News from BC Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Guild

In This Issue

My Life as
a Board Member

By Ingrid Vermegen,
Past President

As a member of the Board for almost 10 years now, I'm certainly qualified to talk about this subject. As an innkeeper for more than 20 years, I'm someone who is invested in the bed and breakfast industry, and have some knowledge of it. And because I'm invested in the industry, I joined the Guild Board of Directors, and I have never regretted doing so. In fact, it's been pretty exciting at times, and empowering too, to see that we can make a difference, and that I was part of some of it. I joined the Board without a lot of qualifications. I had never been a director before, so I didn't really know what to expect, or how a Board worked. I just had a willingness to do my part, I guess.

The Guild has done a lot to promote the bed and breakfast industry, and we have set the standards with our Quality Assurance Program to make sure we deliver a quality product. We had a very sweet victory, after four years of hard work, when we won the battle with the BC Assessment Authority a number of years ago, and an Order in Council protected the first three rooms in any B&B with a residential classification for property-tax purposes. The Innkeepers Association had a quality website early on in its life, before many B&Bs had one. Year after year, we have put out a quality brochure featuring our members around the province. We worked on building a relationship with Tourism BC, because we feel that as accommodation providers in the province, and thereby part of the tourism industry, we need to work with the provincial tourism representative if we are to get any respect for our industry, and any input. We hosted an International Bed & Breakfast Conference, and it was pretty special to stand up in front of that room of innkeepers from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Alberta, Hawaii and Saskatchewan to welcome them all. It's been very rewarding to be involved in all of that.

Yes, sometimes it's stressful, and often there's WAY too much to do, because we're always short of help. Often we have great ideas and plans, but can't realize them. Sometimes you have to give up some things so that you can make that board meeting on the mainland, and I guess I'm prepared to do that. (And yes, I do operate a three-room B&B!) Sometimes we disagree completely, and other times we're on the exact same page. We work it out and try to move forward, always remembering that we represent the Guild, trying to do what's best for the Guild and the industry. There's been some wonderfully talented and motivated people that I've been able to work with over the years, and I've learned a lot. I still don't like the public speaking though!

The last few years have been especially exciting, with a new name, a new logo, a completely new website, an ever-improving classy brochure that now generates a substantial income for the Guild, which allows us to distribute it farther and wider than before, and a new marketing plan that we are putting into practice. All of that represents our Guild to the world, and it stands for something. How cool is that!

It really has been a privilege to be a member of the Board.

-- Ingrid,
Cobble House B&B, former President of the Guild

Volunteer
Corner

Are you looking to contribute to your Guild but can't commit to a board or committee position? Well, we always need volunteers, so look no further than this column
where we will list the volunteers we need and the skills required.

PayPerClick Campaign
Manager
The Guild is looking for a web-savvy individual to manage our PayPerClick campaigns. If you have an understanding of this marketing medium and would be willing to handle a campaign for the Guild, please contact
ingridvermegen
@bcinnkeepers.com

Tech Tips

If you are looking to keep up-to-date on items of personal or business interest, consider signing up for Google Alerts.

Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:
* Keeping current on your business, a competitor or the B&B industry.
* Getting the latest on a local event.
* Monitoring a developing news story.

Summer, 2008
www.BCsBestBnBs.com

Editor's Musings

By Graham Laxton

Welcome to the new and improved version of INNFormation. We would like to receive your feedback on the new format, which is designed to present the information in a more readable and interesting manner.

Your Board has been working diligently to try to make the Guild more visible in the hospitality and accommodation industry. But we are small in numbers and we could use some help. Please read the President's Message (below) and the Past President's heartfelt column (left) and consider where you could help us, the Guild, and ultimately yourself.

Everyone is complaining about the weather we are currently 'enjoying' but think about it, there really is no such thing as BAD weather, there is only inappropriate clothing!

I would be remiss if I did not recognize the assistance of my new production editor, Peter Driver from Pacific Spirit Guest House. Peter will be helping with the formatting of INNFormation and Table Talk. Without his expertise this project would still be on the drawing board. Thanks, Peter.

Last word from me is the word to challenge you: CARAVANSERAI. Clue: It is almost the early version of what we do. Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

-- Graham, Greystone B&B, Vancouver

President's Message

By Jack Reynolds

I hope you are all enjoying a good start to the busy B&B season. Your Board has continued the work of trying to build membership in the Guild and in trying to improve exposure of our Rest Assured bc brand. This work has not been easy as we have a very small group of committed volunteers who do this for you in the spare time that they have after running their own B&Bs and enjoying five minutes of free (non-B&B) time.
At the next AGM and Members Meeting we will be seeking help from everyone to increase the number of directors and committee members.

