PAII News You Can Use for 2/24/2016

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. Not all News You Can Use is going to be upbeat - although the 'singing CPA' (in the Common Sense: 6 Tax Tips for Innkeepers) comes close!  Measuring Airbnb's Real Threat...  On the heels of a legislative loss for Virginia's B&B community* (and all legally licensed & insured lodging) comes another study documenting the impact of Airbnb. And, we certainly take note that the 2 top cities of Airbnb growth (exceeding 275%) are Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia.  The CBRE report provides market-by-market insights comparing Airbnb data to hotel data.  It focused its research into Airbnb because of the company's impact in traditional hotel markets as well as its domination (emphasis ours) of a competitive set - as measured by Google Trends - that includes VRBO, HomeAway, and FlipKey. (some familiar names here...) The ADR (average daily rate) for Airbnb rooms was $148.42, while hotels had an ADR of $119.11 and a traditional bed and breakfast was $103.25. Airbnb exerts a downward pressure on hotel room pricing during big events and other crowded periods... After you've digested the bar-graphs, we suggest you read a second article (link at bottom of the article page):  The Very Profitable Life of the Airbnb Superhost - and you'll note that the Skift report comments : "The only reason these hosts aren't heralded as great hosts by Airbnb - they are almost always the most highly reviewed by guests - is that they run counter to the "savior of the middle class" narrative Airbnb is now hoping will win it political battles." And, to comment on the aforementioned political battle, Jack North (Mayhurst Inn, Orange VA) who attended and attempted (many constituents were denied or given 5 seconds) to testify at the hearings writes: *February 16: The vote to send the revised Airbnb sponsored SB 416 and SB 571 to the whole Senate was a loss for all Virginians (8-6-1), especially for our 600 legal B&Bs, and for the safety and security of the tens of thousands of guests to the Commonwealth that will stay in these totally unregulated "homes" if this bill gets signed into law.  The bill passed the full Senate (20-19) BY ONE VOTE.    The only way to stop it is if the Governor vetos it.    Quite simply Airbnb is offering to collect and pay taxes from the thousands of their "hosts" (about 4000 in Virginia) in turn for not having to tell who they are, where they are, not requiring compliance with building, fire, safety, health, and ABC codes laws and regulations, not allowing an audit of, or and visibility into, the details associate with their listings, and not even guaranteeing that all Airbnb properties are paying the proper taxes. Essentially Airbnb is saying "trust us" rather than the local governments. Til next week ...  Kris Ullmer, PAII Executive Director News You Can Use: Common Cents: 6 Tax Tips for Innkeepers Read more...... Industry News: Measuring Airbnb's Real Threat to U.S. Hotels  Using Industry Metrics  Read more..... Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers  need to know: Google My Business Now Surfacing Web Verify Option  Read more..... Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives: History As Instructor: Lessons Learned From 40 Years  Check it out...... Innkeeping Recipes: From the Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association  Blueberry Citrus Muffins from the Kitchen of Antiquities' Wellington Inn Association Leader Round Tables Second and Fourth Mondays of Every Month, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM EST Monday, February 29, 2016, 2:00-4:00 PM EST   (rescheduled from the 22) Association Webinars (Open to All) Topic: Member Acquisition Association Leader Round Table(We will be discussing outreach to area B&Bs, new B&Bs and Aspiring Innkeepers) How are you finding new B&Bs?  Has your association gone through Google maps or B&B directories to find existing B&Bs? Are you retargeting past members after a certain amount of time? Do you have google alerts set up for new B&B openings or sales? Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1072609149465789954 All State and Regional Association  Board Members and Executive Directors  are welcome to attend, contribute and participate in the round tables.  For more information visithttp://paii.com/Association-Round-Tables Help Wanted/Offered New posting! Attention: experienced and aspiring innkeepers, we are seeking proposals for a new innkeeper opportunity in Wine Country along California's Central Coast. We are designing and building an 11-room boutique hotel and wine-bar in Old Town Orcutt, and are interested in meeting innkeeper partner couples to live in brand new accommodations and manage the B & B and wine bar. The projected opening date is March 2017, but we'd like to meet prospective innkeepers soon for input on the interior design. Have you any suggestions as to how we might find such an innkeeper couple? Please contact me via email or cell phone at 805-798-0010 or email.JEFFREY WEINSTEIN  Check out a new page on our website! Help Wanted/Offered. Do you have an inn? Looking for an inn position? Please send your requirements