Thursday, December 31, 2015

Conference Partner Spotlight Purewater Baths

In 500 words or less, please tell us about your business:
In 1993, as bath manufacturers, we decided to address the fact that there was no effective solution for removing the residue and dangerous bacteria found in the hidden pipes and air channels of traditional whirlpool baths.  After 7 years of research and development, SANIJET Pipeless™ technology was born, the world’s first and only whirlpool jets that require no pipes, air channels, bulky pumps or blowers.  
Since 2000, SANIJET Pipeless™ technology has been the driving force behind the ultimate blend of powerful hydromassage, unmatched sanitation, and unrivaled peace and quiet.
Purewater Baths, engineered with SANIJET’s Pipeless™ technology, provide the cleanest, quietest hydrotherapy in the world.  Our jets are powered by individual motors that greatly reduce noise while eliminating the need for pipes, pumps, and air channels that hide stagnant water.  
With our innovative design cleaning and maintenance are quick and easy.  The annual maintenance savings for cleaning our bath compared to piped whirlpool baths is over $1,000 per bathtub and approximately 17,000 gallons of water per bathtub!  
Purewater Baths, engineered with SANIJET’s Pipeless™ technology function quietly and smoothly compared to the noisy, rumbling sounds of most piped whirlpool baths and air tubs.  In fact, when comparing the two systems, Purewater Baths are typically quieter than a normal conversation while many piped and air whirlpool baths sound like a small jet plane is taking off from your bathroom.  And our baths dramatically reduces water heat loss eliminating the need for costly in-line heaters.
What do you see as the biggest challenges to the Innkeeping industry at this time?
The biggest challenge would be the balancing act.  You may have a couple of people doing everything from marketing to customer service.  And with social media today the comments customers have online have a huge impact on a small business.  Everyone shares their experiences with their network of friends on social media.   
What trends are you seeing in your own, specific industry that are important to innkeepers?
Whirlpool baths have always been an amenity providing guests a sanctuary where they can relax.   Couples enjoy a nice romantic whirlpool bathing experience together.   Some people just want to relieve stress in peace and quiet.  Others want to ease their aches and pains after a long day of travels or site seeing.  Sadly we have seen more people are moving toward soaking tubs because they are very aware of the issues with traditional piped whirlpool baths.  Purewater Baths is a very important industry trend for innkeepers providing guests with a spa like hydrotherapy experience and the assurance the bath can be totally cleaned, no hidden pipes or channels.  Another trend is ease of use and low maintenance.  We fit that bill too!   Did we mention the peace and quiet?
What is your favorite thing about the B&B community?
Everyone is very personable.  We love the focus on comfort and at home feeling.  They want their guests to have the best.
Do you have any new products/services that you’re introducing this year?
We are offering our customers and our Inn Keepers an exciting opportunity.   It is very exciting for us as well!  We sell factory direct and do not have showrooms.  Many customers want to see the baths before purchasing.   We have developed a program called Bed, Breakfast and Bath so they can try before they buy.   On our website you can put in a zip code and find a Bed and Breakfast that has our baths.   If a potential customer stays at one of those Bed and Breakfasts to experience a Purewater Bath and purchases our bath we will deduct the cost of their stay, up to $200, from the cost of the bath.   New customers that get to actually bathe in our bath in an awesome atmosphere, Inn Keepers get new business and we gain a new customer.  It is a win-win-win.  Check out our B, B & B program on our website.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

PAII News You Can Use for 12-8-2015

We are committed to fostering a knowledgeable, caring and conscientious community of professional innkeepers,
networking with each other throughout the world. 
Your Weekly News & Updates
News You Can Use - our weekly cruise thru the issues and topics 
for the business of Innkeeping.

"News You Can Use" is your weekly pipeline of industry education ... and coming in just one month, you can experience a flood of news you can use - at the PAII Innkeeping Show, of course! 
  

What's on tap? Here's a sample:
Social Media Marketing Trilogy                                  
Preparing for an Interim Innkeeper
Getting On The Map - Google Local                         
Managing & Reducing Credit Card Costs
Protect Your Reputation                               
More Guests, More Bookings, More Sunrises
What Google Wants                                                     
Make more money with a Channel Manager
Exiting Innkeeping                                                         
Elevate your Game & get Rave Reviews
Questions to Ask a Web Developer                           
Work Smarter & Grow Your Business
Food Costing - Less Waste, More Profit                  
Creating the Perfect PR Pitch


And, our Weddings Track - a host of presenters will guide you through the legal/contractual must haves, the planning minutiae (what is and what isn't!), what's profitable / what's not, successes and experiences

On Monday morning (1-11-16), our friends atbedandbreakfast.com invite you to Brunch and Learn: what's new, Five Greatest Marketing Challenges, Top Travel  & Tech Trends ... and perhaps some insider tips on what to do, where to dine in their home-base of Austin!


