Creating an OptOut of breakfast promo code

I am thinking of offering guests to opt out of breakfast. If they opt out, they get a discount of $15 or $20, what do you think?
Breakfast prep and service is overwhelming. It seems like some people only come to breakfast because they feel they have paid for it. Anyone else ever tried this?

Then why call yourself a bed and breakfast? Do you ask if they will eat breakfast? My breakfast is complimentary..so if they don't eat, I am not giving money back.

I wouldn't do it. Too many nightmare possibilities including bad reviews, etc.

I have always wondered if we advertise a "opt out" or "rate" without breakfast if it could be construed that we are charging something for breakfast. If that is the case we would no longer be considered a bed and breakfast but instead a hotel with a restaurant. Basically I wonder if we separate out the cost of breakfast do we become a restaurant in the eyes of government folks and therefore get regulated as a restaurant and maybe need different licensing. I've never investigated this but would be concerned if I advertised things this way.
We have a lot of rooms and normally serve breakfast to 34-40 people most days during the summer. We split a breakfast into a part buffet and part sit down, served made to order breakfast. We set up a limited menu and occasional have some special items. While the made to order part is a bit more complicated, it eliminates special requests since they are now all special requests. The buffet part (cereal, yogurts, juices, baked goods and fruit) makes up for it by being a bit simpler.
I'm mentioning all this because we found after we switched to this style of breakfast our food costs went down and our customer satisfaction for the most part went up because people could get what they wanted instead of what we chose for them. The food costs went down because people are eating what they want. For example they old way we used to serve breakfast is we started everyone with a first plate of fruit and the baked item of the day. Not everyone likes or wants fruit and not everyone likes what we baked for the day or anything baked at all (maybe on a low card diet). So food would come back partly eaten or not eaten. Then we would serve maybe a baked egg dish with a side of bacon and toast. Well some people would not eat the bacon. Others Might not eat the toast. Yet others don't like the egg dish and ask for plain eggs. In all cases food was served or prepped and could not be re-used. Today everyone orders what they want, tells us if they only want a half portion, one egg, one pancake, or whatever. We have a lot less waste.

In my state, breakfast is complimentary in a b&b. You can not charge for it and you can not deduct $. If you do, you're considered a restaurant and need a commercial kitchen and restaurant license.
You better check the regulations for you state, county & city.

Isn't breakfast complimentary? Or do you charge for it?
Oddly enough when I googled you I got this:
Apparently the second B is very important there. Wait, on your website it is huge and all over the place about the breakfast (in fact complimentary is used 9 times!) Sounds like people love it and it is your thing. I think you offer something special and should keep doing it.
and complimentary is used 17 times on the breakfast page.
You are pulling our leg about charging for it right, to optout?

How do you track this? It's come up a couple of times as an option to offer on an OTA. No breakfast, discounted rate.
I can never figure out how anyone could do this when you've got 16+ guests milling about. Half the time I don't know who anyone is.
Do you tell them no coffee? No muffins? Or whatever you might have out early in the morning? Or, are you simply looking at not cooking for those guests and they can help themselves to anything else?
We have oatmeal and cold cereal and yogurt avail; coffee, tea, juice, etc is all on the counter, self serve. But that still costs money if not cooking and serving time.
It's the policing part that would drive me nuts. Oh, you didn't pay, put that back! Or, they sit at a table, taking up space, and you either forget and bring them food or you have to chivvy them along to make room for the paying guests.

Sorry but have been doing breakfast as a separate purchase option for 2 weeks now seems to be working well
(1) we have made it very clear what they are getting
(2) the people who have booked room only are reconfirmed with on check in and asked at that point if they do want some - plus told if they don't say now they can't change their mind in the morning. or can just have cereal and tea and toast for £4.50
(3) some people just want to sleep in not really breakfast people so are happier they are not paying for something they don't want - or eating it because they feel they have paid for it and we chuck half in the bin.
(4) keeping track - we have 11 rooms potentially 21 for breakfast - you just keep track of the say 2 rooms who arn't breakfast - you don't have to remember everyone else as you know they have paid.