to marketing@paii.org Upcoming Webinars (free for members) Please register at  https://paii.wildapricot.org/Webinars  (you will need to login to your PAII account but you may need to reset your password as the new site did not transfer your old passwords) Wednesday, February 24, 2016, 2:00 PM EST Hacking - Is Your Site a Sitting Duck? Lisa Kolb will show you how to tell if your site is secure or if hackers have an open door to infiltrate your site and use it for advertising unsavory items or even to take your site down. Security has become more important than ever before - make sure you are taking steps to keep your site safe. -Presented by Acorn Internet Wednesday, March 2, 2016, EST Association Webinars (Open to All) Association Webinar: The Future of Member Involvement in the Electronic Age -Presented by PAII Staff Register now at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3998158901252189442 Wednesday, March 9 (Blackout Date) Monday, March 14, 2016, 2:00-4:00 PM EST    Association Webinars (Open to All) Topic: Member Acquisition, round two. Association Leader Round Table (We will be discussing what other venues and ways are associations using to attract new members)  Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6134069090935945217 Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 2:00 PM EST Online Marketing Playbook Overview: Jumping into the world of online marketing for your property can seem overwhelming. This playbook helps you make sense of all the options, helps you understand where to focus your attention first and gets you on the way to success with online marketing for your property. Learning Objectives: At the end of this webinar you'll know: How to use digital assets like your website and online review sites to increase occupancy. Which (if any) OTAs are right for your property to partner with. How to stay on top of all the digital marketing channels while staying focused on your guests. Presented by innRoad Please Click Here To See A Full List of Upcoming Webinars for 2016 Professional Association of Innkeepers International http://www.innkeeping.org

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PAII News You Can Use for 2/10/2016

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 weekly News You Can Use regularly includes 5 categories: 1. News You Can Use - practical, hands-on Innkeeping tips ranging from photography to knife sharpening to using guest reviews to growing your email list. 2. Industry News - what's happening with travel websites / fraudulent travel websites, key travel trends, OTA fees and (almost) all things Google.  3. Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers need to know - tools for publishing and managing your social media marketing, plus roll-outs and often a 'how to' use.  4. Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives - a recent presentation from industry experts (partners, innkeepers, related businesses): insurance, cooking class, marketing challenges, non-room revenue. 5. Innkeeping Recipes - to inspire you! We invite you to tell us what you think - are these topics relevant to your business? Why or why not? What additional topics would you like to see addressed? Send your thoughts to me at kris@paii.org. I look forward to hearing from you! And, in this issue ... Top Ten lists highlight the best of the best - and Awesome Food Photography does this plus 1 with tips for food photography using any camera, including a smart phone camera! And, we agree with Jumping Rocks: it is still surprising that many B&B websites have no pictures of breakfast ... this is a missed opportunity to differentiate a B&B from other lodging - including vacation rentals. Props and propping, styling, composition, and a sense of life elevate the appeal of a food image ... and discover the 'secret sauce' of food photography in the bonus video! Foursquare Enters Trip Planning Melee (and let's keep in mind the definition of melee: a noisy confused fight or conflict!), with Trip Tips: a new way to plan travel with help from friends. Foursquare says it's simple-"tell us where you're going and we'll give you a link to share with friends. All of their suggestions are collected into a list with a map, which is saved to your phone for on-the-go access." Let's encourage those 'friends' to recommend their B&B experience! Opportunity knocks - or clicks - our Jobs Wanted / Offered page is growing with postings for positions throughout the country! This posting service is YOURS to use, whether you are in the job wanted or job offered category. See the link below. 'til next week -  Kris Ullmer, PAII Executive Director News You Can Use: Awesome Food Photos with any camera: 11 Tips Read more..... Industry News: Google & TrustYou Partner to Display Meta-Reviews in Search Read more..... Social Media & SEO Changes Innkeepers need to know: Foursquare enters trip planning melee with Trip Tips  Read more..... Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives: B&B Photography DIY Tips & Tricks Part One Check it out here.......... And don't forget our upcoming PAII webinar next week, the second in the series, B&B Photography DIY Tips & Tricks Part Two Innkeeping Recipes: From the Nebraska Association of Bed and Breakfasts Crustless Cranberry Pie from the kitchen of Pine Crest Farms B&B Association Leader Round Tables Second and Fourth Mondays of Every Month, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM EST All State and Regional Association Board Members and Executive Directors are welcome to attend, contribute and participate in the round tables.  For more information visithttp://paii.com/Association-Round-Tables Help Wanted/Offered New posting! Attention: experienced and aspiring innkeepers, we are seeking proposals for a new innkeeper opportunity in Wine Country along California's Central Coast. We are designing and building an 11-room boutique hotel and wine-bar in Old Town Orcutt, and are interested in meeting innkeeper partner couples to live in brand new accommodations and manage the B & B and wine bar. The projected opening date is March 2017, but we'd like to meet prospective innkeepers soon for input on the interior design. Have you any suggestions as to how we might find such an innkeeper couple? Please contact me via email or cell phone at805-798-0010 or email.JEFFREY WEINSTEIN  Check out a new page on our website! Help Wanted/Offered. Do you have an inn? Looking for an inn position? Please send your requirements to marketing@paii.org Upcoming Webinars (free for members) Please register at  https://paii.wildapricot.org/Webinars  (you will need to login to your PAII account but you may need to reset your password as the new site did not transfer your old passwords) Wednesday, February 17, 2016, 2:00 PM EST B&B Photography DIY Tips & Tricks Part Two How you can get good looking food shots with what you already have to work with. We'll cover things to consider before and during your food shooting session, primarily using your smart phone and available lighting. With the right planning and a sharp eye, there's no reason you can't get some nice photos to help entice those new visitors. -Peter Billard Photography Wednesday, February 24, 2016, 2:00 PM EST Hacking - Is Your Site a Sitting Duck? Lisa Kolb will show you how to tell if your site is secure or if hackers have an open door to infiltrate your site and use it for advertising unsavory items or even to take your site down. Security has become more important than ever before - make sure you are taking steps to keep your site safe. -Acorn Internet Please Click Here To See A Full List of Upcoming Webinars for 2016 Professional Association of Innkeepers International http://www.innkeeping.org

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PAII News You Can Use for 1/27/2016

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. Have you thought of yourself as a "life-long learner"? Traditionally we apply that term to those who 'take classes' or pursue a particular path of study. Here's a pop quiz for you: what are you doing right now? Answer: increasing your knowledge of Innkeeping and the Innkeeping industry! Class begins ... How often has this happened: you grab a few minutes to blog, and sit at your computer waiting...and waiting...for inspiration. Linda Griffth's 21 Quick Topics... supplies the inspiration - you supply the specifics for your inn or area. And check out "Two Reasons Why Guests Aren't Booking Your Inn" - and discover what you must do to capture the attention of potential guests who have a shorter attention span than a goldfish (really!) "Companies like Airbnb want to have it both ways. They want the face of Main Street and the wallet of Wall Street." - AH&LA president & CEO Katherine Lugar.  Just 2 weeks ago, Ms. Lugar addressed attendees at the PAII Innkeeping Conference in Austin, Texas; it was there that she announced the study (funded by AH&LA) conducted by Penn State University's School of Hospitality Management.  Analyzing data from Airdna, which tracks Airbnb revenue and operations through continuous searches of the Airbnb site, the data was gathered over a 13-month period.  Mega-operators, multi-unit operators, full-time operators - read more at our second article AH&LA: Airbnb Gains From Illegal Hotel Operators. PAII held our first Association Leaders Round Table webinar this week ... and there was no shortage of useful educational nuggets shared!  With Member Retention as the starting point, leaders evaluated the success of programs to build member loyalty, including newsletters, facebook innkeeper groups, gift cards, and innkeeper exchanges. Part 2 of Member Retention takes place February 8th at 2 pm EST - join in the discussion! Details / sign up on our website. 'til next week Kris Ullmer, PAII Executive Director News You Can Use: 21 Quick topics for Bed and Breakfast bloggers Read More....  Industry News: AH&LA: Airbnb Gains From Illegal Hotel Operators: Business Travel News Read More...... Featured Past PAII Webinar from our Archives: Fire Safety & Inspections View it here..... Innkeeping Recipes: From the Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association  Banana Bread from the Kitchen of Frankenmuth Bed and Breakfast (Bender Haus) Association Leader Round Tables Second and Fourth Mondays of Every Month, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM EST A ll State and Regional Association Board Members and Executive Directors are welcome to attend, contribute and participate in the round tables.  