July Dudness?

Here we are in a midst of our first heatwave and I'm seeing empty rooms this weekend in town and even in the famous town next door. Very nice well-know property here on the water with 25 rooms, and 8 of them are empty on a Saturday night???? It used to be the phone never stopped ringing this time of year. Bookings-to-date for July are now the worst in 11 years, despite the fact that we are still +100 nights booked-to-date over last year. Any guesses?

I'm turning people away. Mon-Tues is a bit slow but otherwise we're pretty busy.

We sent folks your way yesterday and they said it was mad crazy busy, due to the mollusk activities in the area.

Momma Smurf said:

We sent folks your way yesterday and they said it was mad crazy busy, due to the mollusk activities in the area..

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Momma Smurf said:

We sent folks your way yesterday and they said it was mad crazy busy, due to the mollusk activities in the area.

Click to expand...

Yes, those dang mollusks! And not a single one of my guests knew about it before arriving.
It's also visiting weekend but no one is here for that, either. So far. I've got 4 rooms checking in tonight.

July is spurts for me. July 1 for 1 night, then nothing until this weekend full house. Next week is blocked with the motorcycle event & #2 grandson's wedding BUT have to race home Sunday for a 5-night. So only 3 reservations for the month, but they are big ones.

See july for us a a choca months due to back to back events - as one leaves one comes in and even if there is a small gap its filled with setting up and packing up crews. - then that leads into 3 weeks of Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in August

We are packed out on the weekends and a bunch through the week. Sorry Smurfs, it looks like Mort and us guestnapped your crew. No, no! I mean this face!

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

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2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

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That is the nature of my beast. The bulk of the season is June to September. I'm the only B&B in my town and vicinity. Plus, good reviews and word of mouth are really filling me up this year. We're almost at the end of a three day weekend that I blocked off a few months ago. It's been a wonderful break. Now, I can start looking forward to a three week visit to my girls in October/November. Just a carrot that's dangling in front of the donkey!

2cat_lady said:

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

That is the nature of my beast. The bulk of the season is June to September. I'm the only B&B in my town and vicinity. Plus, good reviews and word of mouth are really filling me up this year. We're almost at the end of a three day weekend that I blocked off a few months ago. It's been a wonderful break. Now, I can start looking forward to a three week visit to my girls in October/November. Just a carrot that's dangling in front of the donkey!
.

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Lovely! It's good to have a vacation to look forward to!

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

We are as full as we need to be. Took reservations until April to see what the calendar looked like and then blocked out the rooms and dates that gave us some time to ourselves. During the months of May and June we took new reservation for the dates that were already booked and in July we just quit taking reservations for the house,and focused on promoting the cottage.
I have been apprehensive about how to scale back without taking the risk of not having "enough". Looks like this summer is a kinder gentler way to be a B+B innkeeper and I am wondering why we didn't cut back sooner. It is so strange to not be going after every inquiry that comes our way...sometimes I don't even answer the phone. OH MY!

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

We are as full as we need to be. Took reservations until April to see what the calendar looked like and then blocked out the rooms and dates that gave us some time to ourselves. During the months of May and June we took new reservation for the dates that were already booked and in July we just quit taking reservations for the house,and focused on promoting the cottage.
I have been apprehensive about how to scale back without taking the risk of not having "enough". Looks like this summer is a kinder gentler way to be a B+B innkeeper and I am wondering why we didn't cut back sooner. It is so strange to not be going after every inquiry that comes our way...sometimes I don't even answer the phone. OH MY!

.

Click to expand...

I'd like to do that but I'm going to sell this joint in a few years so no can do.
If I don't get a new housekeeper we'll start blocking rooms like we did last summer. It stinks getting too old to fill every room.

Morticia said:

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

We are as full as we need to be. Took reservations until April to see what the calendar looked like and then blocked out the rooms and dates that gave us some time to ourselves. During the months of May and June we took new reservation for the dates that were already booked and in July we just quit taking reservations for the house,and focused on promoting the cottage.
I have been apprehensive about how to scale back without taking the risk of not having "enough". Looks like this summer is a kinder gentler way to be a B+B innkeeper and I am wondering why we didn't cut back sooner. It is so strange to not be going after every inquiry that comes our way...sometimes I don't even answer the phone. OH MY!

