I suspect I have fewer than 50% book online. Since this is a non-tourist place, and I'm dealing with non-tourists for the most part, I get questions like "how far are you from Downtown? or from the university? or, since I grew up here, "What high school did you go to?"
The older folks almost never book online. I had a call from an off the wall "tourist" yesterday who says he's always wanted to visit our town because he lives in Chicago (4 hours away) and has never been here... but doesn't want breakfast, wants the cheapest room, wants a discount for no breakfast, wants to see all the rooms when they arrive, and maybe upgrade then, all of his conversation at a volume level of 11+. I told him I thought he'd really love our Hampton here. He called back, decided they'd stay 2 nights, then started telling me what his wife would and wouldn't eat for breakfast (darn).
I am going to let them come, hoping I'll find them amusing instead of annoying....
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I've used the 'breakfast is complimentary' line on the rare occasion when someone wants a no-breakfast discount.
I also have to thank another inmate for the "our discounts are built into our prices" line. Replied with it to an inquiry last week. Stopped that train on its tracks.
lady wanted 'last minute discount'. Suggested another lodging nearby. The room filled a couple days later. August seems to be happening very early this year.
I love this forum
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was discussing this with a neighbour who does sell room online or BB online - says she is sick to death of arguing with people that no breakfast is not included (they have booked entirely on price and not read anything) also its why I don't do single occupancy as often becomes 2.
I am also not dealing with half a dozen people who didn't book breakfast and then turn up and want it as soon as they smell the bacon and coffee - its that simple.
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That's a case where she needs to include breakfast and put up her price. She'll get less argument. Maybe include a continental breakfast instead of the full English... charge for the full English, but give a "buffet" selection of Continental.
I also no longer offer a single rate. It's not really like I save much. I lose the income I would have made from the other person.
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no she offers it as an option ie book room only or B&B but they don't read so when they come to check in she says "And would you like to book breakfast as you have only booked room only" and then leads into an argument.
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This is our first year offering a "Guest House" rate (no breakfast and limited housekeeping) for our cottage. So far, so good. But we speak to each guest and stress the "you arrange for your own breakfast" reservation. The reservation confirmation has Guest House all over it, along with the "no breakfast" notation. They can't miss it.
We just had weekly guests, first timers, check out. They were perfect guests, tidy, friendly, and they barely left the cottage for more than 2 hours a day.Because of bad weather with a long drive to the mid-west ahead of them, they stayed an extra, eighth night, requesting breakfast on their departing morning, which we happily provided, They paid the full B+B rate for the cottage for their extra morning, which is $25 more than the guest house rate.
I am liking this Guest House idea a lot! Yup, I think we can go another 5 years by limiting the B+B in the house to the summer-season when the cottage guests have a choice of either a B+B rate or a guest house rate.
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