At the last AGM we committed to providing some information with regard to positions on the Board and on the various committees. Full job descriptions will be posted shortly on our website www.bcsbestbnbs.com. In the mean time, I will provide you with an overview of the Officers of the Board and the committees that we currently have.

We are required to have five officers. The current Board members are:

President: Jack Reynolds
   jack.reynolds@bcinnkeepers.com
Vice-president: Graham Laxton,
   graham.laxton@bcinnkeepers.com
Secretary: Will Watkins
   will.watkins@bcinnkeepers.com
Treasurer: Ian MacPhee
   ian.macphee@bcinnkeepers.com
Past president: Ingrid Vermegen
   ingrid.vermegen@bcinnkeepers.com

The following committees also function with the Board members chairing the majority:

Nominating (Ingrid), Membership (Ingrid), Website (Ingrid), Public Relations (Graham), Finance (Ian), Marketing (Ian), Standards and Ethics, Brochure, Licensing and Property Assessment, AGM, and we have seven Regional Reps. Job descriptions for these committees and positions will also be posted on our website. I urge you to see where you could be of assistance. Feel free to contact any of the Board for more information.

-- Jack, Garden Ridge B&B, Westbank

Membership Matters

By Ingrid Vermegen

Please give a warm welcome to our newest members and include them in your referral network.

Abbaes', Kelowna
Innkeepers: Ed & Birgitte

Cherry Tree, Kelowna
Innkeeper: Margo Jensen

Race View, Victoria
Innkeeper Sharon Anderson

And a warm welcome to our newest associate member,
MD Agencies, manufacturers' representative for sofas, mattresses, furniture and massage chairs.
Websites: Stylus Sofas Winners Only
E-mail: mdodsworth@shaw.ca

DO YOU KNOW ANOTHER QUALITY B&B IN YOUR AREA?
NOW IS THE TIME TO CONVINCE THEM TO JOIN.
As of June 1, the Guild is accepting membership applications for the 2008-09 membership year. What this means is that for the annual membership fee of $95, someone can join now and their membership will be good until Sept. 30, 2009. In essence, they get four free months of membership. If they take the web package, they'll be on the website immediately once their application has been approved. They can still select the 2009 brochure listing at a later date, so this helps to spread out the cost. The membership committee will be contacting B&Bs around the province to invite them to join, but nothing is as effective as a personal recommendation and introduction from a member.
And remember, the Guild will give you a credit of $25 toward your own membership package next year for every approved member you bring to the Guild.

REMINDER!
There are still a few members who do not yet have the Guild's logo on their website. This is a requirement of membership and now long overdue. The Guild and your fellow members would appreciate it if you looked after getting this done!

-- Ingrid, Cobble House B&B, Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island

Marketing Matters

By Ian MacPhee

On June 5 and 6, I represented the BC Innkeepers in San Francisco as part of a sales mission inaugurating the new United Airlines daily direct flight from San Francisco to Victoria.

Events included a soiree organized by Canada's Consul General for San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel and an all-day sales blitz to the Bay Area's key travel agencies. Rest assured that some 40-plus key travel agents have our current brochure and are looking at our logo with each cup of coffee they enjoy!

OLYMPIC OPPORTUNITY
With 2010 around the corner, the eyes of the world are focusing on our province, and Tourism BC's Approved Accommodation Guide is in high demand. The 2009 guide will be the last one published before the Olympic Games, and the Guild is considering a full-page co-op advertising opportunity featuring nine of our members.

As you likely know, the Tourism BC Guide is an incredibly expensive advertising vehicle, primarily because of its distribution of 350,000 copies. Advertising as an individual is out of the question for most of our members, but if we pool our resources we can make a big impact.

To put this in perspective, a 1/12th page ad is $1,520, but if we can get nine members willing to take part in a full-page BC Innkeepers ad, we can do so at a rate of approximately $1,095 each. The ad could look something like this:

If you are interested in this opportunity, please email me at ian.macphee@bcinnkeepers.com now.

BC INNKEEPERS ADS
As part of our strategic plan to improve your Guild's visibility, we have placed BC Innkeepers ads in several tourism publications and on key websites.
Here is an example of an ad you may see:

-- Ian, Abbeymore B&B, Victoria

AGM and Members Meeting

Mark your calendar to be in Prince George Oct. 21 and 22.

