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Morticia

Morticia

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We have guests who return every year and take 3 rooms for 3 days. They never ask for a discount altho we do sometimes make exceptions for them on certain policies (we're ok with that) .
One person pays for the whole trip (very generous aunt). I'd like to give her a gift to thank her for all the business every year (something we do on a random basis ).
Usually it's a gift of local candy for someone who stays a couple of days, one room.
I put together a gift bag of approx $40 in local goodies that she can share if she wants but it's really for her.
I'm wondering if it's too much or not enough?
 
I would think that is enough. She obviously likes the inn, the innkeepers, and the hospitality to return year after year. It is wonderful - she is a discerning guest who realizes she has a gem.
 
I think that's just right ... especially if you can include discount coupons or passes or something for places they like to go when they're with you.
One guest who stayed for a week every year (still does) ... I finally got the idea to give him a couple perks. One was this. He Loved the sunset cruise on the ferry line in the harbor so I gave him two tickets and a voucher for the wine and snacks they sold onboard. I actually earned the complimentary cruise tickets by selling a numer of them to guests but I was never able to go. (He could exchange them for the lighthouse cruise or the puffin cruise). So it cost me $30 but was about $90 value. I didn't say anything but put a display in his room with a piece of bleached driftwood and 'In Appreciation from m.e. at xyz inn' on white card stock.So he saw it when he checked in. He was over the moon about it.
 
seashanty said:
I think that's just right ... especially if you can include discount coupons or passes or something for places they like to go when they're with you.
One guest who stayed for a week every year (still does) ... I finally got the idea to give him a couple perks. One was this. He Loved the sunset cruise on the ferry line in the harbor so I gave him two tickets and a voucher for the wine and snacks they sold onboard. I actually earned the complimentary cruise tickets by selling a numer of them to guests but I was never able to go. (He could exchange them for the lighthouse cruise or the puffin cruise). So it cost me $30 but was about $90 value. I didn't say anything but put a display in his room with a piece of bleached driftwood and 'In Appreciation from m.e. at xyz inn' on white card stock.So he saw it when he checked in. He was over the moon about it..
Click to expand...
Love that!
Odd thing is these guests share nothing with us. I have no idea what they do while here, altho I think we're a 'half way' spot for all the family to gather. They go off for a week somewhere else after their time here.
They are so quiet that after 6 years I still don't know the aunt's husband's name! She calls him 'dear' and everyone else calls him 'Uncle'.
I was going to include a card but would have to address it to 'Mr & Mrs' which seems so formal after all this time.
 
Sounds alright to me. Three rooms could be a bunch of people so you want enough for everyone to get more than a nibble if she shares....but not too much to be overwhelming.
Questions though - Would she expect it next year as well? Or did you word it so she knows its a random thing.
 
hehe, Dear Wonderful Guests ... sounds like Jim Dear and Darling (Disney)
 
Duff2014 said:
Sounds alright to me. Three rooms could be a bunch of people so you want enough for everyone to get more than a nibble if she shares....but not too much to be overwhelming.
Questions though - Would she expect it next year as well? Or did you word it so she knows its a random thing..
Click to expand...
When they receive it I'll say a simple thank you for all the business.
I don't do this every visit, and I've never done it for them before.
What's a good way to word it so it doesn't sound like an ongoing thing?
 
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful.
 
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful..
Click to expand...
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful.
Click to expand...
How much on the gift card?
We started off giving a discount after 3 visits. Some guests still get that but we stopped giving that to new guests several years ago.
A GC to a favorite restaurant would be excellent!
 
Morticia said:
Duff2014 said:
Sounds alright to me. Three rooms could be a bunch of people so you want enough for everyone to get more than a nibble if she shares....but not too much to be overwhelming.
Questions though - Would she expect it next year as well? Or did you word it so she knows its a random thing..
Click to expand...
When they receive it I'll say a simple thank you for all the business.
I don't do this every visit, and I've never done it for them before.
What's a good way to word it so it doesn't sound like an ongoing thing?
.
Click to expand...
Morticia said:
When they receive it I'll say a simple thank you for all the business.
I don't do this every visit, and I've never done it for them before.
What's a good way to word it so it doesn't sound like an ongoing thing?
Click to expand...
I haven't the slightest clue! I was looking to you for the answer!
 
What a very nice gesture. No matter the value, it is the thought that counts. It is a TY!
If you do a GC to a restaurant just remember that the whole gang may end up going. If Auntie isn't paying for the lot, they may notice the GC.
I would state we just realized you have stayed here now X years and want to take this opportunity to say how much we appreciate your loyalty.
 
Morticia said:
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful..
Click to expand...
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful.
Click to expand...
How much on the gift card?
We started off giving a discount after 3 visits. Some guests still get that but we stopped giving that to new guests several years ago.
A GC to a favorite restaurant would be excellent!
.
Click to expand...
Morticia said:
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful.
Click to expand...
How much on the gift card?
We started off giving a discount after 3 visits. Some guests still get that but we stopped giving that to new guests several years ago.
A GC to a favorite restaurant would be excellent!
Click to expand...
usually $ 50. That about covers 2 dinners around here. Not often. But I do take out the ladies to lunch sometimes in lieu of any other goodies. you have to remember that we have become very close to a whole lot of our guests. We welcome them with "welcome home" and they say "ahhh, we are home..." So, there is a different relationship here.
 
