Fun Facts to Know and Tell about B&Bs

[caption id="attachment_705" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Guests are pampered with luxurious in-room amenities such as wi-fi, fireplace, whirlpool, premuim bath products, and television at the Honeybee Inn, Horicon. Innkeeper Barb Ruka says: "Guests will peruse our extensive & up-to-date movie library, get cozy in their room for hours, catching up on the latest films that they can't fit into their busy lives at home." A relaxing end to a day of touring or cruising the Horicon Marsh, within walking distance of the inn."][/caption] We’re a member of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII for short) and each year they release a research report that provides a snapshot of what’s what in B&B travel.  Thought you might be interested in a few tidbits: The average age of the oldest part of a B&B building is 111; 35% of inns have achieved an “historical designation” by a local, state or national historic preservation organization; 72% of B&Bs are run by couples; and most inns provide internet, television, luxury bed/linens, premium branded toiletries, robes, fireplaces, magazines and jetted tubs in the guest rooms.  Here’s more from Jay Karen, PAII president and CEO, “One interesting statistic we noticed from the study is that there was a slight decrease in the offering of common-area services and amenities, and a slight increase in offering in-room services and amenities. It seems more guests are asking to enjoy services privately in their rooms, and innkeepers are happy to oblige. That’s the nice thing about B&Bs – as a guest, you can make the experience as social or as private as you like.”  Well said!

Guys Like B&Bs Too – Part I

Good thing you’re likely sitting down reading this next statement: Guys like B&Bs.  Yes, it’s true, guys will even plan a guys’ getaway, or “mancation” at a B&B if said inn meets their manly criteria.  Pray tell, what could that be?  Technology, for starters.  Guys want to feel plugged in, which means Wi-Fi, no negotiation there.  Big-screen TVS are often mandatory as well.  Being able to move around without bumping into stuff is an interior design strategy that appeals to guys, big time.  Of course, food is high on the list, as in hearty and often.  We reached out to our member inns to see which have offerings that are right on the mark for mancations and landed on 10 that are doing it right.  In this blog installment, the first five.  Next five in blog part II. 1.       The Stagecoach Inn in Cedarburg offers a pub crawl in the city’s historic downtown, with all the pubs located in historic buildings and within walking distance of the inn. 2.       In Manawa, the Lindsay House B&B has a special called “Mancation, Manawa Style.” Included is a night of bowling, bar food and beer; coffee bar and breakfast fit for a king; and easy access to snow activities like skiing and snowmobiling. 3.       Canyon Road Inn with a lake location in Turtle Lake has large rooms with king-size beds, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, and welcomes guys who like fishing, biking, hiking and horseshoes. 4.       At Inn at Lonesome Hollow in Soldiers Grove, located on 160 acres in the driftless area of southwest Wisconsin known for its thousands of cold springs, it’s all about trout fishing.  Ride in on your motorcycle to enjoy the winding highways and scenery of the Kickapoo River Valley, then stay in a two- or four-bedroom cabin. 5.       The innkeepers at Eagle Centre House B&B in the southern Kettle Moraine Forest say their rooms with two beds and private bath fit the bill for guys.  Winter mancations here are typically structured around hunting, snowmobiling and skiing, with a hearty breakfast every morning. [caption id="attachment_487" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lindsay House B&B, Manawa"]French Toast[/caption] [caption id="attachment_486" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Inn at Lonesome Hollow, Soldiers Grove"]Trout[/caption] [caption id="attachment_482" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Canyon Road Inn, Turtle Lake"]Flat Screen large room[/caption]

Travel Trends - Big Showers, More Freebies, B&Bs

Travel + Leisure magazine listed big showers, little tubs as one of the hot travel trends a few years back.  Wisconsin B&Bs that did this trend proud include Stewart Inn - Wausau with its huge double steam showers. Innkeeper Paul Welter notes “ Many of our guests are skiers, and they appreciate the soothing effects of steam on muscles and sinuses.  You can enjoy aromatherapy along with your steam bath by placing essential oils in a small receptacle in the steam outlet.”  Going beyond a room with a view,  Canyon Road Inn’s 8’ long shower with multiple body sprays has a great view of the lake.  You’ll indeed get the royal treatment in the Queen Bee Victorian room’s  4’ x 6’ shower at the Honeybee Inn – Horicon with a total of 9 heads & sprays. This year, Budget Travel predicts travelers will demand more amenities, like free bottled water and Wi-Fi.  Ha, the vast majority of Wisconsin B&Bs have been doing that all along!  In fact, Inn at Wawanissee Point – WI Dells, and Arbor Inn – Prescott take it one step further and provide free wine and cheese tastings in the evening... Cold Spring Inn-Hubertus does this too, using the wines produced from their own vineyard.  And here’s one travel trend for 2012 we especially like – TripAdvisor.compredicts more travelers will choose B&Bs this year than last. [caption id="attachment_451" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Soothing double steam showers at the Stewart Inn – Wausau have therapeutic results similar to hot water but use only a small fraction of the energy and water – a more eco-friendly way to relax."]Eco-friendly, therapeutic, double steam shower[/caption] [caption id="attachment_450" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Canyon Road Inn – Turtle Lake just may have one of the largest showers of all B&B’s in Wisconsin, at 8’ long . . .and with a view of the lake, too."]Largest Shower, View of Lake, Canyon Road Inn, Turtle Lake, Wisconsin B&B[/caption]
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