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!

http://livingsocial.travel-partner-feedback-paii-20157.sgizmo.com/s3/

On Wednesday October 14^th 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

http://www.e-marketingassociates.com/how-blogging-can-positively-affect-direct-bookings/#sthash.I4JNEYse.dpuf

Industry News:

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

http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/33412462-75/reality-tv-show-looking-for-troubled-oregon-hotels-motels-and-inns.html.csp

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.

http://marketingland.com/instagram-search-arrives-for-web-users-135869

Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives:

Digital PR on a Budget

https://vimeo.com/user17593333/review/96857110/9c0c56c3fa

Innkeeping Recipes:

From the Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association  http://www.minnesotabedandbreakfasts.org/

Strawberry Soup

From the kitchen of Solglimt on the Water

http://www.minnesotabedandbreakfasts.org/recipes.php?r=9

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.

-Little Hotelier

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

For more upcoming webinars check out http://paiiinnkeepers.blogspot.com/p/upcoming-webinars.html

To register, please use http://www.innkeeping.org/?page=webinars

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.

Professional Association of Innkeepers International Position Statement on Short-Term Rental Legality, Fairness, and Safety

Professional Association of Innkeepers International Position Statement on Short-Term Rental Legality, Fairness, and Safety 

Addendum August 24, 2015 

The PAII Board of Directors takes exception with AIHP’s "Voice of Innkeeping" newsletter of August 20th using its "voice" to advocate on behalf of Airbnb, a company that ignores the fact that many of its listed properties blatantly and openly operate illegally throughout the country. 

We question how any Industry Leader could align itself with a party that turns a blind eye toward blatant violations of the law and still claim to represent the good, honest and legal Innkeepers, who have been playing by the rules, yet continue to lose market share and pricing power to a company that clearly does not have the best interests of Professional Innkeepers in mind or heart. 

• PAII has previously stated that every B&B/Inn should also list on Airbnb and get their part of the expected 74 million bookings that are projected for Airbnb in 2015. Please list with Airbnb - and when you do - clearly state that you are a legal B&B/Inn that is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. If you need help getting listed on Airbnb - we can help. 

• PAII also believes that the laws, regulations, codes and rules that apply to short term lodging properties are, in some cases, in need of updating and/or modification, and we are working at Federal, State and Local Government levels across the country to make this happen. PAII wants to foster laws, regulations and codes that are easy to understand and universal in their application. 

• PAII absolutely believes that all Properties that offer short term lodging must adhere to all applicable Federal, State and Local Government laws, rules, regulations, codes, insurance requirements and ordinances to ensure that all guests have a safe, secure and comfortable lodging experience. Unfortunately, Airbnb does not require this of their member listings. As the media reports have repeatedly shown, Airbnb will frequently pay applicable taxes only when forced to, and essentially makes adherence a choice, not a requirement, for the listed properties - sometimes resulting in properties being fined ($25,000 in one recent example) because they did not comply with applicable laws and regulations. 

• PAII will continue to work for our member properties, State B&B Associations, and like minded Hospitality Industry Leaders (e.g. AH&LA) and for all B&B/Inns, to ensure that all properties that offer short term lodging adhere to all applicable laws, rules, regulations, codes, insurance requirements and ordinances. If a short term lodging property needs help "getting legal" - we can help. 

• PAII would be happy to work with Airbnb to provide information, instruction, suggestions, and training to its member properties, and to the Airbnb leadership and staff, in how to be in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and rules. 

• All guests staying at a short term lodging property should know, whether booking through Airbnb, Expedia or a B&B/Inn web site, that they will have a safe, secure, comfortable experience at a legal lodging facility that has a positive guest experience as their primary goal. 

PAII will continue to “Advocate” for all Innkeepers in this “changing world”, but recognizes that all changes are not necessarily good for our industry and its customers. PAII fully supports all professionally operated legal B&B/Inns and will fight to see that ALL lodging establishments play by the rules.

Click on the image for a larger version of AIHP's statement

PAII News You Can Use 8-11-2015

 YOUR PAII Conference in Austin will feature lots of great speakers who will be discussing virtually every B&B relevant topic you can think of.  But, given all the rumors about PAII, there is one session you will not want to miss.   PAII Board will present “The State of PAII - Past, Present and Future“.   This session will cover the following:

• PAII founding and history as a “For Profit” Company
• The sale by the 2 founders to DIA (Distinguished Inns Alliance)
• PAII’s Financial Position – 2005 to 2015
• How YOUR PAII is turning things around
• Going Forward with YOUR New PAII
• Budget, Plans, and Goals
• Plans and Schedule to obtain “Non-Profit” status

Regularly, we’ve been updating you on PAII’s efforts and your efforts throughout the country to level the playing field for all lodging properties.  Over the next few months, we’ll put this all together for a PAII conference session.  We want to hear from you

Airbnb History – the $24 Billion Behemoth

·       The Airbnb Strategy

o      Stranger than fiction

o      The reality

·       What Airbnb means to your business

o      What's the Problem? The Threat?

o      How does Airbnb Hurt Your Business?

o      Should you list on Airbnb?

