Unkempt Innkeepers

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JBloggs

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Guests who have been here twice before mentioned an inn (two nights previous) where the innkeepers were messy. They said the kitchen was messy, they had three large labrador retrievers, that bounded upon you, as the owners bred them. In their room. So the guests could hear the birth and 10 puppies yelping afterward. So from this they felt the place was dirty, although they said it really wasn't, just appeared that way.
Do you take any consideration to your appearance? Do you toss on an apron as a makeshift coverall? Do you pull your hair up or back while cooking and serving the food?
I ask as in the past we have discussed a "uniform" of sorts for innkeepers/staff. I have made up polo shirts that I force DH to wear, even though he will wear it with shorts/levi's, just to give him a more professional look. If my duaghters help they are wearing half aprons, and "church clothes" even tho it may be a pair of shorts and a nice blouse in summer, but not flip flops or tank tops.
 
PS Looking at the website they mentioned, even the website is unkempt! There are no photos of the innkeepers, or common areas. So I always wonder, against the advice of the person who said "Just because the website is ugly doesn't mean the inn is!" on a previous thread. Shouldn't the first impression be the best? Website and forward...in law enforcement this is called "A CLUE!"
Again, if you don't want to clutter up the website with this sort of thing, add a blog, you can post whimsical bits and pieces about your place, your personality, your life as innkeepers. The more I hear stories like this the more I am scared to venture out to unknown inns, and I AM AN INNKEEPER FOR GOODNESS SAKES!
 
I wear a headscarf when doing breakfast as it has the advantage of keeping my hair clean while being hygenic double bonus. I do try to dress reasonably smartly as impressions especially first ones do matter. People do equate disorder and chaoes with dirty. my godmothers places are very run down but to be fair are clean but as everything is very shabby people translate that into dirty which at first impressions you can see how they would. People expect everything in hospitality to be ordered all the time. I don't even like people to see my laundry delivery arriving. people like to pretend it all happens by magic its all part of the illusion.
 
PS Looking at the website they mentioned, even the website is unkempt! There are no photos of the innkeepers, or common areas. So I always wonder, against the advice of the person who said "Just because the website is ugly doesn't mean the inn is!" on a previous thread. Shouldn't the first impression be the best? Website and forward...in law enforcement this is called "A CLUE!"
Again, if you don't want to clutter up the website with this sort of thing, add a blog, you can post whimsical bits and pieces about your place, your personality, your life as innkeepers. The more I hear stories like this the more I am scared to venture out to unknown inns, and I AM AN INNKEEPER FOR GOODNESS SAKES!.
I pointed out to my neighbour who does have amazingly nice rooms that she has no pictures of them on her web site. I said to her if I was paying the prices she charges I would want to see the rooms first.
 
I could be more kempt but the reason I like this job so much is that I don't have to dress up. Khakis or jeans, in the summertime a skirt, but only if the housekeeper is doing the rooms. We have to dress for multiple jobs in a short time. Sorry I can't swan around in pearls and a twinset, but if that is what someone is looking for they can tell from our photo they're not getting it here.
(Not saying you're saying I need the pearls - which I do have - but just that it's not a comfortable look for me and it's time for comfortable in my life!)
I have seen unkempt enough to last a lifetime...sleeveless tank and shorts on an innkeeper weighing in at around 300 lbs is not on. Swimsuit on any innkeeper serving my breakfast, also not on, unless I am on the beach at the time. The same dirty fleece pullover from the 2 days prior. Please, do the laundry.
 
I could be more kempt but the reason I like this job so much is that I don't have to dress up. Khakis or jeans, in the summertime a skirt, but only if the housekeeper is doing the rooms. We have to dress for multiple jobs in a short time. Sorry I can't swan around in pearls and a twinset, but if that is what someone is looking for they can tell from our photo they're not getting it here.
(Not saying you're saying I need the pearls - which I do have - but just that it's not a comfortable look for me and it's time for comfortable in my life!)
I have seen unkempt enough to last a lifetime...sleeveless tank and shorts on an innkeeper weighing in at around 300 lbs is not on. Swimsuit on any innkeeper serving my breakfast, also not on, unless I am on the beach at the time. The same dirty fleece pullover from the 2 days prior. Please, do the laundry..
its like everything there is a balance ie one of the hotel inspector the owner was swimming in the river and she was a generous person I don't think that was appropriate to be doing in front of your guests.
 
