Reading those room books

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Morticia

Morticia

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I say this every year but maybe this is the year I do something! Time to update the room books. Less is more? What do you think?
What are the top 5 informational bits that should be in a room book?
If you peruse those guides your innkeeper puts together what do you want to find?
 
Wifi password
nearby restaurants
emergency information.
We also put in a couple pages of history about the house, and a breakfast menu. But all they really want is the wifi password. :)
 
TheBeachHouse said:
Wifi password
nearby restaurants
emergency information.
We also put in a couple pages of history about the house, and a breakfast menu. But all they really want is the wifi password. :).
Click to expand...
Give an abbreviated first page with wi-fi password, breakfast time, how to contact you and no smoking statement....or what ever you need to reinforce. Then in small print let them know that there is much more in the welcome book if they care to look at it.
Then provide a page as an index for all other important information that is organized by topic: About the room (heat, AC, lights, linen changing, housekeeping times etc, use of TV/DVD), About the Inn (early coffee, details about breakfast, fireplace, common areas, map of the grounds and out-door sitting areas, using the keys etc.), About the immediate area we are in, Things to do and location of tourist resources, Emergency info (pharmacy, emergency care etc.), About the innkeepers (Most guests seem to read this and comment!).
I have found that this works well. Those who do not want to be bothered to read can find the critical information on the first page. Those who are here for a while and want some additional information can use the index to find the specific section they need or they can read the entire contents.
 
We have a paper in a stand up plastic frame on the dresser or bedside table which we point out to them when we show them to their room. It has a business card holder attached with our business cards. On the paper, it has wifi code, breakfast time, check out time, information about our weird light switches (turn off switch and you lose all your electricity in your room period.), and that if they need anything, just ask and we will happy to supply it! Restaurant menus are on the table at the top of the stairs. We have a guest to guest notebook on the front desk for anyone to read or write in. Emergency evacuation plan tacked to the back of their door. No missing it on your way out the door.
 
Silverspoon said:
TheBeachHouse said:
Wifi password
nearby restaurants
emergency information.
We also put in a couple pages of history about the house, and a breakfast menu. But all they really want is the wifi password. :).
Click to expand...
Give an abbreviated first page with wi-fi password, breakfast time, how to contact you and no smoking statement....or what ever you need to reinforce. Then in small print let them know that there is much more in the welcome book if they care to look at it.
Then provide a page as an index for all other important information that is organized by topic: About the room (heat, AC, lights, linen changing, housekeeping times etc, use of TV/DVD), About the Inn (early coffee, details about breakfast, fireplace, common areas, map of the grounds and out-door sitting areas, using the keys etc.), About the immediate area we are in, Things to do and location of tourist resources, Emergency info (pharmacy, emergency care etc.), About the innkeepers (Most guests seem to read this and comment!).
I have found that this works well. Those who do not want to be bothered to read can find the critical information on the first page. Those who are here for a while and want some additional information can use the index to find the specific section they need or they can read the entire contents.
.
Click to expand...
I like that. Given our book has many pages, having an index is a good idea.
 
I like the index idea, too
Wifi
Breakfast time and tell me how to find the breakfast room if it's not obvious. (I'm totally serious ... I got scolded for peeking into the innkeeper's kitchen instead of continuing down a long corridor and turning left. Their kitchen door was open. I smelled food and heard voices ... I meant no harm.
Checkout time
How to reach the innkeeper if I need to
Do you have free snacks available? Please and thank you. (yup I'm a bedtime snack kind of person)
 
I had tabs for each section, so easy to find info by type.
As a guest, I want to see things to do (places to eat) within walking distance.
How to contact the innkeeper after hours (this has been missing in many room books/info sheets!).
I had the WiFi code in a visible location as well as the book since we all know folks often don't read.... ;-)
 
Samster said:
I had tabs for each section, so easy to find info by type.
As a guest, I want to see things to do (places to eat) within walking distance.
How to contact the innkeeper after hours (this has been missing in many room books/info sheets!).
I had the WiFi code in a visible location as well as the book since we all know folks often don't read.... ;-).
Click to expand...
Guilty! Looked through a room book carefully - twice, to find the pw. It was on a note placed prominently on the desk. Desk was in the far corner though.
 
Anon Inn said:
Samster said:
I had tabs for each section, so easy to find info by type.
As a guest, I want to see things to do (places to eat) within walking distance.
How to contact the innkeeper after hours (this has been missing in many room books/info sheets!).
I had the WiFi code in a visible location as well as the book since we all know folks often don't read.... ;-).
Click to expand...
Guilty! Looked through a room book carefully - twice, to find the pw. It was on a note placed prominently on the desk. Desk was in the far corner though.
.
Click to expand...
That is why mine are stuck to the TV
 
Did someone post pix of their room books? I'm looking to get away from the 3 ring binder from Staples. Where did you get your binders and what size are they?
Because I have a bazillion 8x11 plastic page covers I'd hate to waste them. But most books I've seen that look nice are square, not rectangular.
Any nice 8x11 photo albums out there?
 
Morticia said:
Did someone post pix of their room books? I'm looking to get away from the 3 ring binder from Staples. Where did you get your binders and what size are they?
Because I have a bazillion 8x11 plastic page covers I'd hate to waste them. But most books I've seen that look nice are square, not rectangular.
Any nice 8x11 photo albums out there?.
Click to expand...
Mine are square 8"x8" with a window in front for our logo and the room name. Here is a site with 8x11 size pages, but they are post-bound so you would not be able to use your plastic sleeves with binder holes. Here is a site that has several colors for albums.
My advice? Don't make your decision based on your current plastic sleeves. If you are looking to swap out binders on a budget, do a few at a time as funds and time allow. But do get something that is quality so it holds up and parts can be replaced if needed.
 
Silverspoon said:
Morticia said:
Did someone post pix of their room books? I'm looking to get away from the 3 ring binder from Staples. Where did you get your binders and what size are they?
Because I have a bazillion 8x11 plastic page covers I'd hate to waste them. But most books I've seen that look nice are square, not rectangular.
Any nice 8x11 photo albums out there?.
Click to expand...
Mine are square 8"x8" with a window in front for our logo and the room name. Here is a site with 8x11 size pages, but they are post-bound so you would not be able to use your plastic sleeves with binder holes. Here is a site that has several colors for albums.
My advice? Don't make your decision based on your current plastic sleeves. If you are looking to swap out binders on a budget, do a few at a time as funds and time allow. But do get something that is quality so it holds up and parts can be replaced if needed.
.
Click to expand...
These look nice. This definitely looks like an off season project. Thanks for all the ideas and input everyone.
 
Silverspoon said:
Morticia said:
Did someone post pix of their room books? I'm looking to get away from the 3 ring binder from Staples. Where did you get your binders and what size are they?
Because I have a bazillion 8x11 plastic page covers I'd hate to waste them. But most books I've seen that look nice are square, not rectangular.
Any nice 8x11 photo albums out there?.
Click to expand...
Mine are square 8"x8" with a window in front for our logo and the room name. Here is a site with 8x11 size pages, but they are post-bound so you would not be able to use your plastic sleeves with binder holes. Here is a site that has several colors for albums.
My advice? Don't make your decision based on your current plastic sleeves. If you are looking to swap out binders on a budget, do a few at a time as funds and time allow. But do get something that is quality so it holds up and parts can be replaced if needed.
.
Click to expand...
Ha! Those are the ones I looked at online! I'm going to the store to see them in person, get an idea of what they have in stock for refill pages.
 

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