·       David Can Beat Goliath

o      Success stories

o      How to Win

o      What PAII is doing

As you would expect, the PAII Conference will provide the latest technology information you need to maximize your business – and to do so, we’ve formed an event partnership with HMS – Hospitality 

Marketing Summit. You’ll recognize the HMS principals as presenters of some of the most popular sessions – standing room only- at the conference:  Acorn Internet Services (Lisa Kolb) and Whitestone Marketing (Scott Crumpton).

Just a few words about our Austin, Texas destinationDid you join us in Austin for PAII’s 2010 Conference? Whether yes or no, know that we’re returning to a destination withvibrant entertainment and culture, inspiring cuisine and stunning outdoor settings.  Home to more than 250 music venues and a vibrant arts scene, Austin rightly claims the moniker Live Music Capital of the World®.  ‘Lots of reasons for you to consider adding a few extra days to your PAII Conference (January 10-14) trip.

Much more to come – and soon!

It’s good to have choices – and even better to have help making those choices!  That’s what we at PAII do every week in these communications to you. 

How to choose a booking engine for today
With about 40 booking engines available (aka reservation system / software for capturing guest bookings that can be – or appear to be – attached to your website) what criteria should be considered when evaluating your present system and/or looking for a new system? Blogger Scott Thomas (About the Inn) reviews the must have criteria, and since the focus is “for today”, asks & answers 2 blunt questions: Does it support Ecommerce tracking? Is it mobile friendly? The article has many worth-reading links too.

Do ask – they’ll tellGuests like choices too (not news to you, of course) and research shows their willingness to provide personal information increases when it will impact their stay.  Just over 1/3 of guests were willing to provide information to a ‘hotel app’ in general, and willingness increased based on the specific questions – check out the graphic for details.  In your quest to discover guest preferences, from the guest’s perspective consider benefit of disclosure, positive emotion and trust level. Article: New research reveals guest’s willingness to disclose personal information to hotel apps. 

Google + will soon – YouTubeGoogle announced recently that in the coming weeks, you will no longer be required to have a Google+ profile in order to access YouTube, or any of its other products.  There has been both commendation and condemnation for the syncing between Google+ and YouTube.  What does this means for your social media efforts? This article gives the details of what to do, what to leave as is, and when.

Play with your foodis the advice in this video from a previous PAII Innkeeping Show. We loved the “why”: because you’re feeding people who ordinarily eat Cheerios for breakfast! Think creatively (and watch their creativity) about potatoes as a side, and ‘lattice’ isn’t only for gardens & pie crusts anymore – try weaving bacon in a lattice and baking it.

Innkeeper Cook-Off RecipesAn Innkeeper Cook-Off took center stage at the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association conferences for 3 years.  All 10 spots each year were filled by innkeepers who creatively used the chosen quintessential Wisconsin ingredient; a panel of professionals judged the entries.  Add these winning recipes to your award winning breakfast!

‘Til next time

Kris Ullmer
PAII Executive Director

 

News You Can Use:

How to choose a booking engine for today

http://www.abouttheinn.com/2015/07/how-to-choose-a-booking-engine-for-today/

Industry News:

New research reveals guest’s willingness to disclose personal information to hotel apps 

http://hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/new_research_reveals_guests_willingness_to_disclose_personal_information_to

Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers Should be aware of:

Google will be Unlinking YouTube and Google+: What this Means for Hotels

http://www.e-marketingassociates.com/google-will-be-unlinking-youtube-and-google-what-this-means-for-hotels/

Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives:

Side Kicks

https://vimeo.com/user17593333/review/91202348/5e497325a2

Innkeeping Recipes:

From the Wisconsin B&B Association http://www.wbba.org

Grand Prize Winner of 2009 Annual Innkeeper Cook-Off

From the kitchen of Bowman’s Oak Hill B&B; Wisconsin Dells, WI

Wild Rice Cran-Apple Breakfast Bake

http://www.wbba.org/recipes.php

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 12, 2015, 2:00 PM EST

Attracting Millennials to Your Bed and Breakfast

The younger generation frequents different online mediums and also looks for different things out of life and travel. Attracting younger people to your bed and breakfast is key to business growth and knowing what attracts them and where to find them is important to long term business stability and sustainability. Learn how to customize your marketing to appeal to the younger generation, where to find them and what drives and motivates them.   

