Joey Camb
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Dave the husband who does the cooking is a ruddy trained chef!!!!!Do they advertise everything made from scratch? If not, I'd be peeved by that comment. I don't raise and slaughter the hogs for the bacon or grow my own wheat for flour or have chickens outside, what are these people expecting?Our biggest challenge here is somewhat being helped and somewhat being hindered by programs such as the hotel inspector and three in a bed. 3 in a bed helps in some ways as they show that B&Bs can be luxurious and arn't grannys house but they don't always show the owners in a good light. However all of the 3 in a bed show the places as clean and realively luxurious. It makes me cross when I read reviews such as this one. - This is of one of my neighboursThe worldview I see BWTS attempting to change is the one wherein ALL B&B's cater to 'old people' only. That it's no place for a hip young couple. (Not necessarily changing the worldview of the B&B owner, altho that has been tossed into the mix with comments about old people getting out of the way and if you don't like it you're stuck in grannyland.)This article is lengthy - esp in electronic form, but it is very good. As we have always said here and to which other groups find appauling "we need to be who we are" we can't pretend to be 20 years old when we aren't and then have repercussions from angry guests. If we are granny's house we need to market as "granny's house" those who love granny's house will love it, those who don't won't go there and feel tricked.
This in a nutshell if the PROBLEM with BWTS. INHERENTLY THE PROBLEM> If 75% of the inns don't like the WTH (formerly F) campaign, how will those guests feel staying at those inns? Esp those who were extremely offended by it? It is supposed to represent THEM/THEIR INN. So there is a diametrically opposed issue there that can't be glossed over with an H.
If you are not a spa, don't pretend to be a spa. I think it is a slippery slope that too many innkeepers fall into while trying to bait the hook and get heads in beds! And obv as the article stated, worldview and the guest's impression will be wildly different from one guest to the next.
Case in point:
Guests said they thought our town was too big, they thought we were in the boondocks. Next guest thinks we are in the boondocks and there is nothing to do. Next guest finds a ton of things to do and need to stay longer to do it all. Who is right? Any of them? ALL OF THEM. It is their perception, it it viewing this area through their eyes. We can sell what we can, but we need to be upfront and truthful, we need to sell our nuts to squirrels not dolphins. Your squirrels may be eastern grey and mine may be flying squirrels..
That's not to say that now all B&B's should remake themselves to fit some 'other' mold (like everyone trying to be Starbucks when some people - quite a few, actually- cannot stand Starbucks). We have to be who we are because trying to be someone else doesn't work.
Of course anyone can work on understanding a new POV and perhaps embrace that. But to say to me that I have to strip all the wallpaper and toss the quilts and start cooking in a totally alien way isn't going to happen. However, as we have gained experience here we have adapted our recipes to a fitter, heathier crowd (worldview). And my worldview is one that does not include tchotchkes everywhere. (I replace those with books. Everywhere.)
The decorating worldview would have me replacing everything with granite. And marble floors. And steam showers with 10 different heads. So, we need to appeal to people who are looking for what we have. But, there is a B&B out there for everyone. THAT'S a marketing POV for BWTS.
Instead of BWTS harping incessantly on hipness (in the marketing and in the pep talks to us) it would really be better to harp on the varied experiences out there. 'We've got it...soup to nuts.' Or whatever the hip young crowd would say to encompass everything.
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Didn't know what to expect of this guesthouse although it was highly rated. Didn't want to end up staying in someones spare room! But it has 13 rooms/suits in total and it is a lovely huge house just outside of Harrogate centre (10min walk). Owners were super friendly - very helpful with local knowledge. Accommodation was comfortable. Loved the honesty bar!! Breakfast was nice but perhaps a bit oily and I'm not sure if everything was made from scratch. All in all a good place to stay.
They are a big place and on their web site they have an exellent virtual tour of virtually the whole place, tons of online reviews - this complete idiocy is what we are fighting against! they do expensive toiletries, large lounge car park holiday cottages - I would be insulted Stay in someones spare room!!!!
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And why the heck did they book (and where did they find the booking info) if they didn't know it was a 13 room B&B and not someone's spare room?
Daft.
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http://www.alexa-house.co.uk/
this is their web site if you thought you were staying in someone spare room after seeing this then you are retarded! They have a virtual tour of every room! I hope Sandra hasn't seen it cos she would be furious!!!