For episode #17 of the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, we speak with Megan Smith, a renowned innkeeping expert and consultant, as well as the host of the popular “Inside Innkeeping” podcast series. She discusses how innkeepers can increase revenues, improve operations, and remain competitive.
Remaining competitive in the innkeeping arena is no small challenge, especially in the face of multiple accommodation offerings, and Airbnb growing in popularity.
However, now is actually a great time for innkeepers to adapt to the changing tourism landscape by pursuing new revenue streams. For example, rather than swimming against the tide of short-term rentals, Megan suggests that many innkeepers consider embracing this change by putting some of their rooms on the Airbnb platform.
She also asserts that there are many great strategies that can help innkeepers greatly improve revenue generation. These include hosting events, mixers, concerts, and weddings, as well as partnering with golf courses, transportation providers, wineries, museums, and art galleries on referral arrangements.
Another idea is to co-brand and sell local products, as well as focus on your passions – offering surfing lessons as an example.
In this podcast, Megan, who also co-owned and operated The Vermont Inn for 13 years, and served as Vermont’s State Tourism Director, discusses how innkeepers can increase their revenues, improve their operations, and remain competitive:
Megan’s background in the innkeeping industry. (1:05)
Insights into Megan’s consulting work. (2:40)
How innkeepers can leverage Airbnb. (4:23)
Other consulting services and ideas Megan has shared with innkeepers to improve operations. (7:14)
Some creative ideas and advice for innkeepers to improve their revenue. (11:20)
Insights into how weddings can help drive additional revenue. (15:38)
How to secure partnerships with local businesses to create revenue opportunities. (19:32)
·Why this is a good time for innkeepers to be creative and focus on differentiating themselves. (24:03)
We are very thankful to Megan for sharing her insights with us! You can learn more about Megan’s consulting services, by visiting her website.
For episode #16 of the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, we speak with Rob Fulton, CEO of the Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP) about the upcoming AIHP 2019 State of B&Bs Report and the future of independent hospitality – in part two of this two-part podcast series.
The Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP) is a nonprofit organization that represents, supports, educates, and advocates for independent hospitality professionals to enhance their personal satisfaction and business success. Founded in 2015, AIHP has seen phenomenal growth over the last four years and continues to gain traction as a key voice for independent lodging.
Last year, the organization issued its in-depth “B&B’s UNBOUND – The State of B&B’s in the U.S.” study, and is gearing up to launch 2019 version of this study. The updated report will dive deeper into topics around everyday operations, occupancy levels and financial efforts at B&Bs – to allow AIHP members to benchmark and compare their businesses to their peers.
AIHP is also working to help B&Bs best manage some of the most significant changes impacting the future of the industry. For example, the organization is continually seeking to level the playing field for B&Bs with it comes to short-term rental providers, as well as providing educational resources to help properties enhance direct bookings.
In this podcast, Rob shares insights into the upcoming State of B&Bs Study, the future of the industry, and how owning the localized guest experience is important:
Insights into the 2019 version of the State of B&Bs Study. (1:05)
More about AIHP’s role in helping innkeepers deal with short-term rentals and OTAs. (5:32)
How AIHP is helping innkeepers to enhance overall direct bookings. (7:26)
How owning the local guest experience is important for innkeepers. (12:18)
What the future holds for the independent lodging industry overall. (17:45)
How the sector is embracing new innovations that enhance the guest experience. (21:24)
We are very thankful to Rob for sharing his insights with us! Be sure to listen to part one of this podcast series here. You can learn more about AIHP by visiting its website.
For episode #14 of the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, we speak with Rob Fulton, CEO of the Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP), about the 2019 AIHP Summit, as well as his organization’s 2018 study “B&B’s UNBOUND – The State of B&B’s in the U.S.”
The Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP) is a nonprofit organization that represents, supports, educates, and advocates for independent hospitality professionals to enhance their personal satisfaction and business success. Founded in 2015, AIHP has seen phenomenal growth over the last four years and continues to gain traction as a key voice for independent lodging.
In 2018, the organization issued its in-depth “B&B’s UNBOUND – The State of B&B’s in the U.S.” study, which focuses on how independent hoteliers and B&Bs fit into the larger travel industry. In the face of the impact of OTAs and short-term rentals, the study found that the sector is actually growing overall, despite these disruptive trends.
In late March of this year, AIHP held its highly successful 2019 Knowledge Sharing Summit & Marketplace in Cincinnati. With events like this, a forward-thinking belief that technology and innovation is essential for helping innkeepers enhance the guest experience, and its commitment to educate its members, the organization is positioned to continue playing a key role in representing the independent hospitality sector for many years to come.
