Small Inn and Bed and Breakfast Industry Articles

According to Ypartnership's 2010 Portrait Of American Travelers, the U.S. leisure travel market has finally stabilized. In fact, the data suggest the industry can expect a modest increase in demand in the year ahead.

As if spiraling operating fundamentals weren’t enough to deal with, hoteliers need also to contend with outside influences on the industry.

Changes to SBA loan limits could mean more money to fix up a distressed property, or better options when it comes to finding good properties to buy.

William R. Carlson has been named executive director of Select Registry™, Distinguished Inns of North America. In his new role, Carlson will oversee strategic planning and marketing initiatives that build upon the organization's 40-year history as the premier association of critically acclaimed inns, B&Bs and small boutique hotels across the U.S. and Canada.

Commercial card volumes last year declined for the first time in history as organizations implemented across-the-board spending cuts

When travelers were asked by the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns if they had ever stayed at a bed and breakfast, some of their answers led to the discovery of interesting myths surrounding B&Bs.

BEDandBREAKFAST.COM survey shows travelers plan as many or more trips this summer and are twice as likely to stay at B&Bs. Three out of four travelers say they’ll take as many or more trips between now and September 30, and eight out of 10 say they’ll stay at B&Bs.

The tough economy may mean stronger pricing power for business travelers, but for hoteliers, anxiety levels are rising as rates drop.

Forget doctors' appointments and hospital stays: Fabulous New Yorkers are getting physicals and facelifts­—not to mention sex therapy—at swanky hotels instead.

Celebrities are discovering that hotel investments are not just fun to own, but profitable too.

Reservation and Customer Care employees are staying at home while working for Hilton Hotels Corporation, and the company wouldn’t have it any other way.

Despite a big slowdown in the number of hotel sales transactions this year, smaller hotels appear to be faring better.

STR released its revised 2008 and 2009 forecasts and its projections for the U.S. hotel industry’s performance in 2010.

An analysis of STR data finds that while more hotels decreased their rates in the first half of 2008 than in 2007, over 70 percent of U.S. hotels continue to raise their rates.

Under the pressure of slumping occupancy, hoteliers might feel the urge to drop rates to chase demand. The experts warn against it, however, saying the move will likely hurt hoteliers--and their competitors.

Newly launched website Tripr.tv encourages hotel guests to video tape their hotel rooms and post them online for the world to see.

It’s no secret—the hotel industry is slow to adopt new technology. Guestrooms are just beginning to include things we’ve had in our own homes for years.

Rate and RevPAR continue to increase globally in July

The U.S. hotel industry posted increases in the key performance measurements of average daily rate and revenue per available room during the month of July.

And Many ‘Home-Based’ Vacations Include Hotel Stays and Travel-Related Activities

Boutique hotels have evolved from novelty properties opened by the likes of Bill Kimpton and Ian Schrager to a staple that is a must-have for most large chains. One hotelier described his mission for boutique hotels as providing not just five-star service, but a fun version of five-star service.

Airlines are reducing the number of flights they operate as fuel costs soar, leading to an impact on the hotel industry. One analyst predicted that RevPAR could drop by 3% to 4% in 2009. Investors are advised to "reduce their exposure" in hotels in the meantime.

Join AH&LA's Women In Lodging for a networking luncheon held in conjunction with the HD Expo in Las Vegas. Vail Brown from Smith Travel Research will divulge insight on trends and the impact of design on profitability, and you'll have the chance to exchange perspectives with the women who shape our industry.

PowerofTravel.org presents all of the available travel industry economic impact data in an easy-to-navigate format that enables the user to see the benefits of travel from the international level down to individual congressional districts.

Ritz-Carlton has a formula of 20 basic customer service policies that make the chain truly stand out from the rest in terms of service, says sales and customer service trainer Hal Becker. The policies range from making customer satisfaction the highest priority to doing everything possible to never lose a guest.

The popularity of social networking on the Internet is creating the need for hotel operators to monitor what is being said about their properties.