 -Forfeng Designs/Forfeng Media

Wednesday, August 19, 2015,  2:00 PM EST (PROMO)

Benefits of RezStream Cloud, presented by Josh Wise

Thinking of upgrading your reservation software? See why many hoteliers are talking about the RezStream Cloud. No longer do you need to be in the office to see what’s happening at the property, simply login to your account on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Learn about the benefits of the property management software and the features that helps you run your business better.

- RezStream

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

Your hosts:
Rebecca Madden, Little Hotelier
This webinar is perfect for small accommodation providers who want to pick up some practical tips on how to increase your revenue.

-Little Hotelier

PAII - Advocating For You

Your PAII is actively advocating now for YOU and your business.

 

In case you didn't know, Expedia (which also owns, Hotels.Com, Travelocity, Hotwire.Com, and Trivago.Com) is trying to merge with Orbitz.Com (which also owns (CheapTickets.Com).   This could create a virtual monopoly (the only other major OTA Player would be Priceline - which owns Kayak.Com and Bookings.Com), and they could begin charging almost whatever commission they want. PAII believes that such a merger could be harmful to many B&Bs.   

YOUR PAII, in coordination with the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA), has sent letters to the Department of Justice and several Congressman, requesting they block such a merger.   

 

You can help stop this merger.  Write your Representative and/or Senator and DOJ and tell them to block the merger.  AND sign/send a letter to AH&LA for their campaign: mcope@ahla.com .  You can use our letter as an example: 

August 5, 2015

The Honorable Loretta Lynch

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20530

The Honorable William J. Baer

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Attorney General Lynch and Assistant Attorney General Baer,

           

As a member of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII), which represents thousands of Bed and Breakfast/Inns (small businesses) serving millions of consumers around the country, I am writing to urge you to block Expedia’s proposed merger with Orbitz,

               Expedia and Orbitz are currently competing online travel agencies and are some of the resources B&Bs rely on to distribute room inventory to consumers.  Currently there are only three major online travel agencies– Expedia (which also owns Travelocity, Hotels.com, Hotwire and Trivago), Orbitz (which also owns CheapTickets), and Priceline (which also owns Kayak and Booking.com).  If this merger is allowed to go forward, then the competition between Expedia and Orbitz will be lost and 95% of all online travel agency bookings will be made through one of two companies, Expedia or Priceline. 

This could jeopardize many B&Bs who already have difficulty reaching consumers directly. By limiting the choice of booking agents, B&Bs could face higher commissions and higher costs.  For many B&Bs, already faced with the unfair and frequently illegal operation of short term rentals from Airbnb, that could mean they would have to close their doors.

The proposed merger would also adversely impact consumers who are blissfully unaware of the consolidation that already exists among these online travel agencies.  A recent survey reveals that 82 percent of consumers who book hotel rooms online do not know how many affiliate brands are owned by either Expedia or Orbitz. Upon learning about the proposed acquisition, many indicated that they feared higher prices, loss of competition and a diminished quality of service.   

This drastic consolidation will have serious and negative consequences for our businesses.   The Expedia/Priceline duopoly creates substantial market power to raise commission rates on hotels.   Industry statistics show that the average commission rate on Expedia is 11% higher than it is on Orbitz.  Should this acquisition be allowed to occur, B&Bs will, at a minimum, lose the benefits of those lower Orbitz commission rates.  Going from three to two competitors, and given the likely Expedia/Orbitz control of 75% of the market, would leave Expedia/Orbitz in a position to dictate commission rates and raise rates.

               B&Bs, small independently owned Inns and Boutique Hotels, and economy hotels are particularly subject to the anticompetitive effects of this merger.  In many markets, these small businesses and independent hotels rely on online travel agencies to fill 30-40 percent of their rooms, with some as high as 60-70 percent. Yet these smaller businesses face the most serious consequences because they often times pay in excess of 25 percent more in online travel agency commissions. They must do business with these OTAs but, unlike large hotel chains, have virtually no leverage to resist any commission rate increase imposed by Expedia.

              

These serious anticompetitive effects will substantially harm our country’s small businesses which are vital to the economy of communities across the country.  We urge you to block the proposed Expedia-Orbitz merger.

               Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

PAII News You Can Use 8-4-2015

It’s the time of year when innkeepers are most pressed for time, so to that end, we’re focusing on timely topics for you.

Time SaverGuide to Auto Responders:  this article had me at “Finding new customers and not having nearly enough time in the day are likely two of your biggest concerns as a business owner.”  An auto responder series is a valuable email marketing tool that gives you the opportunity to share new content, build an email list, or start your latest promotion even while you sleep (and don’t you love making money while you sleep via your online reservation system?)  Save time, make a great first impression, keep your audience engaged, plus tips for welcome emails are reviewed.  Isn’t it great how technology can make more personalized communication possible? Check out the additional sidebar links to posts such as: The 9 Emails Your Business Should Be Sending.  Especially relevant are ‘advice’ emails such as how to get the most from your lodging or your location as these establish you as an authority: innkeeper as concierge.

TimingTiming is everything – or at least a factor in the booking habits of luxury and non-luxury travelers. Which group books further in advance? Chooses a king-bed most often? Makes 4x more purchases prior to the trip? Knowing  these traveler behaviors could help you time your marketing (upsell!) and increase your success rate.  See more at Big Data unravels best time to target travellers with marketing [INFOGRAPHIC]

Timeliness Tired of having tired content on your Facebook page? You may now set an expiration date for your videos, and the post if you choose.  The article Facebook Page Admins Can Set Expiration Dates for Videos provides step-by-step instructions for this, and also how to schedule an expiration date for a video that is already published. 

TimelessVideo:  Bed & Breakfast, Lodge, & Resort Insurance -  Strategies to Maximize Coverage.  Declarations, endorsements, exclusions, definitions = confusing policy language.   Our thanks to the Mitchell J Pies Agency for their informative presentation at the previous PAII Conference. Did you know that liquor-related claims, while rare, are the most expensive? Whether you are new to innkeeping, shopping for coverage, or doing your due diligence to keep up with the industry, you want to minimize your insurance premiums and minimize your risk exposure.  (we apologize for the uneven volume throughout the video)

Thank you for taking the time to read this News You Can Use!
‘til next time
Kris Ullmer, PAII Executive Director
kris@paii.org

Photo Contests:

Deadline for entering is September 1, 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:

Guide to Autoresponders Part 1: Benefits and Welcome Emails

http://www.verticalresponse.com/blog/guide-to-autoresponders-part-1-benefits-and-welcome-emails/

Industry News:

Big Data unravels best time to target travellers with marketing [INFOGRAPHIC] -

http://www.tnooz.com/article/big-data-unravels-best-time-to-target-travellers-with-marketing-infographic/

Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers Should be aware of:

Facebook Page Admins Can Set Expiration Dates for Videos

http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/pages-expiration-dates-videos/622245

Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives:

Insurance Strategies To Maximize Coverage

https://vimeo.com/user17593333/review/91227255/b0aae02837

Innkeeping Recipes:

From the Indiana B&B Association

http://www.indianabedandbreakfast.org

Applesauce Cookies from the kitchen of one of the Association’s members

http://www.indianabedandbreakfast.org/recipes.php?r=19

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 5, 2015, 2:00 PM EST

Twitter for Innkeepers

·                  Learn what is Twitter and what you can do with it 

·                  Learn advanced Twitter tactics for marketing your inn 

·                  Learn the Art of DM (the direct message) 

·                  Learn how to leverage scheduling your posts and identifying when your target customers are online 

·                  See examples of good Twitter users and bad 

·                  Learn what not to do to market your inn on Twitter, pitfalls and missteps 

·                  Learn some tips, tricks and techniques to leverage your posts for maximum exposure to potential and prior guests. 

·                  Learn about Hashtags and how to use them properly

-PAII Staff

Wednesday, August 12, 2015, 2:00 PM EST

Attracting Millennials to Your Bed and Breakfast

The younger generation frequents different online mediums and also looks for different things out of life and travel. Attracting younger people to your bed and breakfast is key to business growth and knowing what attracts them and where to find them is important to long term business stability and sustainability. Learn how to customize your marketing to appeal to the younger generation, where to find them and what drives and motivates them.   

 -Forfeng Designs/Forfeng Media

Wednesday, August 19, 2015,  2:00 PM EST (PROMO)

Benefits of RezStream Cloud, presented by Josh Wise

Thinking of upgrading your reservation software? See why many hoteliers are talking about the RezStream Cloud. No longer do you need to be in the office to see what’s happening at the property, simply login to your account on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Learn about the benefits of the property management software and the features that helps you run your business better.

- RezStream

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