.

Click to expand...

I'd like to do that but I'm going to sell this joint in a few years so no can do.
If I don't get a new housekeeper we'll start blocking rooms like we did last summer. It stinks getting too old to fill every room.
.

Click to expand...

Oh yea, heading to the big city to orthopedic doc. on Wed. I have been limping around in a "boot' for 2 months and finally got an MRI...torn tendons in mid-foot. Shoot! There went my relaxing walks on the beach this summer! So it goes. Not much to be done about it so may as well kick back and have a glass of wine.

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

We are as full as we need to be. Took reservations until April to see what the calendar looked like and then blocked out the rooms and dates that gave us some time to ourselves. During the months of May and June we took new reservation for the dates that were already booked and in July we just quit taking reservations for the house,and focused on promoting the cottage.
I have been apprehensive about how to scale back without taking the risk of not having "enough". Looks like this summer is a kinder gentler way to be a B+B innkeeper and I am wondering why we didn't cut back sooner. It is so strange to not be going after every inquiry that comes our way...sometimes I don't even answer the phone. OH MY!

.

Click to expand...

I'd like to do that but I'm going to sell this joint in a few years so no can do.
If I don't get a new housekeeper we'll start blocking rooms like we did last summer. It stinks getting too old to fill every room.
.

Click to expand...

Oh yea, heading to the big city to orthopedic doc. on Wed. I have been limping around in a "boot' for 2 months and finally got an MRI...torn tendons in mid-foot. Shoot! There went my relaxing walks on the beach this summer! So it goes. Not much to be done about it so may as well kick back and have a glass of wine.

.

Click to expand...

I am so sorry. I hope a quick fix is in order. May everything perfectly.

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

We are as full as we need to be. Took reservations until April to see what the calendar looked like and then blocked out the rooms and dates that gave us some time to ourselves. During the months of May and June we took new reservation for the dates that were already booked and in July we just quit taking reservations for the house,and focused on promoting the cottage.
I have been apprehensive about how to scale back without taking the risk of not having "enough". Looks like this summer is a kinder gentler way to be a B+B innkeeper and I am wondering why we didn't cut back sooner. It is so strange to not be going after every inquiry that comes our way...sometimes I don't even answer the phone. OH MY!

.

Click to expand...

I'd like to do that but I'm going to sell this joint in a few years so no can do.
If I don't get a new housekeeper we'll start blocking rooms like we did last summer. It stinks getting too old to fill every room.
.

Click to expand...

Oh yea, heading to the big city to orthopedic doc. on Wed. I have been limping around in a "boot' for 2 months and finally got an MRI...torn tendons in mid-foot. Shoot! There went my relaxing walks on the beach this summer! So it goes. Not much to be done about it so may as well kick back and have a glass of wine.

.

Click to expand...

So sorry to hear about this! I'm glad it wasn't worst.

gillumhouse said:

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

We are as full as we need to be. Took reservations until April to see what the calendar looked like and then blocked out the rooms and dates that gave us some time to ourselves. During the months of May and June we took new reservation for the dates that were already booked and in July we just quit taking reservations for the house,and focused on promoting the cottage.
I have been apprehensive about how to scale back without taking the risk of not having "enough". Looks like this summer is a kinder gentler way to be a B+B innkeeper and I am wondering why we didn't cut back sooner. It is so strange to not be going after every inquiry that comes our way...sometimes I don't even answer the phone. OH MY!

.

Click to expand...

I'd like to do that but I'm going to sell this joint in a few years so no can do.
If I don't get a new housekeeper we'll start blocking rooms like we did last summer. It stinks getting too old to fill every room.
.

Click to expand...

Oh yea, heading to the big city to orthopedic doc. on Wed. I have been limping around in a "boot' for 2 months and finally got an MRI...torn tendons in mid-foot. Shoot! There went my relaxing walks on the beach this summer! So it goes. Not much to be done about it so may as well kick back and have a glass of wine.

.

Click to expand...

I am so sorry. I hope a quick fix is in order. May everything perfectly.
.

Click to expand...

Thanks Duff and Gillum for the good thoughts. I am trying to keep it all in perspective...just another bump in life but, unfortunately, this bump is happening in the middle of our "make-hay-while-the-sunshines" season. Wouldn't ya know!

