Dining transition

So in the past month or so, I've been transforming my dining room and also my breakfast service. I bought a 5 room B&B that had two dining room tables - one for 6 and one for 4. So with a full house, we could seat 10 (or squeeze in an extra one here or there). We served a plated breakfast at 9am. Guests would help themselves to coffee in the parlor while waiting to be seated in the dining room. Once seated, I usually had the breads on the table (muffins, scones, etc.) and the fruit course set at each place. Once everyone was seated, we'd take orders for juice, coffee, water. Serve those and wait for folks to finish their fruit and then plate and serve the main course.
I'm now going to 5 tables for two. I was considering offering a breakfast hour (8:30-9:30), but ask folks ahead of time when they might appear in the dining room so as to have some plan ahead of time. Is that too intrusive?
Then, the last three mornings, I've had newlyweds who asked me if I would bring them breakfast in their room. They were so nice about the whole thing, and I really didn't have much else going on, so I thought, hey! why not? This got me to thinking that maybe room service is something I should offer as an 'add on' for an extra fee. Has anyone offered this option with any success? If so, what do you think folks would pay for this? I wat thinking $10/day. Too low?
As usual, thanks for any helpful advice you can offer.

This is just me, but if you are going to feed them anyway why charge them extra. Unless it an inconvenience for you, meaning having to go up and downstairs carrying trays. We had a bride and groom at the inn and they have a private porch off their room and we set up for them to have a private breakfast away from the other guests (which were their family) and didn't charge extra. Just my two cents!

I think it's great you're getting more tables. We can seat 11 at a time and it can be a pain when there are 17 guests!
We serve from 8 - 9:30, but I don't ask, I just tell the guests the time frame. When we do ask they hem and haw so it's annoying. We only ask if they are the only guests, just so we don't wait around for hours.
Yes, charge for room service. You get room service at a hotel and the food is 4x the regular rate and you're expected to tip. You're only charging the tip!

We have two trays in the dining room for guests to use. Most people will then bring them back down when they are done. One weekend it was so popular that our dirty dishes tray vanished upstairs as well!! So we searched and found an old tray for the dirty dishes...it followed the rest up the stairs...so we carried dishes by hand until one returned from upstairs!
So that being said...go for it, I think people will like it!

Lea Ann said:

This is just me, but if you are going to feed them anyway why charge them extra. Unless it an inconvenience for you, meaning having to go up and downstairs carrying trays. We had a bride and groom at the inn and they have a private porch off their room and we set up for them to have a private breakfast away from the other guests (which were their family) and didn't charge extra. Just my two cents!.

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Lea Ann said:

This is just me, but if you are going to feed them anyway why charge them extra. Unless it an inconvenience for you, meaning having to go up and downstairs carrying trays. We had a bride and groom at the inn and they have a private porch off their room and we set up for them to have a private breakfast away from the other guests (which were their family) and didn't charge extra. Just my two cents!

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Because serving at the table is one thing. Serving in the room is extra work, time away from serving in the dining room, and extra service. Darn betcha you charge extra - and no less than $20. More if it will fly. Test the waters - see how many opt for it @ $25. would be really great if you had a table in the room so it would NOT be in bed.

For sure the 5 two tops is the way to go. We have 8 4-tops that are the same and can be combined to make a six top or better for when we have groups.
We answer the, "What time is breakfast?" question with, "We serve breakfast between 7 and 9 and we ask what time you would like to take breakfast before your retire so that we will know when to look for you. Of course, if you want coffee sooner, just poke you head in the kitchen and we'll get right on it." So I would say it is not intrusive.
Food + Rooms + Coffee or Tea = The occasional chore you wouldn't have otherwise, plus the up and down with dishes issue, so you have to charge enough to make that worth your time. Here that would have to be $30 or more and it just seems like it would be too much.

Maybe you could have a certain room(s) be for breakfast included in their rooms. So you could have a table set up for it all the time and not have to worry about rooms that don't have space for chairs and tables.

People really do like the 2 tops!

We use to have 1 large table, then decided to add 2 other tables so took out the leaves out of the big table to make room. We have 5 rooms, but can accommodate up to 13, so when we are at peak, we add the leaves to the 2 tops and plenty of space for all.

We serve from 8:30-9:30 and have space for everyone at one time so do not ask.
All our guest rooms are on the 2nd floor so it is a chore if we added room service but we have done so a few times and only when we have just the one in house. I have also teeder tottered around with making this an add on, but it would need to be worth my while to do so and may only offer it in our most expensive rooms.

