Local B&B Associations - did you join?

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Figurehead

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Good morning. We attended our local Bed and Breakfast Association the other night and are considering whether to join or not. We have been open four months now and are comfortable with the number of guests we've had so far but I'm wondering if you found it advantageous to be involved in a local Association.
The cost seems a little steep for having just two rooms so are weighing the cost with possible return.
Thank you.
 
  • How local? County-wide? Regional? (ie - 'Wine Country', 'Lakes Region', or the like)
  • What do you get for the money?
  • Does their website show up in searches?
  • Can you network with the individual owners rather than paying the organization?
  • Do they have an 'office' where tourists go for info?
  • Do they have a map they produce of the area?
  • What's 'steep'? (We have 7 rooms and pay $1200/year for the local marketing organization.)
We have a group website that the local B&B's are on. We don't do any marketing, the website just exists. Friends are in a town where the local B&B's (25 of them) can join the group for $5000/year. I'd find that a bit onerous.
If your state has a free listing, go for that.
 
I believe in Associations - numbers have a bigger voice. I have 3 rooms and am "off the beaten path".
It depends on how active that Association is - do they promote your area, do they maintain a web site that provides you a link and a presence as well as the how much - to make a decision on is it worth it.
I belong to my State Association - they give me a page that gives more info than a Directory listing and my dues are pooled with others to provide funds to market the Association web site as well as provide inspections to attest to the quality pf pur member inns, AND watch legislation as well as get Legislation changed which we have done.
I am listed on the local CVB web site with a link (now free, but when it was a paid membership, I paid).
I also joined a national Association - again for the numbers reason, I expect no other benefit from it other than them having the numbers to get entities such as TA and Legislators to sit down and talk. Dues are more than the one Directory I list on.
I also joined a Club (what would be an association in the US) in the UK to get a listing on their site. Do not expect an immediate return on that regarding the listing as I am the only US listing, but it HAS given me publicity in my area. Cheap at the price. Only you can answer the question "Is it worth it?" (I do not belong to the county Chamber of Commerce because it is NOT worth it.)
 
Gosh it depends on the association.
There could be 5 of them for you to join and only 1 will benefit you the most, it all depends.
State, county, city, region, chamber, cvb, tourism org, etc etc. Are B&B associations meant to promote your area or are they a professional group for you to become a member? How much is each and how much time are you willing to commit?
Can you benefit any of these by providing high resolution images that they use in their marketing or online presence with an attribution back to your inn?
 
We did but it was a great fit. Our association charges a lower dues to smaller houses.
We do group advertising and have an availability calendar on line so we can refer walk ins if we're full. It's a great group.
As others have said, it depends on what you get out of it.
 
We did but it was a great fit. Our association charges a lower dues to smaller houses.
We do group advertising and have an availability calendar on line so we can refer walk ins if we're full. It's a great group.
As others have said, it depends on what you get out of it..
TheBeachHouse said:
We did but it was a great fit. Our association charges a lower dues to smaller houses.
We do group advertising and have an availability calendar on line so we can refer walk ins if we're full. It's a great group.
As others have said, it depends on what you get out of it.
The avail calendar is the biggest reason everyone coughs up $100 when I need it - to keep the website up.
 
  • How local? County-wide? Regional? (ie - 'Wine Country', 'Lakes Region', or the like)
  • What do you get for the money?
  • Does their website show up in searches?
  • Can you network with the individual owners rather than paying the organization?
  • Do they have an 'office' where tourists go for info?
  • Do they have a map they produce of the area?
  • What's 'steep'? (We have 7 rooms and pay $1200/year for the local marketing organization.)
We have a group website that the local B&B's are on. We don't do any marketing, the website just exists. Friends are in a town where the local B&B's (25 of them) can join the group for $5000/year. I'd find that a bit onerous.
If your state has a free listing, go for that..
Morticia, it is county-wide and does have the availability calendar. Thank you for the questions because it showed me that I would be getting my money's worth! A link to our website, group advertising, guest referrals, and support. Compared to your's - this is not steep after all!
 
I believe in Associations - numbers have a bigger voice. I have 3 rooms and am "off the beaten path".
It depends on how active that Association is - do they promote your area, do they maintain a web site that provides you a link and a presence as well as the how much - to make a decision on is it worth it.
I belong to my State Association - they give me a page that gives more info than a Directory listing and my dues are pooled with others to provide funds to market the Association web site as well as provide inspections to attest to the quality pf pur member inns, AND watch legislation as well as get Legislation changed which we have done.
I am listed on the local CVB web site with a link (now free, but when it was a paid membership, I paid).
I also joined a national Association - again for the numbers reason, I expect no other benefit from it other than them having the numbers to get entities such as TA and Legislators to sit down and talk. Dues are more than the one Directory I list on.
I also joined a Club (what would be an association in the US) in the UK to get a listing on their site. Do not expect an immediate return on that regarding the listing as I am the only US listing, but it HAS given me publicity in my area. Cheap at the price. Only you can answer the question "Is it worth it?" (I do not belong to the county Chamber of Commerce because it is NOT worth it.).
"may you be as busy" could also include as many groups as you want to be in! Gillum, thank you for the encouragement and noting just how many available associations are out there. I think right now I'll stick to the one local.
 
