updated logo

background

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

from Florida Bed & Breakfast Inns!

                                                                                                       December 2008

In This Issue
New Website Features
Innkeeping Success
Green'Inn Tip of the Month
Recipe of the Month
GET RECOGNIZED 
 
Florida Monthly will be including little-known facts and fun trivia about Inns in Florida.  If you have any unique interesting facts about your Bed and Breakfast Inn that you would like to have mentioned, please send them to 
______________________ 

 HUMOR

 
  YOU MIGHT BE AN INNKEEPER.....  
 
If you find yourself explaining, one a week, what a grit is, you might be a Southern innkeeper.

 
_________________
 

 
New Brochures
are available for our member inns!
 To request new brochures to be delivered to your door,
 
______________________
 
 
Advertising Opportunities are  AVAILABLE on our Website and our Monthly Newsletter
Click here
for more information! ____________________  
 
Gift Certificates

Member  Inns receive 100% of value of all Gift Certificates!
 
Now Redeemable at:
 
 FBBI
106 S. 4th Avenue
Wauchula, FL  33873
 
 * Gift Certificates must be mailed in 30 days from date of receipt and  within 30 days  of  their expiration date. 
____________________
 
Quick Links
 
 
______________________
 
New Recipes Section
  
 
As part of our new website bonus, member inns can upload recipes onto our Florida Bed & Breakfast Inns Association official website.  If you have a recipe, it is a great opportunity to share with others, while being recognized for your originality and ingenuity.  Remember, when you update your individual listing, add a few recipes! 
_____________________ 
 

Florida Bed & Breakfast Inns
106 South 4th Avenue
Wauchula, Florida  33873
www.florida-inns.com
[email protected]
Patricia Dewiler, President
Dear FBBI Members,
 
Happy Holidays! We are delighted that our new web site finally represents the beauty and diversity of FBBI and our member Inns. We hope that you will take advantage of three programs available to you with the new web site: www.florida-inns.com. You can gain more exposure of your Inn with these programs and we hope that you will see the value in making the FBBI website work for you. Many of our member Inns already have been delighted with the results of the new site.
 
You may now add up to 5 additional pictures to your web site listing! For a cost of $50 you can now showcase a wide vareity of photos of your grounds, public areas, and individual rooms and suites. Also, the City Feature allows your Inn to come up under names of mutiple cities and towns in your surrounding area. For $25 you may add your listing to a city name of your choosing within 30 miles of your Inn. This is a particularly helpful feature for our more rural Inns and B&Bs.
 
And finally, we are very excited about the FBBI Weddings page! Did you know that more than 5,400 people per month search on Google for "Florida Weddings?" Our weddings page takes advantage of reaching out to these individuals and we want you to be in the spotlight! Whether you have a large outdoor garden area or intimate porch there is sure to be a bride looking for what your Inn is offering. Maximize the potential for wedding business by participating on our Weddings page. The cost is $75 annually, with a $25 set up fee. With your listing you will be able to post one photo and a 400 character description of your wedding offerings.
 
Please contact us now for more information on how to take advantage of these program. We wish you a delightful holiday season and best wishes for safe and prosperous New Year 2009!
 
Warm regards,
 
Pattie Detwiler
President, Florida Bed & Breakfast Inns
 
______________________________________________________
 
Innkeeping Success without Discounting
by Peter Scherman
 
These are tough times, no doubt about it. They were tough for the lodging industry after 9/11, too, and the immediate response was to discount rooms in hopes of filling them. Back then it worked, sort of, but the long term consequence was a period of several years to rebuild ADR and RevPAR. So what's an innkeeper to do? David King, CEO of Fulcrum has an article in Chief Marketer with a few suggestions, which I relate to innkeeping.
 
First, it's important to remember that discounts don't automatically equal value. Just because something costs less doesn't mean it's really nice. It may just be what a person can afford now, and when he can afford more he'll upgrade again. You never want anyone to think that your fabulous guest rooms are "cheap." But you do want them to know they are great value, regardless of price. Maybe they get something extra that adds value (flowers, a split of wine, a gas card) or a service (breakfast in bed, personalized tours, or reservations at the "impossible to get into" restaurant). Think about what you can do to increase value without discounting your rate.
 
Especially in these times, remember that not all of your guests want the same thing. In fact, you may be getting some new guests that have never stayed with you or at a B&B before. Take advantage of the opportunity to introduce the joys of a distinctive, unique lodging experience and cultivate them for the future. Emphasize the fact that you can (and will) customize their guest experience. If they have limited resources, they want their dollar to go far. Innkeepers are uniquely poised to customize and deliver.
 