Copperhead said:

People really do like the 2 tops!

We use to have 1 large table, then decided to add 2 other tables so took out the leaves out of the big table to make room. We have 5 rooms, but can accommodate up to 13, so when we are at peak, we add the leaves to the 2 tops and plenty of space for all.

We serve from 8:30-9:30 and have space for everyone at one time so do not ask.
All our guest rooms are on the 2nd floor so it is a chore if we added room service but we have done so a few times and only when we have just the one in house. I have also teeder tottered around with making this an add on, but it would need to be worth my while to do so and may only offer it in our most expensive rooms..

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We've had requests for room service but we're not set up for it. No trays large enough for all the dishes, no seating in the rooms, no time to organize it.
When someone says a spouse is sick we'll do a tray of toast and juice that they take up themselves.
But to try to make a regular deal of it? Don't see it happening.
Of course we've been scolded for being so rigid. Also scolded for not serving on the porch. Because it's all so damned easy, right? Just throw it together, what's the big deal? You're not doing anything else anyway. ;-)
Maybe I should buy small plates. We were going to the pottery place to replace some chipped dishes so I'll look for lunch size plates instead of dinner size. Have a few on hand.

i love breakfast in room - and i would make it $20 or even $25. because i know you'll add special touches and you have to get it to them hot and clear it out - and deal with inevitable spillage - and you need a setup in room for where they can sit and eat because i really hope they aren't going to eat in bed but they might. and, if you are busy, $10 will not be much.
i'd gladly pay $20.

Morticia said:

Copperhead said:

People really do like the 2 tops!

We use to have 1 large table, then decided to add 2 other tables so took out the leaves out of the big table to make room. We have 5 rooms, but can accommodate up to 13, so when we are at peak, we add the leaves to the 2 tops and plenty of space for all.

We serve from 8:30-9:30 and have space for everyone at one time so do not ask.
All our guest rooms are on the 2nd floor so it is a chore if we added room service but we have done so a few times and only when we have just the one in house. I have also teeder tottered around with making this an add on, but it would need to be worth my while to do so and may only offer it in our most expensive rooms..

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We've had requests for room service but we're not set up for it. No trays large enough for all the dishes, no seating in the rooms, no time to organize it.
When someone says a spouse is sick we'll do a tray of toast and juice that they take up themselves.
But to try to make a regular deal of it? Don't see it happening.
Of course we've been scolded for being so rigid. Also scolded for not serving on the porch. Because it's all so damned easy, right? Just throw it together, what's the big deal? You're not doing anything else anyway. ;-)
Maybe I should buy small plates. We were going to the pottery place to replace some chipped dishes so I'll look for lunch size plates instead of dinner size. Have a few on hand.
.

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Morticia said:

Also scolded for not serving on the porch. Because it's all so damned easy, right? Just throw it together, what's the big deal? You're not doing anything else anyway. ;-)

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Oh yes, then there are the veranda requests.... And one sees another out there and then......

yes, i'd be one of 'those guests' asking to eat in a different place. oops.
once i served, if guests wanted to move outside to one of the umbrella tables or on one of the porches, it was fine with me. but i couldn't bring their food all over the property for them - delivered to the dining area only. and they were good about bringing their dishes back inside. (except for the occasional attempt to take away a mug!)

Copperhead said:

Morticia said:

Copperhead said:

People really do like the 2 tops!

We use to have 1 large table, then decided to add 2 other tables so took out the leaves out of the big table to make room. We have 5 rooms, but can accommodate up to 13, so when we are at peak, we add the leaves to the 2 tops and plenty of space for all.

We serve from 8:30-9:30 and have space for everyone at one time so do not ask.
All our guest rooms are on the 2nd floor so it is a chore if we added room service but we have done so a few times and only when we have just the one in house. I have also teeder tottered around with making this an add on, but it would need to be worth my while to do so and may only offer it in our most expensive rooms..

Click to expand...

We've had requests for room service but we're not set up for it. No trays large enough for all the dishes, no seating in the rooms, no time to organize it.
When someone says a spouse is sick we'll do a tray of toast and juice that they take up themselves.
But to try to make a regular deal of it? Don't see it happening.
Of course we've been scolded for being so rigid. Also scolded for not serving on the porch. Because it's all so damned easy, right? Just throw it together, what's the big deal? You're not doing anything else anyway. ;-)
Maybe I should buy small plates. We were going to the pottery place to replace some chipped dishes so I'll look for lunch size plates instead of dinner size. Have a few on hand.
.

