I absolutely agree that there should be at least a little personal information about the Innkeepers. I'm always a little suprised to see a B&B website that doesn't have a photo or a little blurb bout the Innkeepers. Doubly shocked to see sites that don't even have the NAMES of the Innkeepers. Seems more hotel-ish to me than B&B. Coming from 20 years in the hotel industry before opening our Inn, maybe I'm just sensitive to that and I won't book at any Inn not run hands-on by it's owners.
At our Inn, our "Assistant Innkeeping" dogs play a huge role. We're a pet friendly Inn, and thus get lots of dog lovers, even when they don't bring their own dogs. Very often, guests will walk in, we'll exchange friendly greetings, and even before they take their stuff to the room, they "Want to meet the girls". I've had people say "We booked this place because of the photos of the two of you and the girls".
The charm of B&B is this: There is such a wide variety of Inns & Innkeepers, that it's easy for guests to pick what they're comfortable with. If you want anonymity, you pick a website with little personal information about the keepers and maybe a continental type breakfast with a wide range of hours so you don't have to run into other guests or keepers if you don't feel like it. If you're gregarious and social, you choose an Inn with a more personal feeling website and a plated sit-down-together breakfast....and on and on. BUT, that being said....don't complain if your website is a little impersonal, and the guests you get are too.
My research shows that on TA, bedandbreakfast.com and other review sites, the most glowing reviews almost ALWAYS mention the Innkeepers by name. The Inn brings them in, but the Innkeepers make or break the stay. Some keepers don't get that, as shown by their reviews and their attitude. (These are the keepers who feel compelled to write a book in response to any review that has the slightest complaint, even when the review is generally positive).
Coming from the hotel background makes me appreciate my guests at the Inn all that much more. Compared to what I had to deal with as the manager of a 100 room hotel, this is a piece of cake where guests are concerned, even going into our seventh summer. Were I a retired executive from some other industry, I might not be so patient or appreciative of the typical B&B guest..
Little Blue Inn said:
I absolutely agree that there should be at least a little personal information about the Innkeepers. I'm always a little suprised to see a B&B website that doesn't have a photo or a little blurb bout the Innkeepers. Doubly shocked to see sites that don't even have the NAMES of the Innkeepers. Seems more hotel-ish to me than B&B. Coming from 20 years in the hotel industry before opening our Inn, maybe I'm just sensitive to that and I won't book at any Inn not run hands-on by it's owners.
At our Inn, our "Assistant Innkeeping" dogs play a huge role. We're a pet friendly Inn, and thus get lots of dog lovers, even when they don't bring their own dogs. Very often, guests will walk in, we'll exchange friendly greetings, and even before they take their stuff to the room, they "Want to meet the girls". I've had people say "We booked this place because of the photos of the two of you and the girls".
The charm of B&B is this: There is such a wide variety of Inns & Innkeepers, that it's easy for guests to pick what they're comfortable with. If you want anonymity, you pick a website with little personal information about the keepers and maybe a continental type breakfast with a wide range of hours so you don't have to run into other guests or keepers if you don't feel like it. If you're gregarious and social, you choose an Inn with a more personal feeling website and a plated sit-down-together breakfast....and on and on. BUT, that being said....don't complain if your website is a little impersonal, and the guests you get are too.
My research shows that on TA, bedandbreakfast.com and other review sites, the most glowing reviews almost ALWAYS mention the Innkeepers by name. The Inn brings them in, but the Innkeepers make or break the stay. Some keepers don't get that, as shown by their reviews and their attitude. (These are the keepers who feel compelled to write a book in response to any review that has the slightest complaint, even when the review is generally positive).
Coming from the hotel background makes me appreciate my guests at the Inn all that much more. Compared to what I had to deal with as the manager of a 100 room hotel, this is a piece of cake where guests are concerned, even going into our seventh summer. Were I a retired executive from some other industry, I might not be so patient or appreciative of the typical B&B guest.
Well said and welcome to the forum! I agree wholeheartedly.
The whole reason we put our pics and short bio on the website is not to glorify ourselves, the photo is hideous and needs a new one. The whole reason is to be PERSONABLE. When someone sees our website they see us, and this is our home. We live here.
We do not however, ever say "Welcome to our home" at check in, I do not ever want to give the impression that they are staying in "suzie's bedroom" and have to tip toe around. We have all stayed in those "homestay" environments and guests simply DO NOT LIKE IT!
For this reason, we find guests respect our home. 75% of our guests make their beds daily even at check out. This is a perk! I appreciate this care.
Only on ocassion have we ever had a fling-a-ding-ding where they boozed it up and stayed in the room with their costco box of condoms. It happens, but not to the extent I hear about it at other inns.
We also have a small page on things we support, like CASA (Court Appointed SPecial Advocates) the only real hope for the 500,000 legally free foster kids in this country to find a Mom and Dad and a place at their table. By posting a bit of info on these things we dissuade the bad guests to find a hotel somewhere else!
I mentioned CASA as we are advocates and support this prgm. The only way our two children found a place to be loved and valued was due to the CASA program.
So for all of those who shy away from putting even a small blurb of info on your website, do it, you will be paid back in full.
I noted another inn on the forum a few weeks back whose website was overwhelmingly
into something. As a guest, I appreciated that, as I would not stay there, but likeminded guests would! So it is a win win!
Oh and as mentioned in the past if you want "impersonal" stay at a LARGE inn, they MUST hire everything out, so don't except to find them lingering around giving assistance and info after brekkie.