This week's first article:  What does a decline in mobile browser usage mean for you, along with a dramatic increase in mobile app usage? Since over half of the time spent in apps is concentrated in social, entertainment and gaming, a smartphone user might discover your property via Facebook and click on a link to your property's blog post or website. This highlights the importance of creating an inviting mobile website as it may be the first interaction a guest has with you. Read more at "How to Use the Decline...to Your Advantage".

While we typically don't deal with 10-figure dollar amounts, our industry is experiencing billion dollar deals occurring regularly, such as Expedia's purchase of HomeAway for 3.9 billion.  'Adding up the Costs...' takes you thru the recent acquisitions in the travel industry; check out the link to 'Airbnb Confirms $1.5 billion Funding Round' too.
And finally, last week we talked about 'being real' so this week let's talk fake - as in the Emergency French toast recipe: no egg, no milk.  Intriguing - necessity is the mother of invention!

'til next time, Kris Ullmer, PAII Executive Director

News You Can Use:
How to Use the Decline in Mobile Browser Usage to Your Advantage

Industry News:
Adding Up the Costs of Expedia Vs. Priceline Vs. TripAdvisor

Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers Should be aware of:
Pinterest now lets you visually search for items within pins

Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives:
Eco Friendly Low Cost Housekeeping Solutions (audio only)

Innkeeping Recipes:
From the Kansas Bed and Breakfast Association http://www.kbba.com
Emergency French Toast - No Eggs! Recipe from the kitchen of Scenic Valley Inn & Event Center Read more..... 

Conference Vendor Spotlight: RezOvation®

Upcoming Webinars (free for members)
(you will need to login to your PAII account)
 
Wednesday, December 9, 2015 (rescheduled from October 14)
Top 3 Challenges for Bed &Breakfast's and Strategies to Increase Business  
In a recent poll we asked B&B's their greatest business challenges and what strategies they used to overcome them. Hear real life strategies and pain points from LivingSocial's featured Travel Customer (TBA) and the Director of Travel, Dustin Warr. Learn how to maximize your marketing programs and generate more business. Don't miss out on this engaging webinar.
-Living Social 
 
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Bring in more guests and increase RevPar with Off Season Booking Promotions 
Many inns are fully booked during the high season but have trouble filling openings in mid- week and off-season. Extending your season by several weeks or getting a few more mid-week bookings  can dramatically increase your RevPar.  This webinar will show you how to use the power of unusual holidays and special events to create booking promotions that will attract and delight your guests. It will include live examples of successful promotions implemented by innkeepers.
 
Wednesday, December 20 & 30, 2015 (Happy Holidays Webinar Break)

Please Click Here To See A Full List of Upcoming Webinars for 2015


Professional Association of Innkeepers International
295 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 236-C
Charleston, SC 29492
STAY CONNECTED:
Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our profile on LinkedIn   Find us on Google+   View our videos on YouTube   Find us on Pinterest

Conference Partner Spotlight RezOvation®

RezOvation® is part of the HomeAway® family, and is the industry leader in property management systems and online reservations for small hotels, inns, and the B&B market. Over 7,500 properties actively use RezOvation and Webervations® software. A sister company to BedandBreakfast.com, RezOvation's suite of products is ideal for bed and breakfasts, inns, boutique hotels, lodges, motels, and many other types of businesses.

For a low, flat monthly fee, our top selling software helps you streamline your operations and is fully PCI certified on the latest PA-DSS standard. Integrated credit card processing seamlessly accepts credit cards for phone and website reservations, and check-ins. Use the mobile responsive RezOvation Booking Engine for quick and easy real-time reservations for potential guests and provide connectivity to the worldwide Global Distribution System (GDS) and Onward Distribution System (ODS). Easily market to additional guests worldwide through RezOvation’s Booking Engine and BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations.

Our prices include setup, training, technical support, data backups, marketing tools, automated emails, special occasion emails, ability to sell gift certificates, promo codes, and much more! Take advantage of our mobile app and iPhone app for Innkeepers to use, and a Facebook app for guests to book directly from your Facebook page.