In this podcast, Rob shares insights into the mission of AIHP, its annual 2019 Summit, and key sector trends:
AIHP’s history and mission. (1:16)
Insights into the recent 2019 AIHP Summit and key takeaways from the event. (3:34)
How the AIHP Summit was also beneficial for the Frictionless Guest App. (6:42)
Information about the AIHP 2020 Knowledge Sharing Summit & Marketplace, which is taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (10:00)
An overview of the “B&B’s UNBOUND – The State of B&B’s in the U.S.” 2018 study. (11:12)
Insights into both industry growth and the impact of OTAs and short-term rentals on the independent innkeeping sector. (15:35)
Why independent hoteliers need to embrace the new changes that are happening in the industry, and how organizations like AIHP can help. (19:58)
We are very thankful to Rob for sharing his insights with us! Stay tuned for part two of this interview series, where Rob discusses the upcoming 2019 State of B&Bs report being provided by AIHP and offers a deeper dive into the future of the independent hospitality sector. You can learn more about AIHP by visiting its website.
For episode #12 of the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, we speak with Tim Piper, a renowned B&B expert and Partner with The Hearthside Group, who provides insights into his services and key trends in the innkeeping arena.
When getting into the B&B business, it’s all too easy to get caught up into the romantic vision of being an innkeeper in a bucolic place far away from the hectic pace that dominates life in major urban areas.
To be an aspiring innkeeper, the key is understanding if this business model actually works for you, and if so, develop the right strategies for ensuring long-term success. By taking off the “rose-colored” glasses, prospective innkeepers understand the realities behind running a successful inn or B&B.
Tim Piper offers in-depth business valuation and processes that help both B&B buyers and sellers either find, or sell, their properties. He also offers his popular Aspiring Innkeeper seminar series to help prospective buyers to fully understand how to succeed in this business.
In this podcast, Tim provides detailed insights into the consultancy services he offers for both B&B buyers and sellers:
· Tim’s background in the hospitality business. (1:04)
· Insights into The Hearthside Group’s offerings. (1:43)
· The services that Tim offers for prospective innkeepers, versus traditional real estate brokering services. (2:35)
· How the buying process works for Tim’s clients. (8:01)
· More about the services that Tim offers for B&B sellers. (11:01)
· Tim’s perspective on achieving long-term success as a B&B owner. (18:00)
· How Tim structures the payment for the services he provides for buyers. (20:44)
· Why it is important that buyers use consultants like Tim to help them find the right property. (25:34)
We would like to thank Tim for sharing his insights. You can learn more about The Hearthside Group by visiting their website.
For episode #10 of the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, we speak with Kenni Ball, the hired innkeeper for the Wallingford Victorian Inn in Wallingford, CT, who discusses her love for hospitality and what it’s like to be an outsourced innkeeper.
While we assume that all innkeepers own and operate their properties, there are B&Bs out there that rely on outsourced talent to manage the day-to-day work.
This is the case with the Wallingford Victorian Inn, which is a property that is taking advantage of a talented young professional who has a deep passion for hospitality and pleasing guests.
For the past two years, Kenni (who is currently 25 years-old) has managed the property for the owners, but she is not your run-of-the-mill employee. Since the age of 13, she has worked in the B&B arena, and officially became an innkeeper at the ripe old age of 19. She also did a brief stint at a larger hotel, but found the B&B lifestyle more suited to her personality and work style.
As a result, she enjoys interacting and helping Wallingford Victorian Inn guests to build great memories from their stays, and be the face of the property.
She also believes that her real world experience – as opposed to studying hospitality in a university setting – has allowed her to better advance her career. In terms of growth, she ultimately wants to own and operate her own B&B.
In this podcast, Kenni shares her innkeeper story:
Kenni’s background and how she got into the hospitality arena. (:52)
Why Kenni finds herself to be more suited for B&Bs, as opposed to larger hotel chains. (2:20)
How she learned how to be an innkeeper through hands-on experience. (4:33)
The challenges and opportunities she has as a 25-year-old innkeeper. (6:42)
What drew Kenni to the Wallingford Victorian Inn and the dynamics of her day-to-day work. (8:42)
Kenni’s longer-term goal of owning her own B&B. (13:20)
Kenni’s suggestions for what innkeepers should look for when outsourcing talent like her. (18:22)
We would like to thank Kenni for sharing her innkeeper story. You can learn more about the Wallingford Victorian Inn by visiting their website.