We are looking for ways to make this gathering a fun and worthwhile event, in terms of building the Guild and the camaraderie we enjoy with our fellow innkeepers. One idea being considered is chartering a bus, starting in Victoria, picking up in Vancouver, then an overnight in Kelowna and on to P.G. the next day. We are also considering having a Regional Reps session at the same time in P.G.

More details will be forthcoming as we finalize the schedule, events and the hotel pricing. In the meantime, do mark your calendar and plan to attend. This is one of the most important meetings that your Guild will ever hold. Thanks to the Northern Region for taking on the task, particularly to Rosel Vogt at Rosel's B&B.

Regional Happenings

NEWS FROM THE NORTH
Julie Griffiths, Arbor B&B, Prince George
The Prince George region is pleased to be hosting the 2008 Guild member's meeting and AGM. The social events will be held at the Coast Inn of the North, where economical room rates are being negotiated. The meetings will be at the Civic Centre, a short stroll away. Hopefully in October you "Southerners" will not need down jackets or mukluks, but a hint of frost is a definite possibility. We are looking at the AGM as an opportunity to promote BC Innkeepers within the region, and we hope to see prospective new members from all parts of our vast area. Plan to attend and we will make sure you have a great time!

The busy tourism season is upon us and once again this weekend there are no-vacancy signs everywhere, mainly due to the Forestry and Natural Resource Conference, which draws people from all over the world.
At our May meeting we distributed the new brochures and comment cards and everyone was in agreement that the new look for BC Innkeepers was great.

We are looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones in October.

-- Julie

VICTORIA
Lorraine Nygaard-Ishizaki, Cottage Pirouette, Victoria

Greetings from the sunshine Capital of Canada. The weather is lousy, the ferries are expensive, gas is $1.47 a litre, but despite that and a slow start to the "busy" season we all continue to give shining service and our guest numbers are stable. On the plus side, our whales are enjoying the weather and on a recent outing two of our guests saw 12 orcas.

Bike to Work Week saw Tourism Victoria's staff pedalling madly, along with many other newcomers to the cycling capital of Canada (that's us). At Cottage Pirouette B&B two recent guests were women who had cycled from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal to us, about two hours. After a night's rest they were off to Sooke, another three hours. Upon checkout I learned that they were 70 and 75 years young, and looked much less than 60. The moral of the story is, get on your bikes and pedal.

-- Lorraine

LOWER MAINLAND
Bernadette Driver, Pacific Spirit Guest House, Vancouver

Does anyone want to try the hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour with Vancouver Trolley? Contact me for a free fam-tour ticket. 604-261-6837.

Lower Mainland members can look forward to a picnic this September in Ladner. Details at a later date.

OK, that's the fun stuff. Now, on a more serious note:
The City of Vancouver is looking at ways to ensure that Olympic visitors will have a pleasant experience and that Vancouver does not get a bad reputation for gouging or inferior accommodation. Rich Michaels of the City of Vancouver and Ken Veldman of the B.C. Ministry of Economic Development gave an informative presentation to the B.C. Innkeepers at Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club on May 27. The Vancouver Olympic Committee agrees with the City and cautions B&Bs against price gouging because of any long-term effect.

Other facts to come out of the meeting:

The estimated amount of visitors is 250,000, almost half the population of Vancouver proper. Number of athletes, paralympic athletes and officials: 6,700. Media: 15,000.
Cruise ships may be offering between 2,000 and 3,000 beds during the 2010 Games.
The Vancouver Olympic Committee has already reserved vast quantities of rooms.
During the Calgary and Atlanta Olympics, friends and family hosted 50 per cent of the visitors.

-- Bernadette

Member Profile

Our victim for this issue is Mary Fennell Bed and Breakfast on the Ridge in sunny Surrey. Mary has run her B&B for over 20 years as well as teaching school. Mary volunteered the following answers to my questions:

Our B&B philosophy ... Rest Assured (now I know where the marketing committee came up with the brand!).
Latest book I have read ... New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle. A good read.
Most enjoyable movie I have seen recently ... Juno.
My favourite guests were ... a charming family from Haiti.
When I retire I plan to ... work with troubled teens.
As a child I always wanted to ... be a track and field star.
My favourite vacation spot is ... Europe.
I get the greatest pleasure out of ... teaching high school.
I get really annoyed when ... I am making breakfast and the phone rings and guests who are due to arrive in the afternoon are knocking on the door.
I want to treat myself to ... a Panama cruise.
I am inspired by ... myself, I try to be one step ahead of my aspirations.
I have a weakness for ... ice cream.

