New PAII Executive Director

Got a mass e-mail from George Newman, the new PAII Executive Director. The thing that stood out to me was that he used the word vendor 11 times in the e-mail. We tend to think of PAII is being about innkeepers, but, I see, vendors are really important. That's where the money is,and PAII has debts to pay.

Here's a vendor perspective as we received this same email. Our experience with PAII this past year resulted in us not renewing our membership. Once PAII got our membership dues, we never heard from them again, we could never get someone to call us back or respond to an email, and we only heard from someone when we didn't renew our membership the following term. Their office passed the blame between a few people there and in the same conversation began hard selling us to exhibit at their conference in New Orleans. The money may be where the vendors are as appropriately described above, but the association needs to offer vendors some value as well in order for us to invest in their missions. We've had far better success supporting local state organizations, sponsoring their conferences, their meetings and their advocacy for the innkeeping industry. We would have liked to continue to support PAII but there was just no value there for us. When we support local state inn and hotel associations we get a better return, they actually say thank you and they do what they can to educate their membership about our products. I'm afraid PAII was a disappointment for this vendor.

Oh, and i was a bit peeved that he wants to make the PAII conference more affordable for the vendors! What the...???!!! How about more affordable for the innkeepers? Anyone got an extra $699 lying around just for registration?! This, of course, does not include travel expenses, hotel or most of your food.
I just got done attending a 2-day state conference that was only $129 (included meals and wonderful snacks and coffee breaks) and lodging $79/night, and I DROVE to it (parking was free).
Anyone know what vendor he was with?

YES! Vendor this, vendor that. That is because he was a vendor!

When they realize that they need to be an organization for ALL sizes of B&B's and make membership levels so it allows for all to be members then they will see their membership grow. That is what Jay was doing but the board did not agree.
Right now it seems to be a sinking ship. Not sure that this leader will be the correct paste to keep it afloat.

Arks said:

Got a mass e-mail from George Newman, the new PAII Executive Director. The thing that stood out to me was that he used the word vendor 11 times in the e-mail. We tend to think of PAII is being about innkeepers, but vendors are really important. That's where the money is,and PAII has debts to pay.

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That did just jump off the page, didn't it? I mean, I went back to check how many of the bullet items were about vendors. Odd how we all picked up on that.

And the word "International" was never mentioned.

Jon Sable said:

And the word "International" was never mentioned..

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Jon Sable said:

And the word "International" was never mentioned.

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It is in there. It is YOUR international association. But not in the sense you mean. There's nothing in there suggesting it's anything but a USA org.

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

And the word "International" was never mentioned..

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Jon Sable said:

And the word "International" was never mentioned.

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It is in there. It is YOUR international association. But not in the sense you mean. There's nothing in there suggesting it's anything but a USA org.
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As far as I can see, there are 6 "International" members. The only vocal ones... gone. Unless you count PR as International, then there are 7 "international" members.

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!.

Click to expand...

Can we call it a conference and only meet from 10 till 2 with Lunch included?

happykeeper said:

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!.

Click to expand...

Can we call it a conference and only meet from 10 till 2 with Lunch included?
.

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happykeeper said:

Can we call it a conference and only meet from 10 till 2 with Lunch included?

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No lunch. Breakfast 3X/day.

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!

Click to expand...

You know...
We do each of us have an area of expertise that we could pontificate on for about an hour, don't we? So, we start at 10 (for those of us who are not morning people) and meet for 2 hours, have breakfast again, meet until 5 and then drinkies all around. Repeat the next day.
There are probably 50 active/semi-active members here. (vs the 1000 or so active accounts signed up)
Hmmmm...
Who has a big enough place we could reserve for an off-season meeting?

We welcome him aboard and wish him all the best!

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!

Click to expand...

I think we had one of those this year already (as is evidenced by my avatar photo)

Joey Bloggs said:

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!

Click to expand...

I think we had one of those this year already (as is evidenced by my avatar photo)

.

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Joey Bloggs said:

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!

Click to expand...

I think we had one of those this year already (as is evidenced by my avatar photo)

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I think thats what you call an Innspiring convention gone VERY WRONG!!!! LOL
I have missed you all. Things have been crazy in my life and I wanted to stop in and say Hi!

I would really like to see the state divided into sections, say 4 or 5. Each section gets its own convention every year. Have meetings a lectures that are about your area and vendors. The one convention a year that moves all over the country is not a good plan. For some, like myself unless its in my backyard I can not go. It cost way to much to go. If it was closer, I would probably go if it was priced right.

happykeeper said:

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!.

Click to expand...

Can we call it a conference and only meet from 10 till 2 with Lunch included?
.

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There are professional conferences for psychologists/psychiatrists/social workers in our area that meet from 9 am-12 pm with a break for mid-morning snack. They have been going strong for 25 years offering 5 days/session with 10 sessions all summer long. They used to be a mainstay of our bookings all summer since folks can take the class, get their credits and play all afternoon.
Let's go for it! Two breakfasts/day and cocktails....sounds like an ideal plan to me.

Hillbilly said:

I would really like to see the state divided into sections, say 4 or 5. Each section gets its own convention every year. Have meetings a lectures that are about your area and vendors. The one convention a year that moves all over the country is not a good plan. For some, like myself unless its in my backyard I can not go. It cost way to much to go. If it was closer, I would probably go if it was priced right..

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Well. I understand about your cost .For us the cost was 3 times the amount to go to SC. Travel cost came to over 3 thousand plus the near $800.00 + conference fee ,accommodations.
Then very few of the vendors could service us, or even wanted to. As we live in Canada. Then the majority of the sessions were geared to Large Inns. Over the years while we were members of PAII we kept asking them when they were going to recognise that the second I in the name means International and actually recognise the INTERNATIONAL members.
There never is anything that PAII does that is International flavour. Plus it never really never was a small B&B focus. Cause that is where the money is not. After call they call themselves Innkeepers not B&B hosts.

Silverspoon said:

happykeeper said:

Arks said:

So why don't we have a yearly Innspiring convention that IS about innkeepers? I'd love to attend one of Gillum's PG-rated lectures, and the vendors could pay just enough to cover the cost of the meeting place.
Nightly cash bar cocktail parties at 6:30 and the next day's lectures don't start until 10 a.m.
The perfect convention, and a tax deductible expense!.

Click to expand...

Can we call it a conference and only meet from 10 till 2 with Lunch included?
.

Click to expand...

There are professional conferences for psychologists/psychiatrists/social workers in our area that meet from 9 am-12 pm with a break for mid-morning snack. They have been going strong for 25 years offering 5 days/session with 10 sessions all summer long. They used to be a mainstay of our bookings all summer since folks can take the class, get their credits and play all afternoon.
Let's go for it! Two breakfasts/day and cocktails....sounds like an ideal plan to me.

.

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Now we're talkin' We're inn!

I think an Innspiring Convention would be great. We could all come by way of road trips and meet somewhere in the middle so that anyone who can't get away can host the ones who do get away, then we can do some sort of webcast wherever we meet up.
But in defense of PAII and vendors, I must admit that I spent the majority of my time at the first PAII meeting when I was an aspiring talking to all the vendors. It was before the downturn, and there were so many vendors. Admit it, our forum gives us the nuts and bolts, the camaraderie, the friendship, but there's nothing like feeling the linens, checking out the computer program vendors, and otherwise kicking the tires. At my second meeting there were fewer vendors, partially because some had gone out of business, and, of course I had fewer needs, but attracting vendors is a big part of what PAII could have to offer us, if put in the proper perspective