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Morticia said:

Also scolded for not serving on the porch. Because it's all so damned easy, right? Just throw it together, what's the big deal? You're not doing anything else anyway. ;-)

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Oh yes, then there are the veranda requests.... And one sees another out there and then......
.

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In the dining room if it's cold (65) outside on the veranda is a must if it is warm enough (66)

We'll be opening a new room this summer (we're moving into our own house next to the B&B) and we're pricing it that it will include breakfast in the room - it will be our most expensive room so we're adding it in. We're doing this for two reasons - one it will make us more money for that room and also our dining area only seats 18 which is what we currently have and don't want guests to have to wait for a table. The room will have a bistro table & chair set so they aren't eating on the bed (hopefully) and a coffee maker and fridge in the room for the coffee/tea service (can have cream/milk in the fridge) and they can keep their wine/food in there too.
When thinking of this, we had to consider all of the logistics. This is the only room that we have access to from our side of the B&B up a back staircase because it was our bedroom. Given that we serve a 2 course breakfast and it's Murphy's Law that many show up at the same time, neither of us can afford to be going through the dining room with a tray of food and up/down the stairs to a guest room to deliver them breakfast in bed. That would take one of us away from regular service in the dining room which I'm not prepared to do. I also think that I'd then get other guests asking if they could have it delivered to their room the next morning after seeing me parade by them with a pretty tray to take to other guests.
I would certainly charge $20 or more for the service. It's not just the going up with the food, but it will be a separate trip back down with that tray when you're cleaning up the room. Good luck, make it worth doing for you and the guest.

seashanty said:

yes, i'd be one of 'those guests' asking to eat in a different place. oops.
once i served, if guests wanted to move outside to one of the umbrella tables or on one of the porches, it was fine with me. but i couldn't bring their food all over the property for them - delivered to the dining area only. and they were good about bringing their dishes back inside. (except for the occasional attempt to take away a mug!).

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I could tell them they are welcome to take the plates outside. But, out of sight, out of mind. No coffee service. No refills. No condiments.
It's hard enough to remember the guests in the sitting room and I can see them!

Thanks, everyone, for the helpful thoughts. I had not considered the 'eating on the bed' thing. I'm now thinking that I could possibly get a small table and 2 chairs into each of the rooms if I eliminated another piece of furniture. Each room has something that I could sacrifice. Just a matter of finances, of course.
Speaking of finances, I was thrilled to get the 30" square tables at an on-line auction site. I had figured that they would cost me in the neighborhood of $300 new. I had found a place in CA that had free shipping. Anyway, this auction site happens to have a location just 20 minutes from me. I ended up getting the tables for $90! Score! So, I had enough left over from the $330 that I had saved to get the material for the table cloths, a little paint and more serving dishes, too.

Aussie Innkeeper said:

Thanks, everyone, for the helpful thoughts. I had not considered the 'eating on the bed' thing. I'm now thinking that I could possibly get a small table and 2 chairs into each of the rooms if I eliminated another piece of furniture. Each room has something that I could sacrifice. Just a matter of finances, of course.
Speaking of finances, I was thrilled to get the 30" square tables at an on-line auction site. I had figured that they would cost me in the neighborhood of $300 new. I had found a place in CA that had free shipping. Anyway, this auction site happens to have a location just 20 minutes from me. I ended up getting the tables for $90! Score! So, I had enough left over from the $330 that I had saved to get the material for the table cloths, a little paint and more serving dishes, too..

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Score!

Breakfast delivered to their door or their room should not be free. This is an add on and you should charge for it.
Let me finish the sentence from the rest who mention leaving your table guests to deliver it, you have to plan it all out to deliver it as well, and then you get to haul it back down when they are done. There is a ton more work than serving a table guest. They WILL knock over juice on the tray or you will when you carry it all downstairs again, or back inside.
My two cents:
1) Charge, make it an option for a romantic getaway, or to lure those guests who don't like the traditional B&B "sit with strangers" theme. It is not, and should not be included in the room rate, ever. Hotels charge a premium for room service, they charge FOR the delivery and an addtl cost for each menu item. It is a lot more work to pare everything out for a room service meal.
2) Make it a set time. We do ours in accordance to what we are serving at the table.
3) Do it when you can do it. Here I have it set for weekends only when I may have more help. I actually have one on Friday here while I have other guests inside at the table, I have to go outside, where it my be icy or rainy and it is a pain in the patootie (as mentioned I have to make two trips OUT and then two EXTRA trips back in).
If my DD18 is here then she gets the $ and delivers and retrieves and is quite happy for the extra - AND - when she does it they tend to also tip! So she may end up making more than the delivery fee. Also, if it is nice weather, we set it up outside, and that is her thing if she is available. It is MUCH NICER outside.
4) Make it limited to the most expensive rooms, and the rooms where there is a likelihood you will have this requested, ie a stand alone cottage or suite. AND NOW consider what happens if you have TWO deliveries on one morning. You need all the goods to deliver the food fresh and hot, and also the ability to do so.
5) Give it a trial run. Pick some guests and give it to them as a gift, if they are an anniv or something. If you have a rose or posie in a vase, use it. I reuse them. Or a newspaper, or something quirky for fun.
Pricing it - do we charge too little at $10 per day, should we charge $10 per person? Should we charge $25 delivery fee? I try to think about our room rates and do it in accordance. That would be up to you, we are not having it often enough, I would have liked to have more breakfast deliveries on weekends. Last year they were down.

