Too many bed & breakfast locations fail even though the owner's have worked hard to make it a beautiful place to stay.
Even though they are popular places for people to stay in, some of them just don't have what customers are really looking for.
If you own a bed & breakfast or you are thinking of investing in one you really need to pay close attention to this information.
It can make a significant difference for the course of your home based business.
Make sure everyone of your guests feels welcome from the second they talk to you.
Many people call to make a reservation instead of doing it online so that they can talk to a real person.
If they don't feel like they are important during that phone conversation then they are likely not going to proceed with booking it.
They want their experience at a bed & breakfast to be personal and enjoyable.
They aren't going to spend their money in it if they don't think they are going to get it.
It is a good idea to stay at various locations yourself.
Pay attention to what it working well for you and what is missing.
This will teach you areas that you need to focus on for your own bed & breakfast business.
Interact with other guests and find out what they like or don't like about their experience there as well.
You will find a vast amount of free information about what customers want from you online.
Plenty of people write reviews about their experiences.
They also post information on the various blogs and forums out there.
You will find valuable information on these sites and it doesn't cost you anything to read the information.
You will find many of the issues they discuss aren't specific to any one particularlocation.
Instead they apply to the entire industry so you can learn how to effectively operate your b&b from this type of information.
Use the power of the internet to help you get information about what customers are saying about B&Bs.
The information isn't a secret so don't guess - go right to the sources.
You can access blogs and forums online that have information written by actual customers.
You can easily find out what they are looking for and what type of experiences they have had trying to find it.
Look for constant themes that offer good information on what you definitely need to be offering and what you need to stay away from.
Look for common pitfalls that could destroy your establishment if you don't prepare against them.
You have the opportunity to keep each of your customers very happy when you operate a bed & breakfast.
You need to be dedicated to offering them the best possible experience.
Remember that needs to be evaluated from their point of view, not yours.
Always anticipate any needs that your guests may have.
They may need a service that isn't generally associated with a b&b such as transportation to a meeting or for you to offer a weather report for their outing that day.
These small details will really place your cozy retreat on a pedestal in their minds.
Always follow up with those that have stayed at your bed & breakfast.
You want to build a quality relationship with them so that they will stay again in the future.
You also want them to recommend your location to other people.
There is a good chance they will mention your establishment online too in the forums and blogs.
You want that information to be very positive as it is free advertising for you.
When you follow up with your guests, thank them for staying at your bed & breakfast.
Ask them to evaluate their stay as well so you can find out where you stand with your customers.
If you find that a particular customer had a terrible experience at your B&B, don't ignore it.
Take the time to contact them and express your sincere disappointment in the situation.
Ask them what could have been done to make the situation better and then listen to what they have to say.
You may want to offer them a free stay at your establishment, so you can make it up to them or even refund their money.
Customer service is a very important part of ensuring your place will be successful.
Pay attention to what customers are saying as they will offer you very valuable information.