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If you decide to run a b&b then you need to make it a goal to have the very best one out there. You want the reviews about it to rave about how wonderful it is. That way more people will be contacting you to make a reservation. Imagine having to turn away reservations again and again due to already being booked. That is the best scenario the owner of such a business can hope for.

In order for it to become a reality you have to be passionate about your business. You need to be willing to go beyond what everyone else is doing in that industry. That way you can offer something more substantial. Creativity in the area of running a b&b will take you a long way. People are refreshed when they are exposed to something that is comfortable and beautiful at the same time. Are you willing to offer them that?

Anyone can run a b&b but not everyone can do so effectively. You may be skeptical about the industry with so many of them for sale. However, it may surprise you to learn there is quite a demand for b&b locations. Yet people want a nice place to stay in and they definitely want excellent treatment while they are there. They want it to be easy to find and affordable.  Read more...

Each consulting job I’ve had has taught me how differently everyone approaches their lodging business. You can be sure their approach to greening their properties is unique too. Let me share highlights of various consulting jobs I’ve had. This article covers greening the laundry room.

A B&B-like hotel, taking its first step in greening its operations, started with its laundry system. That step also included implementing a sheet and towel reuse program.

After discussing the various approaches different hotels take — let guests ask to have sheets and towels changed; let guests ask to not have sheets and towels changed; tell guests your frequency of when you change sheets and towels, like every three days — they opted to change guest linens every three days. Of course they allowed for the need or request for a more frequent change.

A sheet and towel reuse program saves in various ways: conservation of water, energy, laundry supplies, and manpower, and saving money by not having to replace sheets and towels as often, and by not wasting resources.

Their large commercial front loading washer and dryer were already saving them time and money. Front loading washers are both water and energy efficient. But that was the end of the good news about their laundry room.  Read more...

When I decided to study abroad in Ireland, I was determined to find the cheapest possible flight. After about two weeks of searching practically every airfare service on the Web, I met that goal. Not only did a find an incredibly cheap flight, I also learned 5 essential tips every traveler should know before booking a flight to Ireland. Here they are:

1. Book Your Flight Far In Advance

As a general rule, the cost of a flight increases the closer you get to the departure date. For the sake of illustration, I searched cheap flights to Ireland out of Columbus, Ohio (my airport) for two different departure dates. The first date I searched was one week from now and the lowest rate available was $1,012. The second departure date was two months from now with a lowest rate of $539. The lesson is obvious: Book your flight as soon as you can, and you’ll get to Ireland cheaper.

2. Fly Out of a Major International Hub If Possible  Read more...

Just like any other business website, one for a Bed and Breakfast should be pleasing to the eye. Sounds obvious, but it is amazing how many sites fail to embody this simple principle by following a few basic rules :

A tasteful, well-coordinated and fairly muted colour scheme is the first necessity, especially as one of your prime objectives is to show off your accommodation at its best. Whilst tastes vary, I have just recently come across several sites with the most horrific background colours – most often a garish green – which almost everyone would surely find quite repellent. If you are one of the few exceptions, hire a professional graphic designer to put together your scheme for you. Your logo will probably be first thing that the reader notices when he visits, and first impressions count. A graphic designer can produce a unique and original identity that reflects the characteristics of your establishment, and if you already have a business logo he can adapt this to fit in with your website. A recognisable identity for your Bed and Breakfast is a great way to get visitors to remember your site. The overall colour scheme will be designed to coordinate with your chosen logo. Keep text fonts consistent throughout – a cacophony of different font styles is one of the surest signs of an amateur website. Text should be in a colour which belongs to your overall scheme – steer away from using differently coloured text wherever possible except perhaps to highlight links and for the occasional attention-grabber such as a Special Offer in red. Avoid irritations and distractions such as flashing text and banners, background music and intro movies. Although some very prominent web presences use flashing text in particular, in my opinion (and I am not alone) they are best left out as the attention they might gain can be more than offset by the annoyance factor.  Read more...

Several of my consulting jobs have revolved around the volatile subject of housekeeping. I’m combining several discussions about cleaning and housekeeping for this article.

The biggest irony, to me, in the way American’s tackle cleaning is that the powerful cleaning products they use often don’t kill the “germs” they are going after. In the quest to make the B&B or home clean we load the cleaning closet or cart with numerous products that often are harmful to the people using them, the environment and the people who use the rooms later, and also kill useful bacteria. We have killed so many bacteria around us we are making ourselves sick, or at least more prone to health issues and diseases.

The cleaning and housekeeping arsenal I recommend to bed and breakfasts, hotels, and individuals alike includes microfiber cloths, white vinegar, baking soda, and the oxygen bleach StainSolver. Some people also recommend lemons, borax and hydrogen peroxide, but my idea is to simplify and consolidate.

I do have a “magic” all-purpose solution I personally use for a wide range of purposes, but you’ll have to contact me for that recipe.  Read more...

With its amazing wildlife and spectacular natural landscapes, it is no wonder that Australia is known as the outdoor adventure capital of the world or that many tourists come every year to spend adventure holidays in Australia. If you’re planning one, here are some of the most exciting outdoor activities you can look forward to.

Diving – Australia is surrounded by many reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef on the northeast side, the largest coral reef in the world which stretches on for roughly 2,600 kilometres, and the Ningaloo Reef on the western side. These two reefs provide food and sanctuary for many colorful and interesting fishes, including whale sharks, doplhins and manta rays, and also create magnificent underwater spectacles which are certainly worth a diving expedition.

Kayaking and Canoeing – If you’d rather stay on top of the water’s surface, that’s fine, too, since there are many kayaks and canoes you can hire during your adventure holidays in Australia. You can go to the Bellinger river, for example, and book one of the many canoe trips there, which are available even at night under the light of the full moon. You can also go sea kayaking around Tasmania, one of the most picturesque islands of Australia.  Read more...