Tuesday, August 25, 2015

News You Can Use 8-25-15


Businesses – whether B&B Inns or companies providing products and services – all strive for visibility to the guest and customer. This week’s News You Can Use addresses both PR (public relations) and marketing.

FIRST, A REMINDER: Answers for Your Toughest Marketing Challenges SURVEY
PAII has partnered with LivingSocial to bring you a tool to assess your marketing choices and challenges. STEP ONE is the survey, STEP TWO is the report and webinar. Let’s get started!
It’s tough facing ever changing business challenges for your B&B. What are those top pain points for your business? How have you overcome them and what were the best solutions? Please take 5-10 minutes to complete this survey. Your responses will be gathered for an exclusive industry study for PAII members and consolidated into a full-feature report called The 2015 B&B Challenges and Trends Report. Thank you for your participation - and of course, the more innkeepers that participate, the more valuable the information will be!

On Wednesday October 14th PAII will host the webinar presented by Living Social which analyzes your top 3 challenges, along with strategies to increase your business. You’ll hear real life strategies and pain points from LivingSocial's featured Travel Customer (TBA) and the Director of Travel, Dustin Warr on how to maximize your marketing programs and generate more business. Don't miss out on this engaging  webinar.


Photo & Recipe Contest Rules on PAII Blog … and much more
Walk the Walk & Talk the Talk – since we’re featuring an article on the value of blogging and indexing (searching) we’ll lead off with both: you’ll find 47 blog posts from this year on the PAII blog, http://paiiinnkeepers.blogspot.com including the issues of News You Can Use and Member’s Monthly.  And, when you have that ‘I know I read it somewhere’ moment, our blog’s SEARCH feature may be a quick way to find just what you need.  Our Fall Photo & Recipe contest rules are posted on the blog for your convenience – we’re looking forward to receiving these from you and providing your inn with some free exposure.  Note that you have until September 15 to submit your entries.

To Blog or Not to Blog … is it even a question?
Every innkeeper and business person wants to know is it worth my time?  Specifically, is blogging worth my time?  We can’t argue with this rationale:  People looking for places to stay are usually looking for things to do. Voila – there’s your content.  Google prioritizes new content, so consistent blogging will increase your chances of reaching the coveted top of the search results.  Blogging connects you with your audience on a personal level with specific, appealing messages on proven topics. Regularly scheduled blog posts keep your inn ‘top of mind’ even more so. The result?  Read more at How Blogging can Positively affect Direct Bookings

Casting Call: Hotel Hell – Oregon
In the spirit of we’re all in this together … “If you’re struggling due to bad reviews, bad management, bad customers, the bad economy or bad employees, or just can’t figure out how to keep up, Gordon Ramsay and his team of experts will come to the rescue and attempt to turn around the fortunes of dedicated and determined hospitality industry owners,” Fox’s casting agency said in a casting call.  “If you are an owner, an employee or if you know of an establishment that needs help (even if they don’t realize it),” she said,” “please apply.”

Instagram Search Arrives For Web Users
With over 1 billion photos and 300 million users (as of 12-2014) finding anything on Instagram is daunting.  Desktop users will now have the ability to search hashtags, locations & accounts thanks to a new search feature from Instagram.

Featured Past PAII Webinar: Digital PR on a budget
PR – Public Relations –is editorial content:   stories in newspaper, magazines, on the  web, tv, etc. Since you have control over your Press Release message, content tips include: lead with the most important information, check, check and re-check facts / spelling, toot your own horn and make no negative comments about anyone else.   Marie Coder of Bed & Brunch pr notes “everyone knows a lot about something” and after this webinar, you’ll know a lot more about how and where to get your story told.

