Wow, that was sudden!

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TheBeachHouse

TheBeachHouse

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I've mentioned before but we've been full and turning people away every weekend since we bought the place in the beginning of September.
This weekend - one reservation. One couple. That's it. I guess the season stops on a dime. Not that I'm hugely surprised, but it just seems so sudden.
Hoping for a couple walk ins tonight, but and an uptick around Christmas, but either way, we are learning every day! And loving it.
(North Shore of Boston. Not much to do in colder weather.)
 
It can be a shocker if you're not used to the trend!
Did you get the reservation books from the previous owners? If so, what do their old schedules look like?
I know you have a ton of things on your to-do list, so take the slow down as a positive...it gives you more time for the little things. This also gives you an opportunity to try to figure out how to get some more folks to book in the off season. Instead of focusing on the beach nearby, maybe you can do some blogging, FB about romantic getaways, storm watching specials, snuggling up and enjoy doing smores in the fireplace (if you have one), etc.
We're in the same type of location as you, but on the other coast. We LOVE our guests this time of year. They're here because they want a quiet romantic time away and unlike the warm weather crowd, they're not as interested in 1 night stays, or just finding a place to rest their head.
 
Breakfast Nemo said:
It can be a shocker if you're not used to the trend!
Did you get the reservation books from the previous owners? If so, what do their old schedules look like?
I know you have a ton of things on your to-do list, so take the slow down as a positive...it gives you more time for the little things. This also gives you an opportunity to try to figure out how to get some more folks to book in the off season. Instead of focusing on the beach nearby, maybe you can do some blogging, FB about romantic getaways, storm watching specials, snuggling up and enjoy doing smores in the fireplace (if you have one), etc.
We're in the same type of location as you, but on the other coast. We LOVE our guests this time of year. They're here because they want a quiet romantic time away and unlike the warm weather crowd, they're not as interested in 1 night stays, or just finding a place to rest their head..
Click to expand...
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
 
I do appreciate the input. And you're right about the FB link. And more publicity for winter. If my kid doesn't get a fireplace picture up there today, I'll take it myself. :)
 
TheBeachHouse said:
Breakfast Nemo said:
It can be a shocker if you're not used to the trend!
Did you get the reservation books from the previous owners? If so, what do their old schedules look like?
I know you have a ton of things on your to-do list, so take the slow down as a positive...it gives you more time for the little things. This also gives you an opportunity to try to figure out how to get some more folks to book in the off season. Instead of focusing on the beach nearby, maybe you can do some blogging, FB about romantic getaways, storm watching specials, snuggling up and enjoy doing smores in the fireplace (if you have one), etc.
We're in the same type of location as you, but on the other coast. We LOVE our guests this time of year. They're here because they want a quiet romantic time away and unlike the warm weather crowd, they're not as interested in 1 night stays, or just finding a place to rest their head..
Click to expand...
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
.
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
Click to expand...
Hand out a discount code to the open house visitors that you can track if redeemed.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
Breakfast Nemo said:
It can be a shocker if you're not used to the trend!
Did you get the reservation books from the previous owners? If so, what do their old schedules look like?
I know you have a ton of things on your to-do list, so take the slow down as a positive...it gives you more time for the little things. This also gives you an opportunity to try to figure out how to get some more folks to book in the off season. Instead of focusing on the beach nearby, maybe you can do some blogging, FB about romantic getaways, storm watching specials, snuggling up and enjoy doing smores in the fireplace (if you have one), etc.
We're in the same type of location as you, but on the other coast. We LOVE our guests this time of year. They're here because they want a quiet romantic time away and unlike the warm weather crowd, they're not as interested in 1 night stays, or just finding a place to rest their head..
Click to expand...
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
.
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
Click to expand...
Hand out a discount code to the open house visitors that you can track if redeemed.
.
Click to expand...
love this! I had not thought of this!
 