There has never been a more important time to understand and care about your brand as an inn. What do you represent? Why would someone stay with you over another inn across town or across the state? If you have a clearly defined brand, nurture it and promote the heck out of it. And if you're not really sure that your brand message is clear (or even what that message is), you are probably missing an opportunity to build guest traffic and loyalty. Show people what you stand for, and deliver on that promise. Get help if you need it.
 
Finally, while you look for ways to survive this economic downturn in the short term, don't forget the medium and long term. In tough times, one of the first variable and discretionary costs that many businesses cut is advertising and marketing. This, along with aggressive discounting, starts a downward spiral that can cause some inns to fail. Plan carefully, and, if possible, increase your marketing to attract more new guests to your inn. If you think it through, you can build a solid base and increase your share of the pie even as others bemoan "the economy."
 
David King concludes, "There is no doubt that consumer and business customers will be seeking value in response to the pain and uncertainty in the economy. But smart marketers with the resources and vision to consider other steps will survive by doing more than rushing to the lowest common denomator.

_________________________________________________________________

 Green'Inn Tip of the Month

 
Happy Holidays! Here's ten quick tips (many that we've covered throughout the year) to consider to make your Inn more eco-friendy Inn next year!
 
1. Rainwater harvesting
2. Composting
3. Herb, fruit, and/or veggie gardens
4. E-mail newsletters and on-line marketing vs. paper brochures and mailing
5. Organic linens
6. Cleaning and detergent products make from natural ingredients
7. Energy efficient upgrades and renovations (windows, insulation, etc.)
8. Compact Fluorescent light bulbs
9. Turn down the heat and turn up the air.
10.Wash all items in cold water.
________________________________________________________________
 
Cleaning Tip of the Month
 
Hydrogen Peroxide has been used as a cleaning tool since the 1920's before bleach was invented in the 1940's.  Its many uses include:
 
1. Great for cleaning kitchen, bathrooms, or even grout lines in tile.  Can be used to replace bleach.  It is all natural and safe for kids, pets and could be used to promote "green" cleaning.
 
2. Great for getting out any kind of stain from lipstick to blood to spaghetti sauce.  Just spray it on the area that has been stained and let soak in.  The longer you can let it soak the better.  When you wash it, the stain will be gone.  Use it on your whites to make them brighter!
 
3. Use as a replacement for your glass and surface cleaners.  Use it on your mirrors and glass surfaces to get a streak free healthy surface!
 
4. Not only can it be used to heal cuts and scrapes, but you can apply Hydrogen Peroxide to athlete's foot, and other infections as a second defense.  It cleans and heals by oxygenating the area killing germs, fungi, and bacteria.
 
The best part of it all, well other than it is the healthiest cleaner out there, is that it is the most inexpensive!  You can save loads of money, like we all need, and you can add less chemicals while getting a much better clean!
_________________________________________________________________



Recipe of the Month 
 
Eggnog French Toast with Cranberry Syrup
 
4 ounces softened cream cheeseeggnog french toast
� cup dried cranberries
1 loaf French bread, cut into 12-14 (1-inch) slices
2 � cups half-and-half
4 tablespoons butter melted
8 eggs
� teaspoon ground nutmeg
� cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp rum extract
 
Cranberry Syrup
1 cup frozen raspberry-cranberry juice concentrate, thawed
1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
 
Grease a 13 X 9 X 2-inch glass baking dish.
 
In food processor, combine the cream cheese and cranberries. Cut part way through each slice of bread to form a pocket.  Fill with the cheese mixture and arrange in the baking dish.
 
In a large bowl, whisk the cream, butter, eggs, nutmeg, sugar, vanilla, and rum extract.  Pour evenly over the bread slices. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight, then preheat the oven to 350* and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
 
Meanwhile, make the syrup. Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan.  Whisk over medium-low heat until dissolved and slightly thickened. Separate the French toast slices with a knife and serve immediately, with the cranberry syrup.
 
Yield: 6-8 servings; 2 cups of cranberry syrup

Breast Cancer Alert  

 Mammogram with Ultrasound Improved Detection of Cancers  



Contact Info
 
Pattie Detwiler 
President FBBI
 
Alisa Bennett
Publicist FBBI
 
Christina Detwiler
Website, Updating, Newsletter
 
For all other contact Information CLICK HERE