Innkeepers need the ability to market their own brand as the industry grows and that means getting their name in front of every potential traveler. Having tools that automatically send company branded and customized communications not only saves time for Innkeepers, but also provides the opportunity for guests to remember them.

Innkeepers also need to meet traveler expectations by providing a mobile booking experience that is easy for the guest to use and easy for the Innkeeper to configure.

Mobile usage continues to rise and therefore creating solutions for travelers and customers is top of mind for RezOvation.

The ability to provide exceptional tools and service to those who provide a unique experience to travelers

Web app for Innkeepers to manage their Inn while on the go. With no app to download, Innkeepers can use their mobile device to access RezOvation Web to create reservations, take payments, view arrivals, view occupancy information, view customized guest notes and more!

Contact: Sales at RezOvation Software 877 239.1398 www.rezovation.com

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

PAII News You Can Use for 12-1-2015

We are committed to fostering a knowledgeable, caring and conscientious community of professional innkeepers,
networking with each other throughout the world. 
Your Weekly News & Updates
News You Can Use - our weekly cruise thru the issues and topics 
for the business of Innkeeping.
Coming soon to a screen near you...

PAII's new website, that is! This announcement is both a woo-hoo and a caveat ... no matter how meticulous the preparation to move massive amounts of information is, there are likely to be a few oopsies! Don't hesitate to let us know if you encounter a problem using the site - we welcome your suggestions for content and enhancements too.  All of the useful, educational information that you are accustomed to is accessible and well-organized. We've curated information, keeping the relevant and most current.  For security purposes, no credit card information transfers, so when you are invoiced (for your monthly or annual dues, for example), you'll enter in your credit card information.  When you see the new site, you'll access your member record by a user name which is your email initially.  You also may notice a format change in your weekly communications from us - we'll be using "Constant Contact" in conjunction with the new website.

In this week's News You Can Use, it's refreshing to read advice like this: Be authentic! Showcase what you're all about and drop what you're not. That's the recommendation from Cloudbeds when it comes to using Pinterest for your business. They further note: Hospitality brands are often fueled by passion, so focus on how and what got you to this point. We appreciated the step-by-step walk thru of how to use Pinterest and the good news for busy innkeepers is that unlike other social media platforms, it's not necessary to post every day - after you get started, about an hour per week is all that's needed.  Read more in How Hospitality Brands Can Use Pinterest Like the Pros and be sure to catch the Cloudbeds sessions at the PAII Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show!
Conference Update: We will be setting up a ridesharing option for conference attendees to sign up for rideshares to and from the airport to the conference facilities. More information will be forthcoming in the next Innfo Monthly Newsletter in 2 weeks.

'til next time, Kris Ullmer, PAII Executive Director
 
News You Can Use:
A Pinterest Strategy for Lodging - Introduction

Industry News:
Expedia's HomeAway to Follow Airbnb's Lead and Add a Booking Fee for Travelers

Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers Should be aware of:
Google Revamps Google+ To Focus On Communities & Collections

Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives:
How to Cash In on the Barter System

Innkeeping Recipes:
From the California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns https://www.cabbi.com
Low-Fat Honey Apricot Bread from the kitchen of the Inn at Playa del Rey
Upcoming Webinars (free for members)
(you will need to login to your PAII account)

Wednesday, December 2, 2015, 2:00 PM EST
How to sharpen your online pricing strategy?
To run a successful business, innkeepers must maximise their profit opportunities while ensuring they don't frighten their guests by being perceived as expensive.
How do you work out a well-founded pricing strategy and policy. How do you set the 'right' price?  During this webinar, you will gain insights in the components that influence price, and get to know the different steps of an optimal pricing process and innovative price determination. ... If your pricing policy is not as strategic as it might be, you may want to use some tools to help you both design it and implement it. 
 
Wednesday, December 9, 2015 (rescheduled from October 14)
Top 3 Challenges for Bed &Breakfast's and Strategies to Increase Business  
In a recent poll we asked B&B's their greatest business challenges and what strategies they used to overcome them. Hear real life strategies and pain points from LivingSocial's featured Travel Customer (TBA) and the Director of Travel, Dustin Warr. Learn how to maximize your marketing programs and generate more business. Don't miss out on this engaging webinar.
-Living Social 
 
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Bring in more guests and increase RevPar with Off Season Booking Promotions 
Many inns are fully booked during the high season but have trouble filling openings in mid- week and off-season. Extending your season by several weeks or getting a few more mid-week bookings  can dramatically increase your RevPar.  This webinar will show you how to use the power of unusual holidays and special events to create booking promotions that will attract and delight your guests. It will include live examples of successful promotions implemented by innkeepers.
 
