Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Well, it’s been a month since I set a few goals for the Spring. Following is the list:
- repair the “roof” of the gazebo which collapsed under the weight of the first snow we had in December. After assessing the damage, I’m confident that with some new wood arms, I can repair the ones that broke.
- replace any dead plants and bushes around the patio areas and in containers. Plant new plants in the pergola area to continue filling it in as a garden area.
- replace some rotting wood around the front porch roof and outside the bay window of the dining room.
- build a small 4X6 vegetable/fruit garden outside the kitchen on the edge of the pergola/garden area. I would like to start small with a few vegetables and fruits and expand from there.
- research the feasibility of building and stocking a small chicken coop enclosure to provide eggs for cooking. This may not end up being a goal, it’s just an idea right now and I want to look into whether this is even something the city of Asheville will allow me to do.
At this point, I’m about 95% complete with the first goal of fixing the gazebo roof. My father and stepmother visited for a few days and they did a lot to get it repaired (actually, they did most of the work). I replaced one broken wood arm and my dad was able to get all of the arms up and back into their holder. The one casualty of the damage was to the canvas. When the roof fell, the canvas ripped in several places so it did not go back into the holder along with the arms (see photo).
As such, I had to staple the canvas to the tops of each arm. Unfortunately, it does not look the same and there are some rips and gaps. However, being the creative person that I am :0), I am going to attach more fabric to the underside of the arms so that nobody has to see the damaged canvas. By the time my readers come visit, the inside canvas should be up and I’ll be sure to make it look decorative so that it will appear good as new.
One goal – check!
I have begun working on goal #2 of replacing dead bushes and plants around the patio and garden areas and in containers. Today was the first day of warm weather and a free afternoon. I have started by pulling out dead stumps, cutting back bushes, branches, and dead grasses around the patios, gazebo, and front porch. On Friday, my landscapers start again for the year and will be cleaning up debris and leaves so that I can fully assess what needs to be replaced. I am really surprised that most everything I planted last year is coming back, given the cold, snowy winter. Some plants that I thought for sure were dead are sprouting leaves and buds. I may not have to replace as much as I had thought, but I anticipate completing this goal (or being close to completion) by the end of April.
Goal #3 is getting looked at on Friday.
I have the materials list for goal #4 and hope to start building the bed by next week; and to start filling it in within the next 2-3 weeks. I plan to start with tomatoes, peppers, basil, and mint and will go from there.
I have not even begun to look into goal #5. That will definitely be last on my list.
The good thing about publishing goals is that it’s not enough just to post them on the wall for me to see. By showing them to my readers, I feel more motivated to work on them. Sharing goals with others means that more than one person is thinking about them, and not wanting to disappoint my readers, I am determined to accomplish them.
Sunday, March 21st, 2010
Very few business travelers consider staying at a bed & breakfast when traveling for work and they are really missing out! The average B&B offers so much more than a place to sleep and breakfast the next morning. More and more, they are expanding their offerings to include hosting events, fundraisers, cooking classes, and to entice the mid-week business traveler. Following is a list of five reasons why businesses should consider sending their employees to a bed and breakfast for their next trip:
- According to the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII), 94% of B&Bs have private bathrooms for each room. It used to be that many times, guests had to share a bathroom with other guests which could not only be inconvenient, but embarrassing. Not so anymore. Innkeepers have recognized the need to offer private bathrooms along with private bedrooms so the instances of shared bathrooms are few and very far between. As an innkeeper, I am still surprised at the number of calls I receive where the caller is asking if my rooms have shared or private bathrooms. This is obviously a perception that can be laid to rest for the most part, but if the traveler has any concerns, most B&Bs have websites with room photos and descriptions which should indicate if a bathroom is private or shared.
- The 2009 PAII B&B Industry Study also indicates that 93% of bed & breakfasts offer FREE high speed (wireless) internet access. Many hotels still charge for internet access, but I don’t know of one bed & breakfast that does. At a hotel, if you want free internet, you have to wait in a line to use one of the few, highly-sought-after computers down in the lobby, sometimes floors and floors away from your room. How convenient is that?
- Not every business traveler is looking to hang out in the hotel bar when not working. For that person, the average bed & breakfast offers not only internet access in common areas, but games, free movies, a guest refrigerator with either free or reduced drinks, free snacks, magazines, and books. These personal touches in the bed and breakfast really go a long way to making the traveler feel welcome and valued during their stay. In many cases, special requests for something can and will be handled free of charge by the innkeeper.
- When traveling in an unfamiliar city, it can be nerve-wracking and time consuming to figure out where things are. The average innkeeper is intimately invested in the city and is happy to speak with the traveler and point out favorite restaurants and attractions. They carry a large selection of brochures and maps and in many cases can give personal recommendations on must-see places. At a hotel, good luck getting recommendations on anything. There’s a good chance that the front desk personnel aren’t even familiar with the immediate area because they live no where close to the hotel.
