Comments for BillandHeide.com

Comment on Summer Travels by Sharon Intilli

Sharon Intilli — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:10:22 +0000

Heide, it sounded like a great adventure! Gorgeous picture of Mt. Katahdin.

Comment on Change by Daina Hill

Daina Hill — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:08:35 +0000

Bill, a very good article. I couldn’t agree more that we have to stay up with the times and the tastes of our guests do change. Beds are an excellent example, though I find keeping up with the technology needs of our guests the most challenging. (And cell phone coverage for all the cell phone carriers remains a challenge!)
Thanks, Daina

Comment on Change by Jessica Pfau

Jessica Pfau — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:16:41 +0000

Great article! Right on target, Bill. Thank you for your insight. ~ Jessica

Comment on Change by Jennifer M.

Jennifer M. — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:24:36 +0000

Greetings!
I am an aspiring innkeeper and found this most recent blog-post to be inspiring for me. I am 30 years old, and have yet to feel like I’ve begun a career. I’m currently working at a Fairfield Inn, and have given much thought to what it would be like to run my own little inn (probably partially inspired by Gilmore Girls—truth be told
I would love to attend one of your seminars for aspiring innkeepers in the near future; I have been financially unable to as of yet. I would have especially loved to attend the one in Clarksville, GA.

I still consider myself to be “young;” I have ideas on what would make a successful inn; and I embrace the “curve of change.” Don’t give up on a new and fresh generation of innkeepers just yet!

Comment on Are You Being Served? by Tom... Station Inn

Tom... Station Inn — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:06:02 +0000

HEIDE…. BILL: ……….. Re:.. Are You Being Well Served
Well put. I have resisted using the search engines, and, much of the other stuff.
I am bothered by the fees these folks charge to “increase your occupancy.” But, in fairness, that may be necessary. If it helps…… then, do it.
We do not accept on-line bookings; and do not respond to email inquiries. Please telephone us to make reservations or ask questons. We generate favorable comments on TripAdvisor but we are not a TripAdvisor member/subscriber.
We receive nice, reinforcing notes from our guests. We send personal Christmas cards each year (810 in ‘09).
Heide and Bill, you helped clear my head. After talking with you over dessert at Hot Springs this past Jan, I decided against going for on-line booking and began to reduce the silly electronic chase for more business. We increased our attention paid to arriving repeat guests and offered simple gifts to those departing.
Going into Oct, we have 9 vacancies out of a possible 210 room days. Ours is a seven room B&B. Of course, Oct is always BIG, but a 90%+ rate is comforting, none-the-less. We are open year-round and run 45% – 55% in the off months (room sales & other promos…… but we don’t lose money doing this).
So, life is good. No Google Ads, none of this chasing new guests. Just a wonderful old Guest Tracker booking program that helps keep me sane.
It’s comforting to read your blog and your posts, especially, ARE YOU BEING SERVED.
If this has turned out too long & rambling… well, apologies. If it seems like a push back against the new wave stuff, it is. I like to innkeep as when I began.
Finally, I understand your concern about the electronic wonder that, if we are not careful, could become a gauzy iron curtain that dilutes our closeness to our guests.
Please stop by for an extended complimentary if passing through western PA.
…………………… Tom Davis

Comment on Are You Being Served? by M-LL.

M-LL. — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 13:00:59 +0000

Great reminder. Thank you for this article. We all need to remember this.

Comment on Are You Being Served? by Bill Sheehan

Bill Sheehan — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:56:40 +0000

Good article. We used to mail postcards but the cost of postage became way too expensive from years ago so we now keep in contact with our guests via e-mail and regular newsletters and always include a special for them only. For example, even though October is one of our busiest months, I still sent out a special valid through 11/15 for any available room in our 1732 manor house (B&B rates up to $350) at our lowest rate of $195 for any room still available, even on a weekend. We did get several responses and res. and most were for weekdays. A winner for both us and our guests. We prefer to market to previous guests since they do not have to be “sold”, merely reminded we are still here.

Bill Sheehan
Prospect Hill Plantation Inn
Charlottesville, Virginia
Innkeeping since 1977

Comment on Are You Being Served? by Ian MacFarlane

Ian MacFarlane — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:39:46 +0000

Thanks for keeping in touch. We are still feeling the downturn but have a new French restaurant, Bistro on South Main, as well as an active art gallery, and our 30 guest rooms plus 9 extended stay rooms and 4 apartments.

Comment on An Inn-keepers’ Summer? by Linda Fulton

Linda Fulton — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:47:03 +0000

I have just read all the postings and marvel at your zealous passion for this fantastic industry! I only wish that when we find that special place we too, as inn-keepers, can keep the passion. I applaud all your thoughts. Thanks so much for blazing the trail. Linda

Comment on An Inn-keepers’ Summer? by Debbie Mosimann

Debbie Mosimann — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:26:33 +0000

Heide,
That was well said. What a good reminder to really savor what we have and where we are privileged to live.. and not just focus on how draining it sometimes all is. I know that I need to make more of an effort to find ways to regenerate daily in this very busy time of year!