Wednesday, December 20 & 30, 2015 (Happy Holidays Webinar Break)

Please Click Here To See A Full List of Upcoming Webinars for 2015
Professional Association of Innkeepers International
295 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 236-C
Charleston, SC 29492
Phone: (856) 310-1102
STAY CONNECTED:
Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our profile on LinkedIn   Find us on Google+   View our videos on YouTube   Find us on Pinterest

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

PAII News You Can Use for 11-24-2015

We are committed to fostering a knowledgeable, caring and conscientious community of professional innkeepers,
networking with each other throughout the world. 
Your Weekly News & Updates
News You Can Use - our weekly cruise thru the issues and topics 
for the business of Innkeeping.
"Your B&B looks so much better than the pictures" ... while no innkeeper wants create expectations or make promises they can't deliver, how many potential guests decided NOT to book because of less than appealing photos? Just a few?  Not according to our first articleTravellers Apparently Put Off Booking Accommodation if Photos are Bad which states 
"Ove 
r three quarters of those who were later shown a web page with spruced up image included said they would consider booking a stay, compared to 13% for the poorer quality photograph." And, the difference in what a guest would pay was less than half for the poorly portrayed room ($64 vs $136 after converting the British pound to the U.S dollar!)

Hospitality consultant and blogger Chef Forfeng aka Heather Turner, who is also PAII's marketing & communications guru, chatted with TripAdvisor and posed your questions ... read about how Business Listings have gone from flat pricing to now where each property has an individually calculated price based on specific criteria and how these can be further refined or negotiated.  Meet Heather at the PAII Innkeeping Show in Austin this January!

And with that segue, we'll note more breakout session topics have been finalized - soon to be added to the program posted on the innkeepingshow.com site. For innkeepers who just can't getaway for the entire conference, we've also posted the 1-day registration options. 
'til next time! Kris Ullmer, PAII Executive Director

Happy Thanksgiving from the
Staff and Board of Directors at PAII!

News You Can Use:
Travelers apparently put off booking accommodation if photos are bad
Read More.....

Industry News:
Q&A with Tripadvisor's Head of Industry Relations, Brian Payea Read More.....

Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers Should be aware of:
Introducing Twitter Polls Read More.....

Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives:
Hands On PR Check it out.....

Innkeeping Recipes:
From the Indiana Bed & Breakfast Association 
Persimmon Bread from the Kitchen of the Lanning House and 1920 Annex Read More.....
Upcoming Webinars (free for members)
(you will need to login to your PAII account)

Wednesday, November 25, 2015, 2:00 PM EST
B&B Photography DIY Tips & Tricks Part One

Additional discussion to help finesse your food photography, again using what you have available. Emphasis will be on styling, arranging, props, accessories, and looking at the results with a ruthless eye! Also we'll talk about the factors under your control that either make or break a good food shot.
 
Wednesday, December 2, 2015, 2:00 PM EST
How to sharpen your online pricing strategy?

To run a successful business, innkeepers must maximise their profit opportunities while ensuring they don't frighten their guests by being perceived as expensive.
How do you work out a well-founded pricing strategy and policy. How do you set the 'right' price?  During this webinar, you will gain insights in the components that influence price, and get to know the different steps of an optimal pricing process and innovative price determination. ... If your pricing policy is not as strategic as it might be, you may want to use some tools to help you both design it and implement it. 
 
Wednesday, December 9, 2015 (rescheduled from October 14)
Top 3 Challenges for Bed &Breakfast's and Strategies to Increase Business  
In a recent poll we asked B&B's their greatest business challenges and what strategies they used to overcome them. Hear real life strategies and pain points from LivingSocial's featured Travel Customer (TBA) and the Director of Travel, Dustin Warr. Learn how to maximize your marketing programs and generate more business. Don't miss out on this engaging webinar.
-Living Social 
 
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Bring in more guests and increase RevPar with Off Season Booking Promotions 
Many inns are fully booked during the high season but have trouble filling openings in mid- week and off-season. Extending your season by several weeks or getting a few more mid-week bookings  can dramatically increase your RevPar.  This webinar will show you how to use the power of unusual holidays and special events to create booking promotions that will attract and delight your guests. It will include live examples of successful promotions implemented by innkeepers.

Please Click Here To See A Full List of Upcoming Webinars for 2015


Professional Association of Innkeepers International
295 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 236-C
Charleston, SC 29492