We've been solicited by A famous TV show that fixes hotels....you know the one!

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TheBeachHouse

TheBeachHouse

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just got an email from casting of Hot-el not-possible. They say they will makeover portions of the hotel at no cost. That sounds good. I've never seen the show. Am I correct that they are very critical and mean?
 
Oh yeah...better watch out on that one. Do a search here...you will find more info. I don't think you want to set yourself up for this one. Terror!
 
It is TV - sweet, smiling, nice does not produce ratings
 
I think someone else got an email from that show or another one.
They have to present you as bumbling idiots or raving lunatics to show how they can fix you up.
Nothing you've already done will be good enough or there isn't a show.
It really depends on how well you do under pressure. I'd want to check the list of places they already "fixed" to see how they are doing now.
 
We need a lot of bathroom renovations. Wouldn't it be cool if a TV show did them for us?
On the other hand - with only 6 rooms, we could not take the publicity.
 
If you run the place well.... they won't be interested in you. They need entertainment, something to shock and something to point at and laugh. Couldn't pay me enough.
 
They go to failing hotels and inns and try to make basic changes to turn the business around and make it more successful. In the process, they very publicly point out what the hotel is doing wrong, like not cleaning well enough, having ugly decor, being clueless about the hospitality business, etc.
Generally hotels in trouble contact them, rather than them contacting hotels, so I'd say you got a "mass" sort of contact, sent out to lots of places just looking for good subjects for next season.
It's quite possible they are soliciting because not many places are contacting them anymore, since the $20,000-$30,000 in improvements they generally make to the hotel may not be enough to offset being put the wringer on the show.
You don't need to do this.
 
Jon Sable said:
If you run the place well.... they won't be interested in you. They need entertainment, something to shock and something to point at and laugh. Couldn't pay me enough..
Click to expand...
I know. They would have liked it a year ago with mouse droppings under the sinks, a wet basement and the emergency egress ready to collapse. We've fixed a lot of things already. They are too late.
 
By putting the title of a television show up there you will be bringing people to the forum who Google that name, fyi. Not sure if you mind or don't mind.
I don't mind, I like Anthony a lot. In fact I would love to be his assistant on a few of the episodes! They aren't contractors, you can't hire them to do your dirty work, however. He isn't there to fix things like a maintenance man.
 
TheBeachHouse said:
Jon Sable said:
If you run the place well.... they won't be interested in you. They need entertainment, something to shock and something to point at and laugh. Couldn't pay me enough..
Click to expand...
I know. They would have liked it a year ago with mouse droppings under the sinks, a wet basement and the emergency egress ready to collapse. We've fixed a lot of things already. They are too late.
.
Click to expand...
And what you haven't found... they will.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
By putting the title of a television show up there you will be bringing people to the forum who Google that name, fyi. Not sure if you mind or don't mind.
I don't mind, I like Anthony a lot. In fact I would love to be his assistant on a few of the episodes! They aren't contractors, you can't hire them to do your dirty work, however. He isn't there to fix things like a maintenance man..
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
By putting the title of a television show up there you will be bringing people to the forum who Google that name, fyi. Not sure if you mind or don't mind.
I don't mind, I like Anthony a lot. In fact I would love to be his assistant on a few of the episodes! They aren't contractors, you can't hire them to do your dirty work, however. He isn't there to fix things like a maintenance man.
Click to expand...
hire them to do your dirty work? huh? I mentioned they say in the solicitation that they do renovations at no cost. I need renovations. A gal can dream.
I have no intention of subjecting my B&B to televised criticism. And I honestly don't get what you meant by that - hire to do my dirty work.
 