Exactly my thoughts. Thank you so much for your repeated stays with us ... I don't think they'll expect a gift every year and I wouldn't worry about that.
As for a gc to a restaurant, even a little help off the bill is still nice to get!
 
Duff2014 said:
Sounds alright to me. Three rooms could be a bunch of people so you want enough for everyone to get more than a nibble if she shares....but not too much to be overwhelming.
Questions though - Would she expect it next year as well? Or did you word it so she knows its a random thing..
Click to expand...
oh and I should mention that once I gave a guest who had brought us an enormous amount of business through the year, his 3 night stay on the house. And that was the last we saw of him. Very upsetting. I guess it was too much
 
Iris said:
Morticia said:
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful..
Click to expand...
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful.
Click to expand...
How much on the gift card?
We started off giving a discount after 3 visits. Some guests still get that but we stopped giving that to new guests several years ago.
A GC to a favorite restaurant would be excellent!
.
Click to expand...
Morticia said:
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful.
Click to expand...
How much on the gift card?
We started off giving a discount after 3 visits. Some guests still get that but we stopped giving that to new guests several years ago.
A GC to a favorite restaurant would be excellent!
Click to expand...
usually $ 50. That about covers 2 dinners around here. Not often. But I do take out the ladies to lunch sometimes in lieu of any other goodies. you have to remember that we have become very close to a whole lot of our guests. We welcome them with "welcome home" and they say "ahhh, we are home..." So, there is a different relationship here.
.
Click to expand...
It's a great idea. We have some guests who have a favorite place and it would be nice to cover their drinks or a bottle of wine.
But I didn't want to go too cheap or too much.
We have one guest who always asks if this time is his free stay. I never know if he's joking or not. One of these days I'll probably say yes altho he gets a big discount year round. (He used to bring several people/rooms with him 4x/year.)
I don't do the gifts for folks who get a discount unless they're very nice guests.
 
Iris said:
Morticia said:
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful..
Click to expand...
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful.
Click to expand...
How much on the gift card?
We started off giving a discount after 3 visits. Some guests still get that but we stopped giving that to new guests several years ago.
A GC to a favorite restaurant would be excellent!
.
Click to expand...
Morticia said:
Iris said:
I think that sounds nice. We give out gift cards to one of the guests favorite restaurants (rarely) I like your giftbasket idea. Very thoughtful.
Click to expand...
How much on the gift card?
We started off giving a discount after 3 visits. Some guests still get that but we stopped giving that to new guests several years ago.
A GC to a favorite restaurant would be excellent!
Click to expand...
usually $ 50. That about covers 2 dinners around here. Not often. But I do take out the ladies to lunch sometimes in lieu of any other goodies. you have to remember that we have become very close to a whole lot of our guests. We welcome them with "welcome home" and they say "ahhh, we are home..." So, there is a different relationship here.
.
Click to expand...
My solo businessman gets a "welcome home" or other personal greeting. The one time he brought his wife she said she wasn't going to feel sorry for him on the road any longer with the way everyone was treating him at all his haunts.
He gave us a less than wonderful review and we promptly fixed everything before his return. Then we asked him if it was all fixed to his satisfaction. Yup, he was good to go. He notices everything. No idea what he's going to do when I change the mattress in his room.
 
Update: very well received! They loved it. Still haven't a clue what her husband's name is. I'm getting: 'he'll be right down' or 'my husband said' or 'Uncle, are we leaving now?' Not even a 'go tell Uncle So-and-So it's time to leave'!
And I searched online. Found the phone number listing that usually says 'this person knows these people'. Nothing. She knows no one!
 
Morticia said:
Update: very well received! They loved it. Still haven't a clue what her husband's name is. I'm getting: 'he'll be right down' or 'my husband said' or 'Uncle, are we leaving now?' Not even a 'go tell Uncle So-and-So it's time to leave'!
And I searched online. Found the phone number listing that usually says 'this person knows these people'. Nothing. She knows no one!.
Click to expand...
When you refresh their room, look for a luggage tag. I've had to do that before.
 
Morticia said:
Update: very well received! They loved it. Still haven't a clue what her husband's name is. I'm getting: 'he'll be right down' or 'my husband said' or 'Uncle, are we leaving now?' Not even a 'go tell Uncle So-and-So it's time to leave'!
And I searched online. Found the phone number listing that usually says 'this person knows these people'. Nothing. She knows no one!.
Click to expand...
Maybe he doesn't like his given name.
 
FWIW, gifts that have the B&B name on it are good for encouraging future stays (even if you have to put a nice sticker on something else). That is the whole point of the promotional item industry.
 

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