Soup for breakfast?
No, it’s not a “Seinfeld” scenario.  PAII member innkeepers Brian & Mary Grover at Solglimt Bed and Breakfast On the Water in Duluth MN will erase any hesitation you may have had with their fresh Strawberry Soup.  And, btw, “On the Water” is Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
‘til next time
Kris Ullmer, PAII Executive Director

Airbnb – Part 8
Have you been watching your e-mails and the news lately? 
·         First, PAII has responded to AIHP’s formal announcement that they are “collaborating” with Airbnb, one of their major contributors, as stated in the AIHP newsletter of August 20.  
·       Second, the PAII response went out Monday http://paiiinnkeepers.blogspot.com/2015/08/professional-association-of-innkeepers.html to our social media outlets and is included here for your reference.  
·       Third, while PAII encourages our members, and all B&Bs, to list on Airbnb just like they do on the other OTAs, we are firmly committed to having a level playing field for all short term rental properties.  It is PAII’s position that everyone should be in compliance with all applicable Federal, State and Local Government laws, rules, regulations, codes, insurance requirements and ordinances. 
·       Fourth, Towns, Cities and Counties are finally taking action and in some cases have leveed some pretty stiff fines for those properties that are not in compliance – for example - the lady in San Diego who got fined $25,000 for illegally operating a B&B.
PAII Conference
The PAII Members Monthly e-magazine sent out last week listed a number of key participants (like HMS – Hospitality Marketing Summit) and critically important sessions (like presentations on the “Status of PAII”, “How to Deal with Airbnb” and “The OTA Challenge”) to name a few.  Watch your email for the upcoming announcements of the early bird discounts, key note speakers and additional sessions, all of which are designed to educate, inform and keep you current on what is happening in our Market and what PAII is doing as your advocate.  You definitely don’t want to miss the AH&LA presentation, which will hit close to home as the issues the Hotel Industry is facing mirror our own, or the word on the latest technologies and social media changes that can help (or hurt) us as they roll out. 
PAII Advocacy
Weather it is Airbnb / ‘share economy’ issues, the OTA Mergers, Building, Fire and Health Department code and regulation changes, rating system/application “enhancements” or Federal Government actions like the recent FTC Workshop or the OSHA/DOJ rulings on service Animals , you can count on YOUR PAII will be “in there” fighting for you and keeping you informed.   The proposed Fire Code changes that were discussed in Chicago last month won’t take effect for 2-3 years – but it was critical that the viewpoint of B&Bs was identified now before proposed changes became cast in concrete. 

Photo Contests:
Deadline for entering has been extended to September 15, 2015: Details and Contest Rules for the PAII Member’s Recipe Contest For Our Fall Innkeeping Now Magazine! http://paiiinnkeepers.blogspot.com/2015/07/paii-recipe-contest-for-our-fall.html and PAII Photo Contests For Our Fall Innkeeping Now Magazine! http://paiiinnkeepers.blogspot.com/2015/07/paii-photo-contests-for-our-fall.html

News You Can Use:
How Blogging can Positively affect Direct Bookings

Industry News:
Reality TV show looking for troubled Oregon hotels, motels and inns

Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers Should be aware of:
Instagram Search Arrives For Web Users: Desktop users will now have the ability to search hashtags, locations & accounts thanks to a new search feature from Instagram.

Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives:
Digital PR on a Budget

Innkeeping Recipes:
From the Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association  http://www.minnesotabedandbreakfasts.org/
Strawberry Soup
From the kitchen of Solglimt on the Water

Upcoming Webinars for PAII Members
Please register at http://www.innkeeping.org/?page=webinars
(you will need to login to your PAII account) 

Wednesday, August 26, 2015, 2:00 PM EST
Yield Management – Pricing and promoting your rooms for optimal occupancy and revenue.

From ADR to RevPar to Yield Management, Tim Wilson from BedandBreakfast.com will explain in easy-to-understand terms how to maximize your income by varying your rates, minimum/maximum stays, cancellation policies and expanding distribution.
-BedandBreakfast.com

Wednesday, September 2, 2015, 2:00 PM EST
Clever hacks to boost your inn's revenue!
Little Hotelier and the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) are excited to bring you this free webinar that covers:
The basics of yield management
Pricing strategies you can use to boost revenue
How you can measure your success
This webinar is perfect for small accommodation providers who want to pick up some practical tips on how to increase your revenue.

Association Webinars (Open to All)

Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 2:00 PM EST
Member Retention and Acquisition for Associations
It has become harder and harder for Associations, not just Bed and Breakfast Associations to retain and acquire new members. We will go over what's working, what's not and the latest and best models for retention and member acquisition.
-PAII Staff
This webinar is open to anyone in the Bed and Breakfast industry, please register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7923487976926361602


Don’t forget, We have set up an e-mail address questions@PAII.org for you to ask questions and make comments directly to your board.



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