- Finally, let’s talk about breakfast. As the second part of the bed and breakfast equation, the breakfast part is quite important. Every business traveler has different needs when it comes to breakfast and every B&B can work around those needs. Although every B&B has a different set up and schedule for their breakfast, just because the full breakfast is served at 9 am doesn’t mean that the business traveler has to miss out. Speaking for my Inn, some business travelers can stay for the 9:00 breakfast, but many have to leave before then. I would never send a guest away hungry unless that is their preference. I keep a breakfast room stocked with continental breakfast items including oatmeal, milk/cereal, fresh fruit, bagels/cream cheese, and coffee. Not only is there a one-cup coffee maker upstairs for guests to help themselves to 24 hours a day, but there is a second coffee pot downstairs in the Breakfast Room with 24 hours access. In addition, I always ask my guests who are leaving early if there is anything special I can have for them to take like muffins, OJ, etc. Most B&Bs will offer the same type of option as well.
While I covered just 5 reasons for business travelers to stay at a bed and breakfast, there are more. Consider the fact that parking at a B&B is most likely more convenient than a hotel. A B&B may even have space for small meetings. Invite your business comrades over to the B&B to get away from the office. The Innkeeper maybe able to set up a catered lunch for your group. I definitely recommend coordinating any onsite meetings with the Innkeeper first, but what a nice way to get out of the office for a couple of hours without distractions and noise. Lastly, many B&Bs offer access to or assistance with sending faxes and making copies (small quantities). Check with the Innkeeper to see what business services they offer. Most are FREE of charge, unlike the average hotel.
The average nightly rate at a B&B is around $150/night, but that varies widely by location, time of year, and room. Bed and Breakfasts WANT mid-week travelers and may offer a corporate discount or some other type of business traveler perk. Don’t assume out of hand that the bed & breakfast is too expensive because you will be surprised with the value you get for the cost. By the time the hotel has nickel and dimed you, you will probably have just paid as much as you would have by staying at the local B&B. However, you would not have gotten the friendly, knowledgeable service you would have received from the small historical house around the corner.
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
Just because that cute little bed and breakfast with the cheap rate has a website doesn’t mean it’s a legitimate business.
I was talking to some guests the other day and they were commenting on the large number of B&Bs in Asheville (somewhere between 40-50 in the Asheville area). I happened to mention that there are even more if you count the illegal B&Bs and vacation rental properties. Well, that started a round of questions.
What do you mean illegal B&Bs? How is that possible? How can we tell? And so on. So we talked for the next 20 minutes about ways to spot a legal versus illegal establishment. So for anyone else who might be wondering, keep these things in mind:
- Legal lodging establishments comply with local, state and federal requirements including obtaining and displaying a business license and Health Department Inspection certificate. We all must display these in an area where guests can see them. Before you book with a place, ask them if they are licensed and inspected. Legitimate places will have no problem answering that question. And once you arrive, look for those certificates to make sure they are up to date. Remember that a health inspection means that the establishment is cleaning the property/dishes and storing food in the proper manner. They also check the guestrooms to make sure certain standards are met in cleanliness and room safety.
- A legitimate establishment with 5 or more rooms is collecting and paying occupancy and sales taxes. If you are not being charged taxes, ask why not? If you are purchasing a package, ask if the taxes have been figured into the package price. In Buncombe County and the City of Asheville, tax paying properties (don’t assume a 4-room B&B is illegal because it does not have to collect taxes) get a listing on the official tourism website. If you come across lodging in the county that rents out 5 or more rooms and it’s not listed on exploreasheville.com, ask the owner some questions.
- An illegal establishment is less likely to comply with fire and safety requirements because, quite frankly, they can be restrictive and/or costly to maintain. Ask if each guestroom has a fire detector and if the fire alarm system is monitored and hard wired to notify the fire department if it goes off. Are there fire extinguishers throughout the house and kitchen? Again, small establishments with under 5 rooms for rent are not considered as “commercial” properties and are not required to comply, but do you want to put your safety or the safety of your family at risk? Small B&Bs that operate on the up and up will take fire safety seriously and will have measures in place.
- Find out if the establishment has liability insurance in case of an accident. Commercial lenders (and B&Bs of more than 5 rooms are usually considered commercial) require a certain amount of liability insurance. Even a place with less than 6 rooms should carry liability insurance if rooms are to be rented out for short or long-term.
- In some areas, the proximity and number of B&Bs is limited. For instance, after 1997, in the Historic Montford District, no new B&Bs could be opened within 500 ft. of another B&B. All existing B&Bs were grandfathered in so that is why you see 2 and 3 in a row. But someone who wants to rent out their house for the summer that happens to sit next to an operating B&B is actually not permitted to, but people do it. Therefore, that house is illegally operating as a vacation property (not licensed, tax collecting, inspected, etc.). You should really think twice about renting it, just to save a few dollars because you could end up paying with much more than money.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the need for someone to make a little extra money by renting out their property, but I run my business legally and I feel that everyone else should too. An illegal B&B can undercut my prices because they aren’t collecting taxes or paying for a license or insurance. The trade-off as far as I’m concerned is too high. Just do yourself a favor and ask a few questions before booking your next trip, whether here (I hope it’s in Asheville) or Albuquerque or St. Augustine or Austin. You’ll feel a lot better knowing that your safety and comfort are worth more to the B&B owner than money.
