Things are picking up!

It was slow (in terms of bookings) the last couple of weeks and I was getting nervous. Then all of a sudden we had 4 bookings in 2 days. Guess spring break, Easter and bad weather were the causes of the slow couple of weeks. Excited to see things getting busy!
We had the "build it and they will come" philosophy when we started and luckily it's working out!

Yay!
We like when we go on vacation and get enough reservations to pay for our own holidays while we're away.

Our season is only really busy between Memorial Day and mid-to-end of September. This time of year its always "if the sun shines - the phone rings".
We're more likely to get phoners this time of year if the weather is good. Fewer guests but best tips this time of year. I admit service is much more detailed when I'm not running quite so hard!
We're in a very out of the way place here too. I never dreamed we would get the amount of business we have.
(and yes, I credit this forum with much of that success!)

April & May are usually slow months for us, and nail-biters, as guests wait until the last second to book.
We had zero guests scheduled for this weekend, and then suddenly on Friday afternoon, two rooms got booked.

Had 2 more reservations come in today. Really excited about one guest as she is a woman originally from Russia who but who lives here now. She is celebrating her birthday. I thought we should get a happy birthday balloon and a cup cake with candle to leave in her room. Hoping she'll share a glass of wine with us too and we'll get a chance to talk to her.

Glad to hear you all are also seeing things pick up! Awesome!!!

I got a call a couple days ago for 2 nights in May (returning ladies) so now have bookings the first 4 nights in May and the last 4. The couple coming 3 & 4 actually wanted April when they called but I expected to win that %$^&*( contest and almost lost the rez - they changed their dates which is the only reason I did not lose revenue because of a contest I lost (part of the registration was committing to go to the big bash in April).

MNVineyardBB said:

We had the "build it and they will come" philosophy when we started and luckily it's working out!

Click to expand...

I like that line, we bought rather than built, but with no experience and little planning other than it seemed like a good idea at the time. We had been summer visitors so didn't really consider the slower seasons, luckily we blessed to survive, yet years later you still get concerned during those slower times of the year.
At times I wonder if that is the one disadvantage of a computer booking system, you see an empty screen months in the future and become concerned where with the old pencil and paper we saw the next week or two and worried less about the distant future.

JimBoone said:

MNVineyardBB said:

We had the "build it and they will come" philosophy when we started and luckily it's working out!

Click to expand...

I like that line, we bought rather than built, but with no experience and little planning other than it seemed like a good idea at the time. We had been summer visitors so didn't really consider the slower seasons, luckily we blessed to survive, yet years later you still get concerned during those slower times of the year.
At times I wonder if that is the one disadvantage of a computer booking system, you see an empty screen months in the future and become concerned where with the old pencil and paper we saw the next week or two and worried less about the distant future..

Click to expand...

Never woory, my friend. I also built on the premise they would come - and they did. And still do although not with the same regularity as they did - but my knees are not as up to it as they were either. There are also a LOT more hotels along the Interstate than there were in 1996. The hard part in 1996 was getting the word out we were here.
My worst (and I think my only concern year) was 2006 - I had gone DEEP in debt (very little prior) with new bathrooms but that worked out. Even last year with all its trials and tribulations, I got a reservation when I needed it most. I just keep the Faith.

gillumhouse said:

JimBoone said:

MNVineyardBB said:

We had the "build it and they will come" philosophy when we started and luckily it's working out!

Click to expand...

I like that line, we bought rather than built, but with no experience and little planning other than it seemed like a good idea at the time. We had been summer visitors so didn't really consider the slower seasons, luckily we blessed to survive, yet years later you still get concerned during those slower times of the year.
At times I wonder if that is the one disadvantage of a computer booking system, you see an empty screen months in the future and become concerned where with the old pencil and paper we saw the next week or two and worried less about the distant future..

Click to expand...

Never woory, my friend. I also built on the premise they would come - and they did. And still do although not with the same regularity as they did - but my knees are not as up to it as they were either. There are also a LOT more hotels along the Interstate than there were in 1996. The hard part in 1996 was getting the word out we were here.
My worst (and I think my only concern year) was 2006 - I had gone DEEP in debt (very little prior) with new bathrooms but that worked out. Even last year with all its trials and tribulations, I got a reservation when I needed it most. I just keep the Faith.
.

Click to expand...

Here too. We had a check out yesterday, ask us if they could stay another night. Suuuurrre! They may be rethinking now, because today is a very raw, rainy, windy day. Check out the Boston Marathon on TV to see how miserable the weather is here. Poor runners! And officials, and friends!!

gillumhouse said:

JimBoone said:

MNVineyardBB said:

We had the "build it and they will come" philosophy when we started and luckily it's working out!

Click to expand...

I like that line, we bought rather than built, but with no experience and little planning other than it seemed like a good idea at the time. We had been summer visitors so didn't really consider the slower seasons, luckily we blessed to survive, yet years later you still get concerned during those slower times of the year.
At times I wonder if that is the one disadvantage of a computer booking system, you see an empty screen months in the future and become concerned where with the old pencil and paper we saw the next week or two and worried less about the distant future..

Click to expand...

