging Map
Membership Forum on Facebook
Our Associate Members
|
|
|
President's Message
 What an amazing spring in Washington. The flowers are exceeding expectations everywhere in our gardens… now they’re going to be looking for raises!
It has been a busy time for your board as well. Thanks to Julie McAferty’s hard work, we have completed lots of meetings all around the state and met lots of members and potential members in our travels. Julie has great news on the meetings and on new members in her article in this issue.
We are moving forward on revising the website. This is a complicated process, and fortunately, we have a good team to guide us forward. Penny Whisler, Joanne Lechner and Adele Loesser have agreed to join me in developing the new site. While many of you will recognize Penny and Joanne’s names, Adele is a new aspiring innkeeper with extensive background in web development.
The board agreed unanimously last Wednesday to work with Impactiv (also known as Innkeepers Advantage) in the development of the new website for WBBG. If you want to see an example of their site, look at http://www.painns.com and check out the features. They are working with us to build in more features to enhance search engine optimization and make our customers’ experience as simple, effective and sticky as possible. This work will be done within the overall budget we discussed at the last annual meeting and without dangerously reducing the reserves of the guild.
This effort will be ongoing throughout the summer and we anticipate the site will be live on October 1. Members will have a period of time late in the summer to adjust their content on the new site, but we will move over all the content from the existing site. It would be best for all of us if we can load new content to the individual inns, so the bots can find lots of new content as the site goes live. That can help to improve traffic by itself.
|
|
Regional Meetings
The spring regional meetings were a great success with over 100 innkeepers attending the 8 meetings held around the state. We all learned something new to help our businesses, and enjoyed eating and sharing stories together.
 We especially want to thank our hosts & organizers at the Fairgate Inn, Selah Inn, Orchard Inn, Inn at Blackberry Creek, Enchanted River Inn, and Harrison House Suites, as well as Red Caboose Getaway and the Wild Iris Inn for giving us a place to meet and organizing the food. Also, thanks to Jill and David Britt, Olaf Protze, Nathan Allan, and Bob Spencer for speaking at the various meetings.  These events would not have been possible without the efforts of all of you!
We will be doing a couple more regional meetings in October. If you would like to host a meeting, please contact Julie McAferty at vpmembership@wbbg.com.
|
|
King 5 Best Northwest Escapes
Congratulations to four WBBG members who made it to the Top 10 of King 5's Best of the Northwest!
This yearly competition promoted through Evening Magazine offers the opportunity for the traveling public to vote for their "favorite" in a number of categories.
Two of our members landed in the coveted Top 5:
Trumpeter Inn Bed and Breakfast, Friday Harbor, 3rd Place
Boreas Bed and Breakfast, Long Beach, 4th Place
Two of our members made it into the Top 10:
Arlington's River Rock Inn, Arlington, 7th Place
The Wild Iris Inn, LaConner, 9th Place
Trumpeter Inn Bed and Breakfast
Boreas Bed and Breakfast Inn
|
|
|
Welcome Back!
We are glad to welcome two members back to WBBG.
Welcome to Penny Maxwell Bingham from The Maxwell House in Walla, Walla and Shaun Andres, Trumpeter Inn, Friday Harbor. Both returned as members of the WBBG this month and we are glad to have them back!
Trumpeter Inn Maxwell House
|
|
|
Is There Life after Innkeeping?
Two of our members think so!
|
|
|
|
Georgeanne and Denny Nichols of Bosch Garten, Leavenworth have decided to close and pursue other interests. Georgeanne, a long time member of the guild served on the board for a number of years. Her hard work and dedication to innkeeping helped to shape the success of the WBBG in the North Cascades region. As an innkeeper and friend, she will be missed.
|
|
|
|
Judith Burbrink, owner of Villa Heidelberg, Seattle has decided to sell her charming West Seattle BnB and retire. A long time member of the guild as well as the Seattle Bed and Breakfast Association, Judith has been a warm, welcoming innkeeper to so many guests over the years. After the sale of her inn, Judith plans to follow her passion for travel. We wish her safe and happy travels!
|
|
|
WBBG Annual Meeting Update
 Save the Date for the WBBG Annual Meeting and Conference November 4 and 5 at the Future of Flight Museum and Hilton Garden Inn in Mukilteo/Everett.
We are looking forward to an expanded trade show this year, as well as some excellent speakers. All attendees will be able to attend a complimentary Boeing Everett Factory Tour, home of the 747 and 787 jets. Pricing is $159 for members, and $199 for non-members and includes all workshops and materials, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, and snacks and beverages.
|
|
New WBBG 2013-2014 Lodging Maps
The lodging maps have been delivered to visitor's centers, tourist attractions and ferry stops across Washington, Oregon, BC and even a few to friends in Alaska! Member inns should be receiving their new maps through the end of May. Please replace any old lodging maps with the new 2013-2014 Edition. If you need more, or have questions please contact us at directory@wbbg.com
|
|
|
Member Forum
 The WBBG Member Forum has moved to a private group on Facebook. The Member Forum is a great place to ask questions and get support from other members. Questions this week included:
"When a guest staying for multiple nights says: "Don't bother making my bed..." It usually seems to mean they are embarrassed by what they did to your sheets. All the more reason to check before the stains get set permanently. Is there a proper way to respond, or is it better to just bite your tongue and smile politely? "
"Does any have smart TV's in their guest rooms? I am trying to find a great wireless way for guests to view TV's and have access to movies. Without a bunch of extra boxes near the TV."
New invitations have been sent to join this private member group, but Facebook has not recognized some of the member emails. 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.
|
|
Associate Members
When considering goods or services for your inn, start by learning about these Associate Members who support the Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild.
|
|
|
Bed Voyage
Eco-Luxury Bamboo Bedding
Sharon Stuart and Val Thorkildsen
sharon@bedvoyage.com
425-949-8216
|
|
|
Heart N' Soul Innsitting
Interim Innkeeping
gizlar3@w-link.net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
