features of each home are pointed out, and a coding system tells you what services are available and what restrictions may apply (e.g., no smoking or no children younger than 12).
Bookstores and libraries generally carry a large selection of bed-and-breakfast guide books, which are regularly updated and revised.
2.3 Reservation services
Reservation services act on behalf of groups of B&B hosts and match a customer’s requirements to one of the homes registered with the service. Each B&B pays an annual membership fee to be listed with the reservation service, which will actively seek customers for their members by advertising in government brochures, travel publications, newspapers, etc. Most reservation services will inspect each B&B to ensure a certain standard is maintained.
There are two general types of reservation services available: booking agencies and B&B associations.
A booking agency does all the reservation tasks on behalf of its members. The agency will record the visitor’s name, address, telephone number, and estimated time of arrival. Some agencies will collect a room deposit or guarantee the reservation by credit card. Many of them will arrange restaurant or theater ticket reservations as well. B&Bs are usually charged a fee for each room booked through an agency.
B&B associations are composed of individual operators who have collected together to promote business by focusing on some common service. They may all be located in a specific area, or they may have a common type of customer (e.g., hunters, hikers, canoers, etc.). These associations will match a customer’s requirements to one of their members, but it is up to the traveler to contact the B&B directly to make reservations and deposit payments.
2.4 Other sources
To assist travelers in locating B&Bs there are a number of other sources of information:
• Chambers of commerce often have listings of local B&Bs. Some of them also provide reservation services.
• Tourist information centers may provide help locating B&Bs. Many of these centers are operated by government personnel who have access to the government publications mentioned previously.
• Private advertising is conducted by many B&B operators. They distribute business cards and brochures to various tourist locations, and they often advertise in selected magazines or tourist-attraction pamphlets.
• Signs identifying B&Bs are permitted in some municipalities. Signs are usually located directly outside each establishment. In areas that have stricter bylaws, there may be a small, inconspicuous logo attached to the front of the building.
• Word of mouth is considered the best form of advertising, and it is an excellent way to find out about good quality B&Bs in a particular area. It is very reassuring to have a personal endorsement from another guest.
3. Who Are the B&B Customers?
The prevailing attitude in western culture over the last 40 years has been “more is better.” As we all strived to acquire more wealth and more possessions, and as we succumbed to the images of success that advertisers would have us accept as “normal,” we set ourselves unrealistic and sometimes unattainable goals. In striving for these goals, we have wasted our resources, polluted our environment, and sacrificed quality time with our loved ones, our friends, and our fellow citizens.
Fortunately, these attitudes are changing; many of us now recognize that our resources need to be managed, our environment needs protection, and people need to be the top priority in any civilized society. Many people now search for “quality in life” rather than “quantity in life.” These people are interested in community involvement, the search for their historical roots, and the general pursuit of the arts. It is from these people with a new outlook that B&Bs draw many of their customers.
Many travelers are tired of staying in lookalike hotel or motel rooms. They seek out the friendlier atmosphere of a home, and they are interested in meeting local people and sharing in a family environment. They are often looking for a B&B host that has similar interests to them, such as a fellow antique collector, gardening enthusiast, or craftsperson. Some customers are attracted to a particular style of accommodation, such as a historic home in a small village, a townhouse close to the center of a large city, or a farmhouse in the peaceful countryside. Some visitors seek the companionship of a particular culture or language. Whatever the requirements of the traveler, they can be met by the diverse variety of B&B homes now operating across North America.
4. Can You Operate a B&B?
The vast majority of B&Bs are conducted from existing residential homes, and there are no “rules” about who may run one. Any adult member of the family can take it upon himself or herself to operate a B&B as long as local zoning and licensing bylaws are complied with. There is such a wide variety of people running B&B establishments that it would be impossible to document them all, but the following list shows some of the more common operators:
• Homemakers
• Widows or widowers
• Adults caring for a family member
• Retired people
• People seeking a career change
Larger B&Bs usually require the full-time attention of couples or even entire families. In addition, they often hire employees to help ease the workload.
Of course, you must genuinely like people and be prepared for the type of work required in running a B&B. The attributes necessary for success are explored in Chapter 2.
5. How Will This Book Help You?
With the increase in demand for this type of accommodation, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of people converting their homes to B&B operations. Some of these new businesses have succeeded, but many have not. The lack of proper planning, the absence of reliable reference material, and the risk of doing business by trial and error prove too much for many new operators.
If you are contemplating starting your own B&B, this book will get you started and keep you going successfully. Each chapter has been organized to represent one step of a complete start-up plan. As you progress through each step and each chapter, you will develop your own plan for your unique B&B. Information from each chapter is used in the following chapters to gradually build the total start-up plan, so be sure to work through the book in the order presented.
We follow a “case study” of an imaginary couple, Carol and Bob Morris, who are preparing to start a B&B. This couple encounters and conquers the same problems that you will face as you try to start your business.
We have included helpful tips from our own experience and from other B&B operators — tips that will steer you away from potential pitfalls. As well, reference material is included to keep your business on track during its initial years.
Ultimately, your success as a bed-and-breakfast operator is up to you, but using this book will greatly reduce the amount of trial and error you will have to suffer in those first exciting but difficult months.
Bernhardt’s Victorian Rarebit
• ½ lb. grated cheddar cheese
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ½ cup beer (room temperature)
• 1 egg
• Dash of salt
• 4 pieces of toast
Combine cheese, butter, salt, and mustard in the top of a double boiler. Heat over hot water until cheese melts. Stir in beer gradually. When mixture is fully combined, stir briskly