February 8, 2016: Topic: Member Retention, round two.  (We will be discussing Association to Member Newsletters and Association to Guest Promotion Newsletters for member inns) Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6055432019162295810 For more information visit http://paii.com/Association-Round-Tables Help Wanted/Offered New posting! INNKEEPING OPPORTUNITY: Be a part of an award winning Innkeeping Team! The Stonewall Jackson Inn is located in the Historic District of Harrisonburg in the center of the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It is a well-established & a TripAdvisor top rated, Certified Virginia Green, Diamond Collection 10 Room Inn. You will be working with a happy team of 5 that are passionate about their role in providing our branded "Stonewall Jackson Experience" to appreciative guests. So, teamwork & leadership talents, as well as B&B experience and IT marketing skills would be a big plus. If not already able, you will become competent in every aspect of professional Innkeeping. Wayne, the soon to retire Master Innkeeper & owner, will mentor/ groom you to rapidly advance to Operations/General Manager, or if desired, managing partner, lease or own. The opportunity is perfect for a financially secure, mature person/couple who have a passionate desire that is matched with the "right stuff" to enjoy a good life as successful, happy and professional Innkeeper(s). Visit the website to meet me and the team and read the details and application procedures to join our happy team. (Read our TA Reviews). A video Skype interview with Wayne will be an essential part of your application portfolio. To ask a question,click here.     www.stonewalljacksoninn.com  Check out a new page on our website! Help Wanted/Offered. Do you have an inn? Looking for an inn position? Please send your requirements to marketing@paii.org Upcoming Webinars (free for members) Please register at https://paii.wildapricot.org/Webinars  (you will need to login to your PAII account but you may need to reset your password as the new site did not transfer your old passwords) Wednesday, January 27, 2016, 2:00 PM EST Reputation Management, Responding to Reviews Best Practices What sites allow management responses, best practices do and don'ts for responding. How to deal with internet trolls leaving negative reviews, and how to get people to leave reviews on the media platforms that will return the best search engine optimization value and the greatest "eyes on" your positive reviews. -Forfeng Designs/Forfeng Media This the last webinar that is open to all state and local association members (please join PAII if you are interested in attending additional webinars) Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/979685020218767105 Wednesday, February 3, 2015, 2:00 PM EST How to convert your visitors into bookers? Nowadays the web has become a powerful search engine tool for travelers. Innkeepers must make sure that their websites transmit quality, professionalism and credibility together with a good design and comfortable look-and-feel. But how well does your current online presence convert online visitors to bookers? One of the most important aspects for your online success has to do with the way your business is presented. Creating a high-conversion website is definitely not easy but there are many important details that must be taken into account. -Xotelia  Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 2:00 PM EST BATTER UP: Come take a swing at creating the perfect PR pitch This workshop will be performed LIVE and use attending B&Bs to come up with public relations suggestions for the innkeepers, in the present webinar, who wish to provide their inn on-the-spot for a quick look at possible PR tactics that could garner media and guests for their specific properties. Come one, come all... step up to the plate and let's knock this one out of the park together! Maria Coder in a reporter turned publicist and the founder of Bed & Brunch pr. She specializes in getting inns into the news. -Bed & Brunch pr Wednesday, February 17, 2016, 2:00 PM EST B&B Photography DIY Tips & Tricks Part Two How you can get good looking food shots with what you already have to work with. We'll cover things to consider before and during your food shooting session, primarily using your smart phone and available lighting. With the right planning and a sharp eye, there's no reason you can't get some nice photos to help entice those new visitors. -Peter Billard Photography Wednesday, February 24, 2016, 2:00 PM EST Hacking - Is Your Site a Sitting Duck? Lisa Kolb will show you how to tell if your site is secure or if hackers have an open door to infiltrate your site and use it for advertising unsavory items or even to take your site down. Security has become more important than ever before - make sure you are taking steps to keep your site safe. -Acorn Internet Please Click Here To See A Full List of Upcoming Webinars for 2016 Professional Association of Innkeepers International http://www.innkeeping.org

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