JB - what do the T/A reviews say? My guess is that if it's that obvious ,others are noticing. There's one in our area that's very dirty, dark and messy. Owners are nice enough folks, but very unkempt, too.
 
JB - what do the T/A reviews say? My guess is that if it's that obvious ,others are noticing. There's one in our area that's very dirty, dark and messy. Owners are nice enough folks, but very unkempt, too..
Aussie Innkeeper said:
JB - what do the T/A reviews say? My guess is that if it's that obvious ,others are noticing. There's one in our area that's very dirty, dark and messy. Owners are nice enough folks, but very unkempt, too.
They are all glowing. yes. glowing.
here is the latest title "
“The Best B&B I ever been too” and this one
Many B&B's have great ratings on Trip Advisor with mostly positive comments and maybe a few negative ones. Negative comments always seemed to center on a lapses of attention from the owners. We picked the (name removed) because we noticed that ALL of the comments were positive ...
 
Madeleine must be my twin! haha
I prefer comfortable attire... clean, crisp but comfortable. I do it all here and can not find enough time in between cleaning toliets and check in to shower and put on my pearls.
I feel the innkeeper's attire should match the style and atmosphere of the B&B and how the innkeepers want the guests to feel while they are there.
I want the look of relaxed not only for me, our place but I want my guests to feel that way as well.
 
I wear a polo with our logo and a bib apron with the logo on the bib with whatever slacks I pulled on in the morning as my uniform. DH wears his Gillum shirt also if he is serving - but usually if just passing through on the way to the kitchen wears one of his BSA shirts looking for conversation comments from guys who know what BSA is.
So far, no one has mentioned my office/Library in a review. Those that bothered to review like us. We are also the comfy, laid-back variety. I could never have a mansion for my inn - I am so not mansion!
 
No standard "uniform" here - an apron is a must, but the idea is to keep my clothes clean so when I pop out to see guests I don't have flour (or eggs or whatever) all over my blouse. I also use an apron (a different) one when cleaning, for the same reasons. I don't want to have to answer the door/deal with guests covered in dust.
In general, I am a blouse & skirt gal, so people tend to think I'm I'm a little dressed up even when "I'm" not.
Last summer, I had guests en route call and ask if it was okay to come early (way early). Naturally, I was canning. In my 100yo house, the canner will not boil if the ac or ceiling fan are on, and it was over 90 in the kitchen. I told her frankly I was canning, sweaty, and needed a minimum 45 minutes to shower before she got here. She seemed to think that was really funny...but she promised not to come before the 45 minutes were up.
I will confess - flipflops sometimes don't get replaced with shoes before I hit the dining room, but since my standard foot wear 10 months of the year are birks, I don't fret too much. I know - birks & skirts. But I discovered birks while still teaching, and decided feet & a back that don't hurt trump all manner of fashion faux pas.
 
No standard "uniform" here - an apron is a must, but the idea is to keep my clothes clean so when I pop out to see guests I don't have flour (or eggs or whatever) all over my blouse. I also use an apron (a different) one when cleaning, for the same reasons. I don't want to have to answer the door/deal with guests covered in dust.
In general, I am a blouse & skirt gal, so people tend to think I'm I'm a little dressed up even when "I'm" not.
Last summer, I had guests en route call and ask if it was okay to come early (way early). Naturally, I was canning. In my 100yo house, the canner will not boil if the ac or ceiling fan are on, and it was over 90 in the kitchen. I told her frankly I was canning, sweaty, and needed a minimum 45 minutes to shower before she got here. She seemed to think that was really funny...but she promised not to come before the 45 minutes were up.
I will confess - flipflops sometimes don't get replaced with shoes before I hit the dining room, but since my standard foot wear 10 months of the year are birks, I don't fret too much. I know - birks & skirts. But I discovered birks while still teaching, and decided feet & a back that don't hurt trump all manner of fashion faux pas..
Red Handed Jill said:
I will confess - flipflops sometimes don't get replaced with shoes before I hit the dining room, but since my standard foot wear 10 months of the year are birks, I don't fret too much. I know - birks & skirts. But I discovered birks while still teaching, and decided feet & a back that don't hurt trump all manner of fashion faux pas.
thumbs_up.gif

 
We are pretty casual here unless there is an event, but still have DH wears a polo shirt and clean jeans or kakie shorts, I do wear the flip flops in summer and we were the same in WV. We will be a little more "preppy" in our next position as the owner asked us if we would answer the Inn in flip flops and shorts-so we have to dress a little more up there. That's ok as long as its not heels and pearls since we do switch jobs from cleaning rooms to cooking.
I do agree that the innkeeper at least has to look tidy and their in as well..
 