Gosh it depends on the association.
There could be 5 of them for you to join and only 1 will benefit you the most, it all depends.
State, county, city, region, chamber, cvb, tourism org, etc etc. Are B&B associations meant to promote your area or are they a professional group for you to become a member? How much is each and how much time are you willing to commit?
Can you benefit any of these by providing high resolution images that they use in their marketing or online presence with an attribution back to your inn?.
Many choices and I think I'll stay local for now. They meet four times a year at a different B&B each quarter and are working to get the website updated for easier use. This group promotes our county area and each other. I appreciate your questions, JBloggs. Thank you.
 
We did but it was a great fit. Our association charges a lower dues to smaller houses.
We do group advertising and have an availability calendar on line so we can refer walk ins if we're full. It's a great group.
As others have said, it depends on what you get out of it..
The other innkeepers at the meeting were very welcoming, gracious, and helpful. And the fee is an initial charge plus so much for each room. It also includes advertising but the availability calendar is an extra fee. Together it added up but will probably be worth it. I appreciate your input, Beachhouse. Have a beautiful day.
 
see ours is $94 a year which is peanuts and means we get free referals within the group of 40 B&B's which if I get I nights worth im paid for as well as our own web site. Main advantage is it gives other organisations like the international conference center a point of contact to deal with us over calendars, the theaters, and events venue's and so on. It also means we work together on housing larger groups ie barbershop choir of 60 and I can do 21 need help finding space for other 39 in my immediate vicinity and prices and so on.
Its also immediate help for doorstep knockers ie I can send out an email with their mobile and ask others with space to ring them direct as well as sending out warnings for people you don't want. Its all about getting people trained to work together and know each others properties
 
When you are new I think it's great to be in an association if you like that group and the price is right. It can help you get found, can help you gain credibility. It's also great to have other innkeepers to be friendly with.
The other innkeepers were very welcoming, gracious, and helpful. Sold!
Friendly competition maybe but also friendly referrals which is so awesome. A lot of my first year guests and indeed my very first guests were overflow from another place. So many people said 'we didn't know you were here' and I went crazy working to get found. I wanted the area b&b's/inns to band together with me but they didn't want to. I found this forum to find friends!
After a year, you can decide whether to renew or not.
 
When you are new I think it's great to be in an association if you like that group and the price is right. It can help you get found, can help you gain credibility. It's also great to have other innkeepers to be friendly with.
The other innkeepers were very welcoming, gracious, and helpful. Sold!
Friendly competition maybe but also friendly referrals which is so awesome. A lot of my first year guests and indeed my very first guests were overflow from another place. So many people said 'we didn't know you were here' and I went crazy working to get found. I wanted the area b&b's/inns to band together with me but they didn't want to. I found this forum to find friends!
After a year, you can decide whether to renew or not..
that's where I know we are super lucky here - in a terrace with 6 B&B's all of which work together and give each other over flow -
Today is a perfect example - phoned 2 other bb's who are know are putting up workers for a particular project as one wet the bed and wanted them to know not to take him - he is being fired anyway as was supposed to be at work 6am and was me chucking him out at 12 lunch time - boss was super unimpressed! then was invited round for cake to a 3rd while I was waiting for guests - its nice to have people who understand you don't just do breakfast and then swan about all day!
 
When you are new I think it's great to be in an association if you like that group and the price is right. It can help you get found, can help you gain credibility. It's also great to have other innkeepers to be friendly with.
The other innkeepers were very welcoming, gracious, and helpful. Sold!
Friendly competition maybe but also friendly referrals which is so awesome. A lot of my first year guests and indeed my very first guests were overflow from another place. So many people said 'we didn't know you were here' and I went crazy working to get found. I wanted the area b&b's/inns to band together with me but they didn't want to. I found this forum to find friends!
After a year, you can decide whether to renew or not..
that's where I know we are super lucky here - in a terrace with 6 B&B's all of which work together and give each other over flow -
Today is a perfect example - phoned 2 other bb's who are know are putting up workers for a particular project as one wet the bed and wanted them to know not to take him - he is being fired anyway as was supposed to be at work 6am and was me chucking him out at 12 lunch time - boss was super unimpressed! then was invited round for cake to a 3rd while I was waiting for guests - its nice to have people who understand you don't just do breakfast and then swan about all day!
.
Jcam said:
- its nice to have people who understand you don't just do breakfast and then swan about all day!
Wait. What? It's not about the swanning? But that's what I do best!
 
We are Chamber members. Website and links are OK.
Did not join our state association as benefit does not match the cost. Their site just does not have the visibility in our area.
 
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