Windy, what part is overwhelming? Perhaps there is a way to cut back.
How and what do you serve?

Morticia said:

How do you track this? It's come up a couple of times as an option to offer on an OTA. No breakfast, discounted rate.
I can never figure out how anyone could do this when you've got 16+ guests milling about. Half the time I don't know who anyone is.
Do you tell them no coffee? No muffins? Or whatever you might have out early in the morning? Or, are you simply looking at not cooking for those guests and they can help themselves to anything else?
We have oatmeal and cold cereal and yogurt avail; coffee, tea, juice, etc is all on the counter, self serve. But that still costs money if not cooking and serving time.
It's the policing part that would drive me nuts. Oh, you didn't pay, put that back! Or, they sit at a table, taking up space, and you either forget and bring them food or you have to chivvy them along to make room for the paying guests..

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Some really good points here. Keeping track is hard.

NoHoBar said:

Isn't breakfast complimentary? Or do you charge for it?
Oddly enough when I googled you I got this:

Apparently the second B is very important there. Wait, on your website it is huge and all over the place about the breakfast (in fact complimentary is used 9 times!) Sounds like people love it and it is your thing. I think you offer something special and should keep doing it.
and complimentary is used 17 times on the breakfast page.
You are pulling our leg about charging for it right, to optout?.

Click to expand...

I have to say that I am impressed that you took time to count words on my website. I presented a question here and wanted opinions, not a review of my website. Yes, I get that breakfast is important, but in a changing lodging climate I feel I have to navigate. Do millennials want breakfast or just a cheap room? Do older people want a discount, some don't even eat breakfast. The new online competitors have created different expectations in the B&B world. Being able to personalize your stay could mean opting out of a Fantastic breakfast.

Breakfast Diva said:

In my state, breakfast is complimentary in a b&b. You can not charge for it and you can not deduct $. If you do, you're considered a restaurant and need a commercial kitchen and restaurant license.
You better check the regulations for you state, county & city..

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That is very interesting, I wonder if my state works like that.

EmptyNest said:

Then why call yourself a bed and breakfast? Do you ask if they will eat breakfast? My breakfast is complimentary..so if they don't eat, I am not giving money back..

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That is one of my concerns that people will then possibly say that they have not eaten breakfast and therefore want a refund. Could be a problem.

TheBeachHouse said:

Windy, what part is overwhelming? Perhaps there is a way to cut back.
How and what do you serve?.

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After reading the responses here, I am starting to think I should just cut it back. We have a lot of offerings, made to order. I have enjoyed being so flexible and giving my guests exactly what they want, but I need things to be simpler going forward. I like the part buffet, part hot. I just have to figure out how to keep the buffet fresh and chilled. Also, where to put it, I have a small space.
Thanks for listening.

I sometimes had a very few people ask for the no breakfast option - for me it did not work.
How much would I 'take off the rate' if they didn't eat? Per person?
What if they just came down and had coffee and 'snagged a bagel'? And maybe some juice. That to me is certainly breakfast.
And the 'after all we didn't eat, we'd like a refund of the breakfast portion of our room' made me want to cry. I came in here long long ago and asked advice and was told to say 'Breakfast is complimentary, it's part of the rate.' That became my mantra.
I, working alone, could not keep track.
What if a few months in advance of their reservation you give that discount and then they show up at breakfast? Then you have to remind them they chose the no breakfast option and ask them to pay before serving them?
Breakfast was a lot of work - and when it was way too much work for me I scaled back and simplified. Maybe some days you could go with the breakfast buffet so it's not so much running back and forth.
I don't know what the rules or laws were, only that I wasn't supposed to serve breakfast to someone who hadn't stayed the night.

Jcam said:

Sorry but have been doing breakfast as a separate purchase option for 2 weeks now seems to be working well
(1) we have made it very clear what they are getting
(2) the people who have booked room only are reconfirmed with on check in and asked at that point if they do want some - plus told if they don't say now they can't change their mind in the morning. or can just have cereal and tea and toast for £4.50
(3) some people just want to sleep in not really breakfast people so are happier they are not paying for something they don't want - or eating it because they feel they have paid for it and we chuck half in the bin.
(4) keeping track - we have 11 rooms potentially 21 for breakfast - you just keep track of the say 2 rooms who arn't breakfast - you don't have to remember everyone else as you know they have paid..