TheBeachHouse said:
We need a lot of bathroom renovations. Wouldn't it be cool if a TV show did them for us?
On the other hand - with only 6 rooms, we could not take the publicity..
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We need a lot of bathroom renovations. Wouldn't it be cool if a TV show did them for us?
On the other hand - with only 6 rooms, we could not take the publicity.
Click to expand...
I was referring to your comments
 
Madeleine said:
I think someone else got an email from that show or another one.
They have to present you as bumbling idiots or raving lunatics to show how they can fix you up.
Nothing you've already done will be good enough or there isn't a show.
It really depends on how well you do under pressure. I'd want to check the list of places they already "fixed" to see how they are doing now..
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
I think someone else got an email from that show or another one.
They have to present you as bumbling idiots or raving lunatics to show how they can fix you up.
Nothing you've already done will be good enough or there isn't a show.
It really depends on how well you do under pressure. I'd want to check the list of places they already "fixed" to see how they are doing now.
Click to expand...
I imagine they sent out thousands. Just fun to get one.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
We need a lot of bathroom renovations. Wouldn't it be cool if a TV show did them for us?
On the other hand - with only 6 rooms, we could not take the publicity..
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
We need a lot of bathroom renovations. Wouldn't it be cool if a TV show did them for us?
On the other hand - with only 6 rooms, we could not take the publicity.
Click to expand...
I was referring to your comments
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
We need a lot of bathroom renovations. Wouldn't it be cool if a TV show did them for us?
On the other hand - with only 6 rooms, we could not take the publicity.
Click to expand...
I was referring to your comments
Click to expand...
If I imagine this gentleman reviewing my place, I imagine he would zero in on the need for bathroom renovations, which is then, what he would do. In my opinion, our old and tired bathrooms are our weakness. Nothing to do with maintenance men.
 
TheBeachHouse said:
Madeleine said:
I think someone else got an email from that show or another one.
They have to present you as bumbling idiots or raving lunatics to show how they can fix you up.
Nothing you've already done will be good enough or there isn't a show.
It really depends on how well you do under pressure. I'd want to check the list of places they already "fixed" to see how they are doing now..
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
I think someone else got an email from that show or another one.
They have to present you as bumbling idiots or raving lunatics to show how they can fix you up.
Nothing you've already done will be good enough or there isn't a show.
It really depends on how well you do under pressure. I'd want to check the list of places they already "fixed" to see how they are doing now.
Click to expand...
I imagine they sent out thousands. Just fun to get one.
.
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
Madeleine said:
I think someone else got an email from that show or another one.
They have to present you as bumbling idiots or raving lunatics to show how they can fix you up.
Nothing you've already done will be good enough or there isn't a show.
It really depends on how well you do under pressure. I'd want to check the list of places they already "fixed" to see how they are doing now.
Click to expand...
I imagine they sent out thousands. Just fun to get one.
Click to expand...
Sorry but I would be appalled to get an invite to be on that program. They specialize in failing - I am not failing. And neither are you. You are just starting out, not failing. In your instance, I would think it would be the kiss of death. You are building up a reputation that being on that program would ruin.
 
i wish i'd got a solicitation like that! there was so much wrong with the place where i was, tons of potential, amazing local flavor, and pennies for a budget. literally.
i would've loved the publicity, cried like heck when they insulted me and what i'd done and it probably would have made for great tv.
i think you need nerves of steel, can really go with the flow, and be prepared to have them show you in a bad light. we had friends acquaintances really who did the restaurant show and they were livid when they saw the final product. but, hey, they got renovations and lots of ideas and a new kitchen out of the deal. they've gone back to a lot of their old ways, but it's okay.
if you're serious about pursuing it, respond ... then watch as many of the shows as you can (they are online) and then you will know what you're in for. keeping in mind they need drama ... if you don't have it, they'll create it.
 
You can watch a few episodes on hulu for free and see what you think. I have to say that for me it's about half and half. By the end of the show sometimes I'm thinking, "That would be a really cool place to see, or go." A resent one was in a fishing location that looked really cool. One time they did one about a lady who seemed really nice with a sweet property, who was honestly just out of the loop on technology and that was keeping her from having a more thriving business. I don't think the show is brutal, and it would let some folks know you are there who might want to come to a place exactly like yours. Watch it and see how you feel.
 
