wendydk
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LB, you might be surprised. In a 7 or 8 room inn, you would still have all the close guest contact you do now. You just would have housekeepers to help out...Ha, ha, ha...DO NOT RENT to the Addams Family!If all of my guests had the sensibilities of innkeepers I would never need to be posting anything on this forumYou know, when we travel with other innkeeping friends we generally bring a lot of wine, cheese, crackers, hors d'oeuvres and I don't think we've ever bothered anyone. We've always tried not to monopolize the common spaces, jamming ourselves into a corner somewhere or going out for dinner and drinks and then saving the wine for the afternoons. However, now that I read this, it probably doesn't gladden the hearts of the innkeepers whose place we're staying at when we tell them we put a dent in the wine supply at the grocery store down the street. I guess we'll stop mentioning that.This is what we've found here too. I really hate when it's just two or three rooms together, I stay up all night worrying that they are disturbing the other 6 rooms.The number one reason I don't like groups (of any size...even two couples) is that they tend to drink ALOT, stay up late, be loud and generally fray my nerves. Even if they don't make a mess or need alot of attention, our place is small and there's no way to get away from it, no way to even get up to bed without having to go through the common areas where they congregate..
We had three rooms check in together today, they only live an hour from here. They were completely obnoxious during check-in (I LOVE when they ask 100 questions and don't listen to the answer to a single one of them because they're so busy twittering at each other) and mentioned several times how much wine they have with them so I'm dreading later tonight. Then just checked in an absolutely adorable couple on their "babymoon" who of course are staying in the room right above the common areas so I'll need to police later tonight to be sure the three couples are behaving.
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Hey, maybe that babymoon couple will be the problem and the other 3 couples will be asking you to knock on their door!
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.You still would and here's how I know...me. Joey makes her bed, I don't. Joey keeps her room clean, I don't. You'd still get people who you would shake your head at. 'They KNOW better! What is WRONG with them?'Rupert said:If all of my guests had the sensibilities of innkeepers I would never need to be posting anything on this forum
Gomez opens his suitcase on the floor and leaves it there the whole time, opened up so even WE have to step over it.
Oops, I bet you'll now keep my name on one of those do not book lists. Rats.
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Don't forget that I don't do the housekeeping so I'd be none the wiser. I just have a hard time imagining an innkeeper being rowdy or disruptive to a full house of other guests.
.THAT right there is the secret to successful innkeeping...someone ELSE does the housekeeping. Had my housekeeper come to me and said, 'What sould I do with these duvets I found in the bed?' I would have told her to throw them in with the rest of the wash and no harm, no foul. Because we were coming off our BEST summer ever, and with NO housekeeping help at all, I was dead on my feet and EVERYTHING bothered me.Rupert said:Ha, ha, ha...DO NOT RENT to the Addams Family!
Don't forget that I don't do the housekeeping so I'd be none the wiser. I just have a hard time imagining an innkeeper being rowdy or disruptive to a full house of other guests.
.I guess success (like happiness) really is subjective. Our business is small to avoid having employees. After nearly 20 years dealing with housekeepers and other staff, I feel most successful exactly because I do it all. Sure, a bigger place with more rooms and staff would make more money, but would no longer be fun for me.Morticia said:THAT right there is the secret to successful innkeeping...someone ELSE does the housekeeping.
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.That is correct. We have housekeepers with six rooms running about 50% occupancy. They have little or no contact with our guests, and we do all of the reservations (phone and online), checkins, breakfast prep and service and customer service.Innkeeper To Go said:In a 7 or 8 room inn, you would still have all the close guest contact you do now. You just would have housekeepers to help out...
Now, if you don't want staff because you don't want the hassle of managing anyone else - that's a different story. We have been pretty fortunate with our hires but some have been a nightmare. A smaller or less busy inn does allow you the freedom of not managing others.
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100% correct...and I repeat: "Our business is small to avoid having employees". Meaning, it's that way on purpose. Been there, done that, don't want to go back.muirford said:if you don't want staff because you don't want the hassle of managing anyone else - that's a different story. We have been pretty fortunate with our hires but some have been a nightmare. A smaller or less busy inn does allow you the freedom of not managing others.