Silverspoon said:

gillumhouse said:

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

We are as full as we need to be. Took reservations until April to see what the calendar looked like and then blocked out the rooms and dates that gave us some time to ourselves. During the months of May and June we took new reservation for the dates that were already booked and in July we just quit taking reservations for the house,and focused on promoting the cottage.
I have been apprehensive about how to scale back without taking the risk of not having "enough". Looks like this summer is a kinder gentler way to be a B+B innkeeper and I am wondering why we didn't cut back sooner. It is so strange to not be going after every inquiry that comes our way...sometimes I don't even answer the phone. OH MY!

.

Click to expand...

I'd like to do that but I'm going to sell this joint in a few years so no can do.
If I don't get a new housekeeper we'll start blocking rooms like we did last summer. It stinks getting too old to fill every room.
.

Click to expand...

Oh yea, heading to the big city to orthopedic doc. on Wed. I have been limping around in a "boot' for 2 months and finally got an MRI...torn tendons in mid-foot. Shoot! There went my relaxing walks on the beach this summer! So it goes. Not much to be done about it so may as well kick back and have a glass of wine.

.

Click to expand...

I am so sorry. I hope a quick fix is in order. May everything perfectly.
.

Click to expand...

Thanks Duff and Gillum for the good thoughts. I am trying to keep it all in perspective...just another bump in life but, unfortunately, this bump is happening in the middle of our "make-hay-while-the-sunshines" season. Wouldn't ya know!
.

Click to expand...

Isn't it always that way?
Look at it this way - there IS a reason. Example:
Cop daughter got a knee messed up again is a scuffle with a drugged up drunk woman in Jan or Feb. Managed to get back to work to qualify for her beloved bike patrol BUT her wheel got caught in something during training and she took a serious header over the handlebars, bruising her ribs so badly she is still on leave from it - since May. This year there have been shootings and mayhem even at the beaches she would have been patrolling. In addition to the targets the cops have affixed to their uniforms these days.
There is a reason. But it really is not all that - she had a close cop friend found dead in her (the cop's) yard and just a few weeks later had to put down her beloved baby that she kept alive for several years by taking him to university vets and thousands (not an exaggeration) of dollars. She was way too broken up by those 2 events to function on the job.

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

Silverspoon said:

Morticia said:

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

Turning people away. 96% occupied this month

Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near that. Which is OK. I don't want to be that busy.
.

Click to expand...

We are as full as we need to be. Took reservations until April to see what the calendar looked like and then blocked out the rooms and dates that gave us some time to ourselves. During the months of May and June we took new reservation for the dates that were already booked and in July we just quit taking reservations for the house,and focused on promoting the cottage.
I have been apprehensive about how to scale back without taking the risk of not having "enough". Looks like this summer is a kinder gentler way to be a B+B innkeeper and I am wondering why we didn't cut back sooner. It is so strange to not be going after every inquiry that comes our way...sometimes I don't even answer the phone. OH MY!

.

Click to expand...

I'd like to do that but I'm going to sell this joint in a few years so no can do.
If I don't get a new housekeeper we'll start blocking rooms like we did last summer. It stinks getting too old to fill every room.
.

Click to expand...

Oh yea, heading to the big city to orthopedic doc. on Wed. I have been limping around in a "boot' for 2 months and finally got an MRI...torn tendons in mid-foot. Shoot! There went my relaxing walks on the beach this summer! So it goes. Not much to be done about it so may as well kick back and have a glass of wine.

.

Click to expand...

OH My What a bummer!
It sure is hard to take it easier. But tendons torn. Please do take it easy cause the only thing that will get them healed is resting. Or have they decide to operate.
The best part is Wine .Now you can try different wineries. Time to find that great book you always wanted to read.

Weather can have a lot to do with reservations. We have had a very busy year so far. July is down about $2000. But we have decided to cut out some of our extra packages we offered last year so all is good. All of our other months have been up by several thousand so it all levels out. It's also an election year and some people will not travel and it tends to be a slower year for travel. I have know idea why but its just a weird fact. I guess people want to sit and watch tv. My thinking is they can pay to watch tv in our rooms. HaHa!