Madeleine must be my twin! haha
I prefer comfortable attire... clean, crisp but comfortable. I do it all here and can not find enough time in between cleaning toliets and check in to shower and put on my pearls.
I feel the innkeeper's attire should match the style and atmosphere of the B&B and how the innkeepers want the guests to feel while they are there.
I want the look of relaxed not only for me, our place but I want my guests to feel that way as well..
copperhead said:
I prefer comfortable attire... clean, crisp but comfortable. I do it all here and can not find enough time in between cleaning toliets and check in to shower and put on my pearls.
I feel the innkeeper's attire should match the style and atmosphere of the B&B and how the innkeepers want the guests to feel while they are there.
I want the look of relaxed not only for me, our place but I want my guests to feel that way as well.
Yes, exactly!
I wear jeans often. And sandals. But I also wear cute tops and earrings, bracelet, and necklace. Not pearls, but not jeans and a t-shirt, either.
I wear an apron while I'm cooking and serving, and a different apron for cleaning. (That's the one with big pockets for my cleaning cloths!)
And it's perfect, because it's totally matches what my B&B is... nice, decent, clean, comfortable.
=)
Kk.
 
So now I am paranoid. Not really, but for the sake of this thread I am. I am having a BAD HAIR DAY! For all those people who can't find their way out of a papersack, who have no clue how to even get to the front door! How many will notice the unkempt innkeeper in her bad hair day?
And another thing, I have been playing phone tag for two days with a lady and in the end only wanted me to tell her where else she could stay since we are full up! DOH! Waste my time and my dime on that!!!
Meet the innkeeper - yes she is wearing a big ol' hair band in her hair, get over it!
poke.gif
WHY? Because I had my head down scrubbing two toilets today, so my hair would not be full of...you know. So it is clean, and messy, howzdatferya.
 
So now I am paranoid. Not really, but for the sake of this thread I am. I am having a BAD HAIR DAY! For all those people who can't find their way out of a papersack, who have no clue how to even get to the front door! How many will notice the unkempt innkeeper in her bad hair day?
And another thing, I have been playing phone tag for two days with a lady and in the end only wanted me to tell her where else she could stay since we are full up! DOH! Waste my time and my dime on that!!!
Meet the innkeeper - yes she is wearing a big ol' hair band in her hair, get over it!
poke.gif
WHY? Because I had my head down scrubbing two toilets today, so my hair would not be full of...you know. So it is clean, and messy, howzdatferya..
I'm unkempt today as well as I keep trying to sleep between the phone ringing and the doorbell going off with guests returning to retrieve things they left behind. Bad case of bed head to go along with a bad cold. I'm scaring them off left and right. And I can't really sleep as there are who knows how many burly guys in the cellar replacing the furnace. Yeah, just when it looked like we were getting ahead, and with a houseful of guests- no heat, no hot water.
 
So now I am paranoid. Not really, but for the sake of this thread I am. I am having a BAD HAIR DAY! For all those people who can't find their way out of a papersack, who have no clue how to even get to the front door! How many will notice the unkempt innkeeper in her bad hair day?
And another thing, I have been playing phone tag for two days with a lady and in the end only wanted me to tell her where else she could stay since we are full up! DOH! Waste my time and my dime on that!!!
Meet the innkeeper - yes she is wearing a big ol' hair band in her hair, get over it!
poke.gif
WHY? Because I had my head down scrubbing two toilets today, so my hair would not be full of...you know. So it is clean, and messy, howzdatferya..
I'm unkempt today as well as I keep trying to sleep between the phone ringing and the doorbell going off with guests returning to retrieve things they left behind. Bad case of bed head to go along with a bad cold. I'm scaring them off left and right. And I can't really sleep as there are who knows how many burly guys in the cellar replacing the furnace. Yeah, just when it looked like we were getting ahead, and with a houseful of guests- no heat, no hot water.
.
the joys of boilers!
 