Thank you, Mary.
All I can add is ... "There is something about Mary."

Associate Member Corner

By Scott Wallace
Christie-Phoenix Insurance

MAKE SURE YOU ARE PROPERLY INSURED
It is very important to review your insurance policy to ensure your limits and coverages are adequate to cover you for the increased risk that occurs during the busiest season. Whether your current policy is a "home-based business" endorsement rider on your personal home insurance, or you have separate commercial insurance policy for your bed and breakfast, you should review your policy annually to ensure your coverage is correct and complete.

Are you covered for losses from payments made to your B&B with a stolen credit card or counterfeit funds? If you are robbed inside or outside your home? If a guest trips down the stairs and he/she sues? If an employee commits a dishonest act? If a guest suffers food poisoning and/or infectious disease?

Here are some key features you should be covered for:

All-risk building and contents coverage, replacement cost
Sign coverage
Extra expense
Personal liability, business liability, advertising liability
Loss of income, actual loss sustained
Boiler and machinery, equipment breakdown
Loss of money and securities, including infidelity of employees
Money orders and counterfeit currencies, forgery
Unauthorized credit card use
Fire department service charges, fire-extinguishing equipment recharge
Frozen-food protection
Infectious disease and food poisoning

We have seamlessly integrated the features and benefits of personal and commercial protection for your residence and related business operations. We have one overall limit, which applies to personal and B&B contents.

To learn more about our new program, or to receive a quotation on your bed and breakfast insurance, or to receive a free loss-prevention kit, please send an email to swallace@christiephoenix.com or call me at 250-386-1454.

Scott Wallace, CAIB, CIP
Christie-Phoenix, (Victoria) Ltd.

Miscellany

MEMBER RECOGNITION
Four of the Guild B&Bs received star billing in the latest issue of "Real Weddings: A celebration of life". Determining criteria was based on the best place to stay on your wedding night and the best place to host a small family wedding and the amount of assistance available on the days preceeding and post the big day. Congratulations to O Canada House, River Run Cottages, Thistledown House in Vancouver Region and to The Marco Polo in Victoria.

WINE TO GO
Most of you probably know of the change in the law that allows you to take home an open bottle of wine from a restaurant where you chose not to finish the bottle. The interesting and very bureaucratic twist in the law states that the bottle must be in a bag, which must be securely tied. The server must also instruct you not to untie the bag, take a swig and then re-tie the bag. What devious criminal mind would think of that?!

2010 BUSINESS NETWORK
The 2010 Commerce Centre website is a database that allows B.C. companies interested in doing business connected to the Olympics to profile themselves to other businesses who may need their services. The Guild is a member, and any important information will be passed on to our members, but you may also want to promote your B&B -- or the soap carvings you would like to sell.
Comment card

COMMENT CARDS
Remember to display your comment cards (left). They are a great learning tool for B&Bs to see what guests really think (some people are too shy to tell you face-to-face). Being well informed is key to running a quality B&B. More cards and brochures are available from bev.bichard@
bcinnkeepers.com

RIDE ON
Granville Online magazine is aimed at environmentally friendly people, and in this edition there is an article on cyclists and their bikes. Something similar to dog owners who grow to look like their pets. So I was imagining the women Lorraine talked about, riding their 'penny farthing' bicycles all over the island!

FREE LISTINGS
Some of you may have received these directly, but just in case you did not, here are a couple of opportunities to get on a website for FREE. Just remember though that, somewhere down the road, they will probably try to convince you that they have brought a huge amount of business to you and you should now PAY to continue.
Hotel Yellow Book
BB Web
Camel

THE LAST 'WORD'
Finally, for those of you who are still wrestling with CARAVANSERIA. The word has a derivation in Persian (which my keyboard does not have the symbols for), but it was a place where the caravans of traders and camels that crossed the great deserts ended up. So it was what we would now call an inn.

Photo of the Month

Sailboats catch some wind and sunlight in their sails as they race toward Lighthouse Park in this picture taken by Production Editor Peter Driver last May at Locarno Beach in Vancouver. The zoom lens not only brings the boats closer, it also compresses the image, drawing the mountains and hills together.

If you have a good, interesting photo taken recently in B.C. and would like to include it in the newsletter, e-mail it to Peter at info@vanbb.com with Newsletter Pic in the Subject line.

Well, that's it for this edition. We hope you have enjoyed our new look and we look forward to keeping you up to date on B&B happenings in our great province.

Sincerely,

British Columbia Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Guild.
Working for you -- BC's B&B community!