Copperhead said:

Morticia said:

Copperhead said:

People really do like the 2 tops!

We use to have 1 large table, then decided to add 2 other tables so took out the leaves out of the big table to make room. We have 5 rooms, but can accommodate up to 13, so when we are at peak, we add the leaves to the 2 tops and plenty of space for all.

We serve from 8:30-9:30 and have space for everyone at one time so do not ask.
All our guest rooms are on the 2nd floor so it is a chore if we added room service but we have done so a few times and only when we have just the one in house. I have also teeder tottered around with making this an add on, but it would need to be worth my while to do so and may only offer it in our most expensive rooms..

Click to expand...

We've had requests for room service but we're not set up for it. No trays large enough for all the dishes, no seating in the rooms, no time to organize it.
When someone says a spouse is sick we'll do a tray of toast and juice that they take up themselves.
But to try to make a regular deal of it? Don't see it happening.
Of course we've been scolded for being so rigid. Also scolded for not serving on the porch. Because it's all so damned easy, right? Just throw it together, what's the big deal? You're not doing anything else anyway. ;-)
Maybe I should buy small plates. We were going to the pottery place to replace some chipped dishes so I'll look for lunch size plates instead of dinner size. Have a few on hand.
.

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Morticia said:

Also scolded for not serving on the porch. Because it's all so damned easy, right? Just throw it together, what's the big deal? You're not doing anything else anyway. ;-)

Click to expand...

Oh yes, then there are the veranda requests.... And one sees another out there and then......
.

Click to expand...

Copperhead said:

Morticia said:

Also scolded for not serving on the porch. Because it's all so damned easy, right? Just throw it together, what's the big deal? You're not doing anything else anyway. ;-)

Click to expand...

Oh yes, then there are the veranda requests.... And one sees another out there and then......

Click to expand...

It would not be easy to haul it all up for your place, but easier than for my place. You can only do it if you have assistance to do it, if not don't even think about it. I was one who could envision breakfast up there, but then you would have to go to a continental set up and let everyone eat up there. That is not what you are known for, so would be a shame to do that. You can have coffee out there right now, and I think that is pretty nice of you!

I have small tables and chairs in each of my rooms, or I wouldn't do it. I added the settings when I transitioned to weekday breakfast delivery to their room (it's a simpler breakfast than the full formal weekend fare). So when I deliver weekend breakfast, it's at least two trips up with everything, while six other people are seated at the dining room table. Room delivery is the same menu as everyone else, and I take it up after everyone else is seated (usually by 9:15 or so). I have kept the delivery portions warm in an oven until I can get back to it.

When I deliver, i set everything up at the table in their room. If they choose to take it to their bed (and I'm sure some do), there's not much I can do about that. But I make it very nice by setting up a small candle, flowers, put a CD in their CD player...I make it formal in the hopes that they will take the time to enjoy it AT THE TABLE. I tell them they can leave everything and I will pick up when I freshen the room in a couple hours, or if they don't plan to go out for the day, please set it outside on a tray I've set up. Most put it outside their door, regardless of their plans. That way, I can get to the dishes right away and other guests don't have to look at their dishes, etc.

I charge $29 for room delivery. I intentionally priced it high because I don't like to do it. It's a lot of work for one person - do-able, but can get hectic, especially if anyone has dietary restrictions, or if they want it at a later time, or they need some condiment I haven't thought to bring. But I offer it because people do like it. I'd say I get one out of ten guests requesting it. Give it a go - you'll quickly learn what works and what doesn't.