Most companies assume that their customers are highly price-sensitive. They design their marketing programs with this idea in mind. When they have sales, more people buy. When their products or services are not on sale, less people buy. Capture a glimpse of the important differences in transaction and relationship buyers and how you can make each type a long-time customer.

With high profile openings from Versace, Armani, Missoni and Moschino expected in 2008, Deloitte examines the emergence of the fashion hotel sector.

This year, sexy meets sophisticated luxury in these sumptuous spots

A recent survey conducted on behalf of AIG Travel Guard found that Americans are still planning to travel in 2008, but may be altering their trips to cut costs.

As the economy cools, companies are starting to shrink their travel budgets -- a move likely to put further strain on struggling airlines. Hotels, car-rental agencies and restaurants, which along with airlines employ roughly 4 percent of U.S. workers, will also feel the pinch.

Time is up for the way hotels have been traditionally rated. A new stay paradigm has emerged and antiquated rating systems are no longer relevant.

As if the sagging dollar and soaring oil costs weren't enough to dent travel budgets, hotel room rates are expected to surge in the coming year. From New York to Asia, and just about every desirable destination in between, the prices of rooms - especially at hotels and resorts favored by luxury and business travelers - are expected to rise significantly, sometimes in the double digits, analysts say.

Research conducted by Marriott indicates one third of all travelers are "experience driven" and would therefore gravitate to a boutique or lifestyle hotel. But all boutique/lifestyle hotel rooms combined represent only 3% of available hotel rooms today. So there is a major gap that many hotel chains are beginning to exploit with new brands like Hyatt Place, Indigo and W Hotels.

For hotels of every size and destination, the hotel Web site is an increasingly critical source of profits. In 2007, Web-direct bookings climbed to over 34 percent of total reservations for major hotel chains, while independent hotels achieved an annual growth of 20 percent for direct bookings. Despite these trends, however, a large part of the hospitality industry is still missing out on the highly profitable opportunity to maximize their Web site’s potential.

In a trend that now seems irreversible, consumers and businesses that had been booking their hotel reservations through call centers, GDS-equipped travel agents, and even third-party Internet reservations providers are doing their own booking, directly through individual hotel Web sites. In some cases, these customers go directly to the hotel site, even bypassing the corporate site of their hotel's flag.

"With the evolution online communities and the advent of sophisticated internet marketing resources and tools, it is critical to be aware of emerging trends and opportunities."

Lawmakers in Arizona are working to expand the number of businesses that qualify as bed and breakfasts so that more businesses can take advantage of a property-tax break. Under current laws, inns with more than four rooms are taxed as hotels, but the new bill allows for properties with up to six rooms to be considered B&Bs.

The camera crews have packed up and left and a new sign hangs above Fallbrook, California’s Chateau La Rue, newly renamed the Oak Creek Manor. The bed and breakfast made famous by actress Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott has returned to its owners Patricia and Christopher King and is on the market for $2.3 -$2.675 million.

Not long ago, historic hotels were often a little frayed at the edges, spurned for fresher alternatives like the trendy boutique hotels. But many hotels with a past have been fixed up in recent years, their marble staircases polished, their thick carpets cleaned or replaced.

Sam Nazarian, owner of the ultra-trendy Los Angeles nightclub Hyde, is entering the hospitality field with two new boutique hotels. Nazarian has two new properties in the works -- the SLS in Los Angeles, due to open in August, and a remodeling of the Ritz Plaza in Miami Beach, due to open early next year.

Jubilance regarding the overall state of the lodging industry is quickly fading. It’s getting overtaken by a swelling sense of pessimism.

The credit crunch, a weak U.S. dollar, new construction, green building, globalization and rapidly shifting US demographics are all factors that will shape the U.S. hospitality sector in 2008, according to a report released today at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) by Ernst & Young.

When we think of our guests who eat, sleep, celebrate, and do business in our hotels, it is natural to assume they are coming from far away.

Suppliers are focusing on implementing tailored web strategies for their loyal members, offering a number of personalization tools and features distinctive for each member based on their membership profile. As the race for influencing and retaining consumer evolves, what does "loyalty" stand for online travel agencies?