Strategy & Planning

Survey Says…
Tuesday, January 23, 3:00pm – 4:10pm
SH Pope Room
Janice Hurley – BedandBreakfast.com
You know what your repeat guests love about your inn, but the reservations you are losing can make the difference between a profitable inn and one that’s barely scraping by. This workshop will provide an analysis of a year’s worth of BedandBreakfast.com’s quarterly surveys of approximately 50,000 consumers and 5,000 innkeepers, along with specific ways that you can learn what works (and what doesn’t) so you can please more of the people, more of the time.

Can You $pell “Valuable?” 5 Steps to “Yes!”

Tuesday, January 23, 4:20pm – 5:30pm
SH Caraway Room
Peter Scherman & Rick Wolf – The B&B Team

Understanding in today’s market what a property is worth and how to operate your inn with an eye to value is important. In this workshop you will learn the principles of inn valuation to better understand how your inn/B&B realistically fits into the market.  You will also learn five critical steps you can take to enhance the value of your inn, from tune-ups to operational improvements, regardless of size or level of business. This workshop will be helpful whether you are contemplating selling now or years from now.

Disasters Happen, What Can You Do? Survival Panel
Tuesday, January 23, 4:20pm – 5:30pm

SH Ballroom A
Moderator: TBA
Panelists: Jim Barnett, CIC – Roy N. Borden Agency, Inc., Linda McClellan – Mountain Memories B&B (AR), Karl Sabo – Deerfield Inn (MA)

Come hear the stories of real disaster experiences with innkeepers who have survived the test of fire and flood. Learn what they did in the moment, how they conquered disaster and what they learned in moving forward. We will also have an insurance expert on the panel to provide information to help you in your own planning. 

Surviving the Off Season

Wednesday 8:30am – 9:40am
SH Ballroom A

Moderator: Michele Brown, Swift House Inn (VT)
Panelists: Ray Rosset – Lookout Point Lake Side Inn (AR), Peter Sharp – Fairview Inn (MS), Ian MacPhee – Abbeymoore Manor B&B (BC)

This session will provide tips on increasing cash flow during slow seasons, using your time wisely to increase profitability, ideas for managing your cash flow throughout the year so that you have enough reserve to carry you through the slow times and other possibilities for accessing cash.

Ready to Sell, Now What?
Wednesday, January 25, 9:50am – 11:00am
SH Caraway Room 2
Bill Oates – Inn Consulting Partners
The market is loaded with Inns for Sale, and a paucity of buyers.  Those buyers who are active are very cautious.  To top it off, banks are for the most part non-participants in the financing of any hospitality properties.  Realistically, owner participation, with subordinated financing, primary financing or lease option drive most transfers. In this workshop Bill Oates will share his experience in guiding over 200 successful inn transfers. We will be examining the preparation and transfer process, focusing on option’s available in structuring the sale with owner participation.

HELP WANTED! How to Tap the International Labor Pool
Wednesday, January 25, 9:50am – 11:00am

SH Miller Room

Moderator: Amy Smith – Saratoga Arms (NY)
Panelists: Kathleen Smith – Saratoga Arms (NY), Michele Brown – Swift House Inn (VT), Nancy Moncrief – Candlelight Inn (NJ)

Do you need to ramp up staff for your high season? Have you ever thought of international students? This panel will navigate you through the process. From using an agency to dealing with housing and payroll taxes, this session will answer these questions.

Proven Path to Grow Profit & Reduce Stress

Wednesday, January 25, 2:45pm – 3:45pm

SH Caraway Room 3

All great corporations and businesses develop and utilize strategic planning. From failing to plan, to developing a SWOT analysis this workshop will flow through envisioning your Vision to producing a Mission Statement and Tag Line for your inn. Also, we will provide information on producing five goals for your inn in the areas of products & services, quality/process control, sales & marketing, human resources, and profitability. Use your plan as a road map for your 5 year vision, thinking in terms of a one year commitment, executing as if you are going to be in business for 6 months, and reviewing the progress monthly.  This session will help innkeepers increase profits and reduce stress.

“Heeere’s Johnny!” How do You Engage the Next Generation of Travelers?
Wednesday, January 25, 2:45pm – 3:45pm
SH Pope Room
Moderator: Amy Brady – Forty Putney Road (VT)
Panelists: Sarah Dolk – Adobe Nido B&B (NM), David Pfau – Shiloh Morning Inn (OK), Jennifer Cole – Southern Living Magazine

The latest generation of travelers knows that famous phrase as Jack’s scary announcement at the lodge in The Shining, not Ed’s warm welcome to the Tonight Show. Along with 85 million baby boomers, we are engaging with 50 million Gen Xers and 76 million Gen Y up-and-comers. For these travelers, the line between work and home is fading to non-existent. Learn how to connect and feed the needs of this expansive market of travelers to increase your profitability.

Are You REALLY a Better Way to Stay?

Wednesday, January 25, 2:45pm – 3:45pm
SH Fulton Room

Jay Karen, PAII CEO  and Tim Brady of Brand Pandemic

The creative duo behind our exciting Better Way to Stay campaign team up to expose the reality and inherent weaknesses in our industry. They’ll provide proven techniques and provisions to overcome the shortfalls, ensuring that Better Way to Stay marketing matches the experience.