We were ready to participate in a TV show that involved swapping one families mom for the wife in another family
We would get $5000 in cash and the other "wife" would get $5000 to spend on anything she thought would benefit our family.
We thought what the heck, 10 grand! Even if the choice of the other wife was a lifetime supply of licorice, we still would have the exposure and another 5 thousand.
Then an attorney friend recommended we send him a copy and also forward a copy of the contract to our insurance company.
Our insurer said their contact specified anything that happened while filming, including injuries to guests or their crew was covered at a minuscule level and any balance of liability was ours. And our insurer added for emphasis, that truly meant all of the liability was ours.
Our insurer would cover nothing at all because this was not considered normal operations. If we wanted a rider to cover use as a set for a tv show it would cost us over a thousand dollars plus nearly one hundred dollars a day for the filming period. (Eight years ago)
The TV shows response was there had never been any incidents or any claims so they felt the coverage was adequate and it was take it or leave it.
Our attorney friend pointed out the insurance deficiency and about three pages of single spaced bullet points of other risks to us that far exceeded the benefits. Including the clause that said we had no recourse against them for anything in the show, the marketing of the show or the reuse of the show that damaged the inn, in any way.
They need ratings, so they want you to look bad. But if they used a clip in the promo that showed my daughter's hand making mud pies and then me serving muffins with the caption would you stay at this place? There would be nothing I could do to stop them, even if it damaged my business and even if it was never even used in the show.
My advice would be to not even consider this. I mean never ever.
But if you do want to do it, then please do not sign a contract until your insurance agent and a trusted legal advisor have read the entire contract to find all of the Gotchas.
 
An Old Tavernkeeper said:
We were ready to participate in a TV show that involved swapping one families mom for the wife in another family
We would get $5000 in cash and the other "wife" would get $5000 to spend on anything she thought would benefit our family.
We thought what the heck, 10 grand! Even if the choice of the other wife was a lifetime supply of licorice, we still would have the exposure and another 5 thousand.
Then an attorney friend recommended we send him a copy and also forward a copy of the contract to our insurance company.
Our insurer said their contact specified anything that happened while filming, including injuries to guests or their crew was covered at a minuscule level and any balance of liability was ours. And our insurer added for emphasis, that truly meant all of the liability was ours.
Our insurer would cover nothing at all because this was not considered normal operations. If we wanted a rider to cover use as a set for a tv show it would cost us over a thousand dollars plus nearly one hundred dollars a day for the filming period. (Eight years ago)
The TV shows response was there had never been any incidents or any claims so they felt the coverage was adequate and it was take it or leave it.
Our attorney friend pointed out the insurance deficiency and about three pages of single spaced bullet points of other risks to us that far exceeded the benefits. Including the clause that said we had no recourse against them for anything in the show, the marketing of the show or the reuse of the show that damaged the inn, in any way.
They need ratings, so they want you to look bad. But if they used a clip in the promo that showed my daughter's hand making mud pies and then me serving muffins with the caption would you stay at this place? There would be nothing I could do to stop them, even if it damaged my business and even if it was never even used in the show.
My advice would be to not even consider this. I mean never ever.
But if you do want to do it, then please do not sign a contract until your insurance agent and a trusted legal advisor have read the entire contract to find all of the Gotchas..
Click to expand...
Did you see the one they did with the 'Bavarian' style inn/restaurant? Holy cow! You're right, there is no way you'd want to stay there/eat there after seeing it on that show!
And they always match up complete opposites.
Sloppy housekeeping with neat as a pin. Easy going mom with drill sargent. Obnoxious kids with well behaved kids. Overbearing, borderline abusive husband with nice, sweet guy.
 
its like 4 in a bed in the uk - they are always calling out for more bed and breakfasts to be on it - ie 4 a week are needed.
A lot of places do very well out of it - but usually the winner comes off as looking bonkers.
a perfect example of this is a place in Wales - 3 bedrooms all nice and big, sauna on site but you shared 2 bathrooms between the 3, and they did a continental style breakfast lots of ham, cheese lovely bread, salmon etc and lots of it and excellent quality. Rooms were charged at virtually what we charge for 1 person in a single. so really good value - and they were taking money off for the shared facilities - at that price it was definitely reflected in the price already! however I am sure they got lots of business from the show as came off normal, clean place and bargain price - even though they didn't win.
 

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