TheBeachHouse said:
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
Breakfast Nemo said:
It can be a shocker if you're not used to the trend!
Did you get the reservation books from the previous owners? If so, what do their old schedules look like?
I know you have a ton of things on your to-do list, so take the slow down as a positive...it gives you more time for the little things. This also gives you an opportunity to try to figure out how to get some more folks to book in the off season. Instead of focusing on the beach nearby, maybe you can do some blogging, FB about romantic getaways, storm watching specials, snuggling up and enjoy doing smores in the fireplace (if you have one), etc.
We're in the same type of location as you, but on the other coast. We LOVE our guests this time of year. They're here because they want a quiet romantic time away and unlike the warm weather crowd, they're not as interested in 1 night stays, or just finding a place to rest their head..
Click to expand...
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
.
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
Click to expand...
Hand out a discount code to the open house visitors that you can track if redeemed.
.
Click to expand...
love this! I had not thought of this!
.
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
love this! I had not thought of this!
Click to expand...
Great idea JB! You can get very cheap business cards printed up and put put a code on it. FREE BUSINESS CARDS
 
Yes, it is like a tap turns off. We have guests for the next 2 weekends, Veteran's Day and then relatively nothing until Dec.
 
Breakfast Nemo said:
It can be a shocker if you're not used to the trend!
Did you get the reservation books from the previous owners? If so, what do their old schedules look like?
I know you have a ton of things on your to-do list, so take the slow down as a positive...it gives you more time for the little things. This also gives you an opportunity to try to figure out how to get some more folks to book in the off season. Instead of focusing on the beach nearby, maybe you can do some blogging, FB about romantic getaways, storm watching specials, snuggling up and enjoy doing smores in the fireplace (if you have one), etc.
We're in the same type of location as you, but on the other coast. We LOVE our guests this time of year. They're here because they want a quiet romantic time away and unlike the warm weather crowd, they're not as interested in 1 night stays, or just finding a place to rest their head..
Click to expand...
Breakfast Diva said:
We're in the same type of location as you, but on the other coast. We LOVE our guests this time of year. They're here because they want a quiet romantic time away and unlike the warm weather crowd, they're not as interested in 1 night stays, or just finding a place to rest their head.
Click to expand...
Wonderful guests at this time of year! We had a slew of 'offloaded' guests this week as another B&B was closed. (Yes, they called the other place first, sigh.) All wonderful people.
 
Breakfast Diva said:
TheBeachHouse said:
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
Breakfast Nemo said:
It can be a shocker if you're not used to the trend!
Did you get the reservation books from the previous owners? If so, what do their old schedules look like?
I know you have a ton of things on your to-do list, so take the slow down as a positive...it gives you more time for the little things. This also gives you an opportunity to try to figure out how to get some more folks to book in the off season. Instead of focusing on the beach nearby, maybe you can do some blogging, FB about romantic getaways, storm watching specials, snuggling up and enjoy doing smores in the fireplace (if you have one), etc.
We're in the same type of location as you, but on the other coast. We LOVE our guests this time of year. They're here because they want a quiet romantic time away and unlike the warm weather crowd, they're not as interested in 1 night stays, or just finding a place to rest their head..
Click to expand...
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
.
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We did see her books. She wasn't trying to fill the place. She was finished with the business long before she actually sold. I also talked to other innkeepers. It makes sense that biz slows down right now.
Agree on the focus. We have an article coming out in a winter tourist mag emphasizing the new fireplace in the living room and the ones in three of the bedrooms.
And we will be publicizing the Christmas pageants and the New Year's First Night celebration. AND we are on an Inn open house stroll during the Christmas season.
We've had several come 'just to get away from the kids.' They bring their own wine and cheese and we never see them again. :)
Click to expand...
Hand out a discount code to the open house visitors that you can track if redeemed.
.
Click to expand...
love this! I had not thought of this!
.
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
love this! I had not thought of this!
Click to expand...
Great idea JB! You can get very cheap business cards printed up and put put a code on it. FREE BUSINESS CARDS
.
Click to expand...
youcan print your own easily on your home printer.it doesnt have to be fancy. But word or publisher have some very nice templates. get some business cards paper and print away
 

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