So now I am paranoid. Not really, but for the sake of this thread I am. I am having a BAD HAIR DAY! For all those people who can't find their way out of a papersack, who have no clue how to even get to the front door! How many will notice the unkempt innkeeper in her bad hair day?
And another thing, I have been playing phone tag for two days with a lady and in the end only wanted me to tell her where else she could stay since we are full up! DOH! Waste my time and my dime on that!!!
Meet the innkeeper - yes she is wearing a big ol' hair band in her hair, get over it!
poke.gif
WHY? Because I had my head down scrubbing two toilets today, so my hair would not be full of...you know. So it is clean, and messy, howzdatferya..
I'm unkempt today as well as I keep trying to sleep between the phone ringing and the doorbell going off with guests returning to retrieve things they left behind. Bad case of bed head to go along with a bad cold. I'm scaring them off left and right. And I can't really sleep as there are who knows how many burly guys in the cellar replacing the furnace. Yeah, just when it looked like we were getting ahead, and with a houseful of guests- no heat, no hot water.
.
Sorry to hear about your furnace! I hope you can get some rest and try and get over that cold. There's nothing worse than being sick with guests in the inn.....
 
So now I am paranoid. Not really, but for the sake of this thread I am. I am having a BAD HAIR DAY! For all those people who can't find their way out of a papersack, who have no clue how to even get to the front door! How many will notice the unkempt innkeeper in her bad hair day?
And another thing, I have been playing phone tag for two days with a lady and in the end only wanted me to tell her where else she could stay since we are full up! DOH! Waste my time and my dime on that!!!
Meet the innkeeper - yes she is wearing a big ol' hair band in her hair, get over it!
poke.gif
WHY? Because I had my head down scrubbing two toilets today, so my hair would not be full of...you know. So it is clean, and messy, howzdatferya..
Don't get me started about bad hair day! had an appointment to speak to a printer about brochures at 12 lunch time got to 12.30 guy still not here figured he wasn't comming or he would have called started to take a bath minute I got in the bath the bell rings. dashed upstairs somehow one of my check ins had managed to get in the front door and was trying to let the print man in through the back door! Was livid! told the print man that i was in two mins whether to even speak to him as my time is precious and he was about 40 minutes late by that time and it would have been curtious to call.
Why do people who are tryng to sell you something think it is acceptable to be late?
 
So now I am paranoid. Not really, but for the sake of this thread I am. I am having a BAD HAIR DAY! For all those people who can't find their way out of a papersack, who have no clue how to even get to the front door! How many will notice the unkempt innkeeper in her bad hair day?
And another thing, I have been playing phone tag for two days with a lady and in the end only wanted me to tell her where else she could stay since we are full up! DOH! Waste my time and my dime on that!!!
Meet the innkeeper - yes she is wearing a big ol' hair band in her hair, get over it!
poke.gif
WHY? Because I had my head down scrubbing two toilets today, so my hair would not be full of...you know. So it is clean, and messy, howzdatferya..
Don't get me started about bad hair day! had an appointment to speak to a printer about brochures at 12 lunch time got to 12.30 guy still not here figured he wasn't comming or he would have called started to take a bath minute I got in the bath the bell rings. dashed upstairs somehow one of my check ins had managed to get in the front door and was trying to let the print man in through the back door! Was livid! told the print man that i was in two mins whether to even speak to him as my time is precious and he was about 40 minutes late by that time and it would have been curtious to call.
Why do people who are tryng to sell you something think it is acceptable to be late?
.
Cambs, it's not just those folks trying to sell you something here, but it's all the contractors here. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh! They either are late, don't show as arranged, or just show up unexpectedly without calling. What is that??
Rant alert - It's taken me 2 months to get the rest of our house painted!! I was gone for a week visiting my family while my brother was in intensive care and got back to the painter calling me relentlessly since Monday to get paid for the remainder of this job which is still not finished. He had asked me for a second draw on the job before I left, which I gave him after all those tales of woe. They came back while I was gone and did part of the job but didn't finish. I heard one story after another on the phone today. It has rained all this week and I still have all my porch furniture and plants on my patio in the back. I'm done. I set up an appointment to meet with him this afternoon to settle up. The remaining work will be deducted from what I owe him and my dh and I will take care of it this weekend, including getting everything back on the porch after I clean the furniture from being left out there for 2 weeks. The only time they show up here as scheduled is when they want to collect their money.
 
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