Click to expand...

Jcam said:

Sorry but have been doing breakfast as a separate purchase option for 2 weeks now seems to be working well
(1) we have made it very clear what they are getting
(2) the people who have booked room only are reconfirmed with on check in and asked at that point if they do want some - plus told if they don't say now they can't change their mind in the morning. or can just have cereal and tea and toast for £4.50
(3) some people just want to sleep in not really breakfast people so are happier they are not paying for something they don't want - or eating it because they feel they have paid for it and we chuck half in the bin.
(4) keeping track - we have 11 rooms potentially 21 for breakfast - you just keep track of the say 2 rooms who arn't breakfast - you don't have to remember everyone else as you know they have paid.

Click to expand...

I love the idea, but for the original post can only see it as "Charging for breakfast" vs discounting those who don't eat it.
I tried this for a short time and it was very confusing here. People showed up anyway, and I had to really pay attention. Even with a night before sign up sheet, they wandered in "Changed my mind" well I had to be ready with extra food anyway.
A B&B in America cannot charge for cereal and toast. Unless it is a hotel.
To the original poster - there are some here who had a no breakfast discount midweek only in the off season, maybe they will post their outcome from that. It was a sleep in,and then I think they made it a continental is in the fridge for you to sleep in and get at your leisure.

Windward said:

NoHoBar said:

Isn't breakfast complimentary? Or do you charge for it?
Oddly enough when I googled you I got this:

Apparently the second B is very important there. Wait, on your website it is huge and all over the place about the breakfast (in fact complimentary is used 9 times!) Sounds like people love it and it is your thing. I think you offer something special and should keep doing it.
and complimentary is used 17 times on the breakfast page.
You are pulling our leg about charging for it right, to optout?.

Click to expand...

I have to say that I am impressed that you took time to count words on my website. I presented a question here and wanted opinions, not a review of my website. Yes, I get that breakfast is important, but in a changing lodging climate I feel I have to navigate. Do millennials want breakfast or just a cheap room? Do older people want a discount, some don't even eat breakfast. The new online competitors have created different expectations in the B&B world. Being able to personalize your stay could mean opting out of a Fantastic breakfast.
.

Click to expand...

Windward said:

I have to say that I am impressed that you took time to count words on my website. I presented a question here and wanted opinions, not a review of my website. Yes, I get that breakfast is important, but in a changing lodging climate I feel I have to navigate. Do millennials want breakfast or just a cheap room? Do older people want a discount, some don't even eat breakfast. The new online competitors have created different expectations in the B&B world. Being able to personalize your stay could mean opting out of a Fantastic breakfast.

Click to expand...

Ctrl F - it ain't rocket science
Okay so I actually gave you an opinion that breakfast is your thing...maybe I will reconsider my kind comments and really review your website that has a floating header blocking the entire page making in impossible to navigate.

Windward said:

TheBeachHouse said:

Windy, what part is overwhelming? Perhaps there is a way to cut back.
How and what do you serve?.

Click to expand...

After reading the responses here, I am starting to think I should just cut it back. We have a lot of offerings, made to order. I have enjoyed being so flexible and giving my guests exactly what they want, but I need things to be simpler going forward. I like the part buffet, part hot. I just have to figure out how to keep the buffet fresh and chilled. Also, where to put it, I have a small space.
Thanks for listening.
.

Click to expand...

Who said you needed to be flexible that way?
We offer one hot item per day, your choice is yes or no. The rest is available for self-service, but not really a buffet. We have cereals set up in one area, bread and toaster in another. A fruit or yogurt course is served to each person. And baked goods are on the table.

