Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
Earlier in the year, I said that 2011 was predicted to be a year of ups and downs. Gas and food prices have been on the rise, and as a result, you would think that travel would be down. After a slow February, I thought that that prediction was going to hold true, but I’ve started seeing a slew of reservations that seem to be following a couple of patterns:
- People are looking for packages – because guests want the most bang for their buck and spending their money frivolously is not an option, guests are looking for package deals. This year, I’ve put together more packages than ever, and have been pleasantly surprised to see them selling well. We have a 3-Night Biltmore Ticket & Room Package, a Girlfriends Getaway Package, a Singles Package, and several Romance Packages. A little something for everyone.
- People are traveling in groups – guests want experiences that include those closest to them and we are seeing more group reservations this year than in the past. We offer a Group Discount for 3 or more rooms for 3 or more nights, which is available year-round.
- More people are traveling with their pets – people come to Asheville for outdoor adventure and it’s the perfect place to bring their pets. Blake House has always been pet-friendly, but we’ve turned up our focus on dogs and have added a page dedicated to dogs as well as a Romance Basket for Fido. We’re also running a monthly Cutest Dog Photo Contest on the Inn’s Facebook Page and the winning dog each month gets a $150 Blake House Inn Gift Certificate.
While 2011 is just getting started, travel trends are showing us what guests want, and we are doing our best to offer the types of packages and experiences that people are seeking. Guests are always welcome to submit their ideas for packages that they’d like to see or experiences that they want us to focus on. We have a Contact Form on the website for anyone with a travel trend idea. You never know, if we use your idea, you may get more than just a Thank You!
Friday, March 11th, 2011
Running a B&B can be tiring business. But I’m sure anyone reading this already knows that. Running any business is exhausting because it can be non-stop, seven days a week, with little down time. Even when the Inn is empty, there are a million things to do. So, after 5 years of running Blake House virtually by myself (with appreciated help from my part-time housekeeper and my mother), I have found a gem of an Assistant Innkeeper. 
Amber Goins-Finley started here last weekend and after 2 days of training, took over on her own on Monday. There is a lot to remember about this place and I am excited to say that Amber has fit right in with the Inn and my personal style of doing things. She also brings her own point of view and I look forward to her suggestions for improvements.
You can read all about Amber on our Meet the Innkeepers Page. Not included in her bio is the fact that Amber also assists her husband with his motorcycle parts business, Pirate’s Lair Motorcycles. I am not personally a motorcycle girl, but many motorcyclists come through Asheville, enjoying the Blue Ridge Parkway. Blake House has housed a few and we have a nice sized parking area, perfect for motorcycle trailers.
I hope our guests welcome Amber with open arms. She is a wonderful, and much-needed addition to the family.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
I’ve run a few contests here and there over the years, including a military essay contest, trivia contests, and a recipe contest. But I must say that this contest probably has me the most excited.
I love dogs, all dogs! And Blake House welcomes dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds. We’ve had a lot and appreciate every dog that chooses to stay here. Asheville is a pet-friendly city, but it is still difficult to find B&Bs that allow dogs. Of the ones that do, most have size restrictions or room restrictions. But not Blake House. In fact, we only have one room that is NOT pet-friendly.
As you can see, I love dogs! And want to see more come to the Inn. To accomplish this, I’ve made some changes to the website and our offerings to be even more enticing to our four-legged guests. The website now has a Doggie Scoop page, solely dedicated to our canine guests. And this page will evolve and grow over time. Check it out, there’s a hilarious video of a dog’s leg that is trying to steal the bone from its owner. I crack up every time I watch it!
We also offer, dog walking services, for a very nominal fee, for our doggie guests. Jake Rusher Park is next to the Inn and while mom and dad are out enjoying Asheville, Amber or I will walk your dog(s) around the park so he/she can exercise and take care of business. We also provide pet sitters and doggie daycare information on the Doggie Scoop Page for those looking for even more for their dog.
Lastly, we offer all kinds of romance packages and spa services for mom and dad and we’ve just added a romance basket for your dog. Fido’s Doggie-Style Romance Basket treats your canine companion to a little pampering.
But, onto the purpose of this post – our newest contest – the Cutest Dog Photo Contest
All the details and rules are on our Facebook Page, but this is a straight photo contest. Each month, send in one photo of your cutie patootie, and your dog could win a $150 Blake House Inn Gift Certificate. Winners will be selected by votes on the site, but you must be a Fan to enter.
How cool is that? Maybe Fido can use that gift certificate for all the things discussed above. The only catch is that mom or dad, or both have to tag along on the trip. 
Check it out and in the meantime, here are a few shots of some of my cuties (most will recognize Rocky in the middle picture, sleeping, as usual, in a drawer I converted into a bed):
On the left we have Jenny & Squirt, Jack Russell/Chihuahua mixes. On the right is Sophie, our Jack Russell foster dog from Animal Compassion Network.