Never woory, my friend. I also built on the premise they would come - and they did. And still do although not with the same regularity as they did - but my knees are not as up to it as they were either. There are also a LOT more hotels along the Interstate than there were in 1996. The hard part in 1996 was getting the word out we were here.
My worst (and I think my only concern year) was 2006 - I had gone DEEP in debt (very little prior) with new bathrooms but that worked out. Even last year with all its trials and tribulations, I got a reservation when I needed it most. I just keep the Faith.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

My worst (and I think my only concern year) was 2006 - I had gone DEEP in debt

Click to expand...

For me/us I think that's part the issue this year, blessed that it is not debt, but I've blown a sizable chunk of our long term savings going through the inside of the building last year and replacing the roof on the building and house, still have outside projects in progress.
In truth, if you look back over the years this April is about average, but the last two Aprils were way above average, guess I was spoiled thinking that was a trend. I guess I notice it most because our kids who joined us a couple of years ago tend to notice and question, they really only saw those two exceptional years.

TheBeachHouse said:

Here too. We had a check out yesterday, ask us if they could stay another night. Suuuurrre! They may be rethinking now, because today is a very raw, rainy, windy day. Check out the Boston Marathon on TV to see how miserable the weather is here. Poor runners! And officials, and friends!!.

Click to expand...

I have a guest flying into Boston today. Then driving here. It's icy everywhere. We've scraped off the stairs and sanded everything, but this guy is 80 years old. Hate to think of him driving in this mess.

It's been a very quiet April here, the cold weather and early Easter didn't help. Not just us but everyone I've spoken to has said the same.
During March summer bookings virtually ground to a halt and I was getting very nervous, but they're picking up again, had 4 bookings so far today.

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

Here too. We had a check out yesterday, ask us if they could stay another night. Suuuurrre! They may be rethinking now, because today is a very raw, rainy, windy day. Check out the Boston Marathon on TV to see how miserable the weather is here. Poor runners! And officials, and friends!!.

Click to expand...

I have a guest flying into Boston today. Then driving here. It's icy everywhere. We've scraped off the stairs and sanded everything, but this guy is 80 years old. Hate to think of him driving in this mess.
.

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

I have a guest flying into Boston today. Then driving here. It's icy everywhere. We've scraped off the stairs and sanded everything, but this guy is 80 years old. Hate to think of him driving in this mess.

Click to expand...

This /\/\/\ is the exact reason we will not be open next winter. I worry about our travelers and THEN about them falling on the steps or driveway.
What the heck is with this weather???????????

TheBeachHouse said:

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

Here too. We had a check out yesterday, ask us if they could stay another night. Suuuurrre! They may be rethinking now, because today is a very raw, rainy, windy day. Check out the Boston Marathon on TV to see how miserable the weather is here. Poor runners! And officials, and friends!!.

Click to expand...

I have a guest flying into Boston today. Then driving here. It's icy everywhere. We've scraped off the stairs and sanded everything, but this guy is 80 years old. Hate to think of him driving in this mess.
.

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

I have a guest flying into Boston today. Then driving here. It's icy everywhere. We've scraped off the stairs and sanded everything, but this guy is 80 years old. Hate to think of him driving in this mess.

Click to expand...

This /\/\/\ is the exact reason we will not be open next winter. I worry about our travelers and THEN about them falling on the steps or driveway.
What the heck is with this weather???????????
.

Click to expand...

Well, if you ask our politicians, it's global warming. But... let's not get into politics

TheBeachHouse said:

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

Here too. We had a check out yesterday, ask us if they could stay another night. Suuuurrre! They may be rethinking now, because today is a very raw, rainy, windy day. Check out the Boston Marathon on TV to see how miserable the weather is here. Poor runners! And officials, and friends!!.

Click to expand...

I have a guest flying into Boston today. Then driving here. It's icy everywhere. We've scraped off the stairs and sanded everything, but this guy is 80 years old. Hate to think of him driving in this mess.
.

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

I have a guest flying into Boston today. Then driving here. It's icy everywhere. We've scraped off the stairs and sanded everything, but this guy is 80 years old. Hate to think of him driving in this mess.

Click to expand...

This /\/\/\ is the exact reason we will not be open next winter. I worry about our travelers and THEN about them falling on the steps or driveway.
What the heck is with this weather???????????
.

Click to expand...

TheBeachHouse said:

Morticia said:

I have a guest flying into Boston today. Then driving here. It's icy everywhere. We've scraped off the stairs and sanded everything, but this guy is 80 years old. Hate to think of him driving in this mess.

Click to expand...

This /\/\/\ is the exact reason we will not be open next winter. I worry about our travelers and THEN about them falling on the steps or driveway.
What the heck is with this weather???????????

Click to expand...

But it's April! Yes, I'm whining.
Found out his flight got delayed until 8:30! Then he has to get his car and drive 2+ hours to get here.
He finally got here, almost 11. Driving rain the whole way.

Well what a winter is has been for us!!! Two weekends ago brought 2 FEET of snow...(and that was after my hubby was in his 8 weeks of being house-bound during his recovering from a broken ankle - falling on the ice in late Feb!!!)
The website has been getting hundreds of hits...but I think people really are clicking the weather channel to watch the forecast too...
The snow is finally melting off and I think Spring is in progress, some bookings here and there, BUT yesterday we got a 10 day full-house booking! Keep the sun shining and Keep 'em rollin' in! The man is back on his feet and I am ready to cook!