Idaho Bed and Breakfast Association Newsletter #25

 

November-December 2014

 
Hello from the Idaho B&B Association
 
News From The President

 

  , Brian Scott

Thanks for taking the time to read our end of the year newsletter.

First let me welcome our 4 new members from Fin and Feather B&B in Victor; Coeur de Lion in Coeur d Alene; Mullan House B&B in Mullan; & Siri Christina B&B in Wallace, Idaho Welcome and congratulations to all.

Most of our current members responded in a positive way in moving over to a November membership renewal date for all. The reason for this was to cut down on the time that Shar and I spend trying to keep up with all the various renewal dates. The month of November seems to work the best as that is when most of our printed material is due to the printer. Speaking of our printed material, our new project this year is a Idaho map with all of our members listed along with the winery's and breweries in our beautiful state. Our map for last year was the same concept as this year, but featured our members along with Idaho's most popular bike trails, scenic byways and state and national parks. The bike map was recognized as a great product by the Department of Tourism.


Our website www.idahobba.com is as strong as ever. Do not forget to log into your listing once in awhile to keep it fresh and current with your packages, specials, and up to date contact information as well as your availability calendar. The IBBA website is an owner content management system. The info. you post is what is on your listing. So, if you have not taken the time to make the listing your own, you will just have a bare bones appearance. As we know, it would be hard to get any traffic = reservations from a poorly maintained listing on the IBBA website, so enhance your listing.
 

 

Thanks,

Brian Scott, IBBA President

Featured Innkeepers of the Month:
Marguerite & Bernard Janes
Thousand Springs Winery 
Bed and Breakfast
Hagerman Valley, Idaho
 

This new addition to our newsletter is something we hope you will enjoy. We can all learn so much from one another. You may be next to receive a 5 question phone call....

  

Welcome to Thousand Springs Winery Bed and Breakfast. Nestled within the scenic Thousand Springs located in the Hagerman Valley. Thousand Springs Winery Bed & Breakfast hosts spectacular waterfalls and canyon views on the banks of the Snake River. Guests will enjoy the Snake River, its wildlife and gracious country living. The onsite well provides pristine spring water to irrigate all the grapes. Bernard & Marguerite Janes are new owners of the property and opened the custom home as a B&B in March 2013.  Recent renovations have provided all 3 guestrooms with a private bath, deck access and river views.  You are invited!


 wine-cheese-stillife.jpg
 

  

IBBA: Other than your website, where do you focus advertising that gives you the biggest bang for your buck?

 

We advertise in the Idaho Wine Commission Brochure, Booking.com and Inidaho.com

 

IBBA: What is the best thing you have done to your facility to help make your job easier?

 

Rotating 3 breakfast entrees on my breakfast menu.

 

IBBA: Tell me a bit about your vineyards?


 

 We have about 6.5-7 acres consisting of 3 types of wines:; Pinot Grigio; Chardonnay; Syrah. The first wines from our vineyards release in June 2015 with approximately 300 cases, with a future goal of 2,000 cases per year. Our first release will be Rose of Syrah.

 

IBBA: What is the next physical project you have planned for your business?

 Launching our first wine in February....This will be a custom blend of purchased grapes.

 

IBBA: What part of your inn-keeping job is the most difficult?

 

Never having enough time to get everything done before new guests arrive.

  

Big Thanks Marguerite for your time! Have a great season!

  

 
Would You Like To Advertise In The Coming Bike and Winery/Brewery Maps?

The Membership Brochure has gone to print and once again thanks for your membership renewals. There are ad spaces available on both of the maps at this time. The ad would be about the size of a business card and cost $200 for each ad placed. If you are interested in getting some big bang for your buck, these maps will be distributed throughout the surrounding states, the Seattle Ferry System, Glacier and Yellowstone Parks. We print in Quantities of 20,000 each time, so this would give you some exposure in print form that you may not have. Call John Hough regarding Bike Map ads 208-765-5200 or Brian Scott regarding Wine Map ads 208-651-2191.
Deadline for ad submission is January 15th!

 

Global Soap
It seems there is always a quantity of bar soap left at check out and I always feel badly just throwing it away. Now there is  non-profit company providing a solution to this dilemma. E-sign up, collect your guest used soaps, & pay the tax-deductable shipping to the re-milling center in Nevada. The project pays for the regenerated soap to be sent to the children in less fortunate countries to literally "save their lives"  by providing the sanitary means to wash their hands to avoid life threatening diseases. Our thanks to Denise Travis at Estate On The Lake B&B in Sandpoint for this great tip. Sign up at www.globalsoap.org

HOW IBBA BENEFITS YOU! 

 

     Our association represents small lodging that serves breakfast to guests throughout the state of Idaho.  Along with our Traditional B&B's, we also represent Cottages, Country & Historic Inns, Guest Ranches, Cabins, Farm Stays, Tent Cabins & Yurts. We invite you to become a member.

 

    Don't forget... your $75 membership gives you access to all of our preferred vendors, inclusion in the brochure, featured listing on the website and our newest member benefits, inclusion of a location icon placed on the travel show map and an individual listing on the 

Bike/Scenic By-way, State & National Parks map and also on the Winery & Brewery Map.

    

Membership forms are available on the IBBA website.

 

 

Happy New Year!

 
In This Issue
Advertising Your Business
IBBA Benefits
IBBA Recipes
IBBA Website Reminders
Comphy

Quick Links


 
 News From PAII

The annual PAII conference will be held in New Orleans on January 5-8. Register now for this great learning opportunity.   

Thousand Springs Winery

Pan Fried Hagerman Trout

 

Ingredients:

 

1 6-8oz Hagerman Trout Gourmet Filet (Skin on)

Lemon Pepper

 

Heat a lightly oiled cast iron pan to Medium High.   Add 2 trout filets per pan, skin side down.  Sprinkle with lemon pepper and cook until the edges are cooked about ½" into the filet. (About 4 minutes)  Cover with a lid, and remove from the heat.  While the trout is finishing, prepare eggs to order.  Remove the trout from its skin, starting from the tail with a spatula in one movement. Plate along with the eggs.  Serve with Fresh Fruit and Freshly baked muffins.

 
MEMBERSHIP 
Thanks for all the renewals! Because we have changed membership renewal dates to an all inclusive date of November 1st, those existing B&B's whose membership expires prior or after November 1st, your membership will be pro-rated @ $6.25 per month.

 

IBBA WEBSITE REMINDERS:
Check your email regularly for notes from these this IBBA associate:

 

1. Association Alliance sends out the website listing password information so that you can update your listing on the IBBA website. Be sure to check your spam box if you have not received this information yet. We will resend it to you again this coming week.

 

Comphy 

Our preferred vendor of quality linens is now providing wonderful bamboo towels to our industry. Be sure to take a look at these wonderful new items and if you haven't tried out their sheets, you are really missing out. 
Contact Shantell at Comphy  323) 225-8234 for more information or to place your order today.
Register for the Idaho Conference On Recreation & Tourism being held May 5-6-7 in Boise and receive a $25 refund on your registration after the conference from IBBA.