Beech Tree News Network

Recently, a friend and I stayed at a bed and breakfast (B&B) in an adjacent state. This was our first time using B&B lodging. Generally, lodging choices have positive and negative features, based on a guest’s needs and preferences. This is also true for B&B lodging.

According to Small Business Development Centers, “The U.S. bed and breakfast (B&B) industry includes about 17,000 establishments (single-location companies or units of multi-location companies), most of which are family-owned and operated. About 3,000 B&Bs in the U.S. have paid employees on staff; those establishments generate combined annual revenue of about $1 billion” (www.sbdcnet.org/small-business-research-reports/bed-and-breakfast-business/). Within Kentucky, at least forty-four B&Bs exist (kentuckybb.com). Apparently, B&Bs have a strong economic presence.

Following our B&B stay, my friend and I joked about making a B&B do-and-don’t list. A few of those ideas are listed below.

B&B, please do:

-Provide an easy means of communication to guests.

-Take care of business (payment, etc.) upon guests’ arrival.

-Provide guests with information about the B&B as well as the surrounding area.

-Provide guests with the Wi-Fi network password and a security code or key.

-Ensure that the guests’ suite and the common areas are clean.

-Provide outdoor seating areas that are well-maintained.

-Stock personal essentials that may have been forgotten (bath soap, shampoo, etc.).

-Ask your guests about their preferences of breakfast foods.

-Provide more than one TV for your guests’ use.

B&B, please don’t:

-Leave the B&B unattended the afternoon guests plan to arrive or the morning they depart.

-Allow the kitchen area to become cluttered and disorganized – especially when it is visible to guests.

-Allow B&B pets to roam unattended after your guests arrive.

-Give guests a curfew, but a beginning quiet time is acceptable.

-Fail to provide pillow choices (soft vs. firm).

-Neglect the coffee supplies (Generously provide water, coffee, creamer, and sweeteners in the designated area.).

Someone said, “It’s the little things that make a big difference.” This is especially true regarding lodging. Would I stay at a B&B again? I certainly would. The benefits outnumber any negative factors.