NoHoBar said:

Jcam said:

Sorry but have been doing breakfast as a separate purchase option for 2 weeks now seems to be working well
(1) we have made it very clear what they are getting
(2) the people who have booked room only are reconfirmed with on check in and asked at that point if they do want some - plus told if they don't say now they can't change their mind in the morning. or can just have cereal and tea and toast for £4.50
(3) some people just want to sleep in not really breakfast people so are happier they are not paying for something they don't want - or eating it because they feel they have paid for it and we chuck half in the bin.
(4) keeping track - we have 11 rooms potentially 21 for breakfast - you just keep track of the say 2 rooms who arn't breakfast - you don't have to remember everyone else as you know they have paid..

Click to expand...

Jcam said:

Sorry but have been doing breakfast as a separate purchase option for 2 weeks now seems to be working well
(1) we have made it very clear what they are getting
(2) the people who have booked room only are reconfirmed with on check in and asked at that point if they do want some - plus told if they don't say now they can't change their mind in the morning. or can just have cereal and tea and toast for £4.50
(3) some people just want to sleep in not really breakfast people so are happier they are not paying for something they don't want - or eating it because they feel they have paid for it and we chuck half in the bin.
(4) keeping track - we have 11 rooms potentially 21 for breakfast - you just keep track of the say 2 rooms who arn't breakfast - you don't have to remember everyone else as you know they have paid.

Click to expand...

I love the idea, but for the original post can only see it as "Charging for breakfast" vs discounting those who don't eat it.
I tried this for a short time and it was very confusing here. People showed up anyway, and I had to really pay attention. Even with a night before sign up sheet, they wandered in "Changed my mind" well I had to be ready with extra food anyway.
A B&B in America cannot charge for cereal and toast. Unless it is a hotel.
To the original poster - there are some here who had a no breakfast discount midweek only in the off season, maybe they will post their outcome from that. It was a sleep in,and then I think they made it a continental is in the fridge for you to sleep in and get at your leisure.
.

Click to expand...

see our law is different in the UK - I can do whatever charging structure I like but as long as it is clear this is the law.
I make it clear if you don't decide at the latest on check in you don't get it - hot breakfast is cooked to order so we just don't cook it - charge a cheaper rate if you just want buffet ie (1) price cold buffet and cooked breakfast (2) just buffet.
Plus we maybe get 1 room a day doesn't want - isn't much to keep track of.
Think its different if you put out hot dishes ie turn your back and they will be into it - ours is cook to order from the kitchen - no access unless you have it on your bill

NoHoBar said:

Windward said:

NoHoBar said:

Isn't breakfast complimentary? Or do you charge for it?
Oddly enough when I googled you I got this:

Apparently the second B is very important there. Wait, on your website it is huge and all over the place about the breakfast (in fact complimentary is used 9 times!) Sounds like people love it and it is your thing. I think you offer something special and should keep doing it.
and complimentary is used 17 times on the breakfast page.
You are pulling our leg about charging for it right, to optout?.

Click to expand...

I have to say that I am impressed that you took time to count words on my website. I presented a question here and wanted opinions, not a review of my website. Yes, I get that breakfast is important, but in a changing lodging climate I feel I have to navigate. Do millennials want breakfast or just a cheap room? Do older people want a discount, some don't even eat breakfast. The new online competitors have created different expectations in the B&B world. Being able to personalize your stay could mean opting out of a Fantastic breakfast.
.

Click to expand...

Windward said:

I have to say that I am impressed that you took time to count words on my website. I presented a question here and wanted opinions, not a review of my website. Yes, I get that breakfast is important, but in a changing lodging climate I feel I have to navigate. Do millennials want breakfast or just a cheap room? Do older people want a discount, some don't even eat breakfast. The new online competitors have created different expectations in the B&B world. Being able to personalize your stay could mean opting out of a Fantastic breakfast.

Click to expand...

Ctrl F - it ain't rocket science
Okay so I actually gave you an opinion that breakfast is your thing...maybe I will reconsider my kind comments and really review your website that has a floating header blocking the entire page making in impossible to navigate.
.

Click to expand...

NoHoBar said:

your website that has a floating header blocking the entire page making in impossible to navigate.

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Whoa, Wini, I have to agree with NHB on this one. That floating logo is extremely distracting and covers up the text and some of the menu options. It needs to not float! With it, your otherwise lovely site makes me dizzy and want to run away ASAP.