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Become a WBBA member!
The Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast Association (WBBA) was created in 1987 by innkeepers dedicated to maintaining high standards of hospitality. Wisconsin's finest Bed & Breakfasts and Inns have chosen to join WBBA: our present membership of about 200 B&B / Inns represents all areas of the state.
Why should you join WBBA? Our mission statement says it all:
To enhance the success of all members by promoting the bed & breakfast experience, by promoting quality standards, by encouraging networking and educational opportunities, and by providing a voice for innkeepers and the industry.
So, we're here to enhance the success of your business ... and together we'll accomplish that through the services and programs available from WBBA for each member.
For example:
The Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Directory/Map:
In 2008, over 125,000 full color directories were printed by WBBA. Promotion and distribution is by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Wisconsin Travel Information Centers, WBBA marketing and tradeshows, visitors' bureaus, chambers, tourism attractions, and innkeepers. Member innkeepers consistently identify the WBBA Directory as a significant source of guests. Your WBBA membershp includes your listing in the directory. And, anytime is a good time to join WBBA, since the printed directory refers readers to to our website for the most up-to-date listing of member B&B / Inns.
The greatest challenge for a B&B innkeeper is directing traffic to your own website. Our site is optimized to promote every member's B&B in a variety of ways - through text, searches, keywords, 'featured inns' listing, and multiple links to member's own website. www.yestobliss.com is at the top of most searches for Wisconsin B&B's and cities with B&B's. Our stats will demonstrate this to you - you have access to the number of visitors to your website from ours.
Your text and photos on www.yestobliss.com are always current ... because you have the ability to update them at any time! You may add "Specials" anytime, and events on your region's calendar.
Frankly, WBBA commits significant resources to retain one of the hospitality industry’s leading webmasters to promote our site with each member inn listing!
WBBA also adds your inn to:
www.bbonline.com/wi/wbba (Bed and Breakfast Inns Online) - with a narrative description and contact information.
www.travelwisconsin.com - the Wisconsin Department of Tourism site which includes a "trip planner" search feature.
E-Zine
A monthly ezine - "Bed, Breakfast & Bliss" is emailed to thousands of subscribers. Who are these individuals? They are travelers who like to B&B ... so our lighthearted and newsy ezine (electronic magazine) shares B&B specials, recipes, and tips on B&B-ing. Most importantly, each issue features a theme - biking & B&B's or B&B's on water for example, and member properties are featured. So, when you tell us what is special about your inn, we'll broadcast it to thousands! Innkeepers tell us they receive an increase in website visits (which can become guests!) when they are featured in the e-zine.
PR ... getting the B&B story told ... getting your story told
We put B&B's in the news ... our professional PR consultant and writer places press releases and stories with travel writers and newspapers throughout the state (and over the borders, too). Member B&B's receive regular press releases and working with the media tips to enhance their individual visibility. "Advertising" is very expensive (but we do it) and limited; a good story will be remembered!
Increase your income:
In addition to enhancing the success of your business through increased visibility and occupancy, WBBA provides additional income opportunities and savings.
- Credit Card Processing Service Program
- Sales of the WBBA cookbook series (buy at wholesale, sell at retail)
- Sales of the "On a Blissful Note" CD with Frequent Sleeper passport
- Redemption of INN-Credible Gift Certificates (over $1million sold to date), waiting to be redeemed by member innkeepers … no expiration date, no fee; full face value paid!
Meet Your Fellow Innkeepers: Meetings & Conventions:
These gatherings provide opportunities to learn and refine innkeeping skills, and exchange ideas with innkeepers. For your calendar:
WBBA’s "SPRING FLING" is March 11 & 12, 2008, at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee. We've been invited by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association to have our meeting along with their "Food Expo". WBBA members receive complimentary passes to the food show, and since we're not just in it for the dough (ahem!), we'll focus on promotions / advertising for innkeepers during our educational sessions. Constant Contact will present the lastest in e-marketing (which includes innkeepers doing their own ezine) and provide a complimentary trial membership to their services. (By the way ... WBBA uses Constant Contact for our ezine - it is very simple to use!). A complete program will be posted shortly.
WBBA's 2008 Annual Membership Meeting will be November 16 -18, 2008 in Wisconsin's 'up north' region. Vvendors with B&B products and services will exhibit at the WBBA trade show.
Each Region has regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year.
WBBACHAT ... without leaving the comfort of your B&B, you can 'chat' with your fellow innkeepers on 'wbbachat'. Need a recipe for a vegan? Have innkeepers had problems with guest pets? What reservation system is economical for a 4-room B&B? Pose a question and learn the answers from other innkeepers!.
You'll be 'in the loop'
Worried about 'scams' ... how to minimize 'chargebacks' ... what legislation will affect you as an innkeeper? WBBA keeps you up-to-date on issues of interest to you as an innkeeper, through regular email updates, the WBBA ezine and ‘late-breaking’ marketing opportunities by email notification.
Increase your visibility and "clout"
Legislation can affect your livelihood! WBBA represents 200 plus small businesses in Wisconsin and is a voice for the B&B industry on legal and licensing issues that affect inns and innkeepers. As an innkeeper in Wisconsin, you now enjoy the following as a result of WBBA's proactive work with the governmental agencies that regulate the B&B industry:
- B&B guestroom limit increased from 4 rooms to 8 rooms
- Complimentary wine may be served to guests
- Guests in a B&B's additional buildings (TRH license) may be served breakfast in the B&B
- A B&B structure at least 50 years old may expand in compliance with residential building codes rather than commercial building codes.
- WBBA is a member of the Wisconsin Tourism Federation
How To Apply For WBBA Membership ... Anytime is a good time to apply!
To become an innkeeper member of the Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast Association, please request application materials from the WBBA Office: materials are sent via U.S. Mail. We encourage you to apply for membership at your earliest opportunity since your membership benefits begin immediately upon inspection and approval. Give your B&B increased visibility immediately with your listing and link on yestobliss.com. Thousands of B&B guests visit our websites monthly...let them find you!
2008 membership:
Applications are welcome anytime!
Your application fee of $275 accompanies the application materials. The application fee is a one time fee when membership is continuous, and includes one on-site WBBA Standards Inspection. The Inspection is scheduled with you a minimum of 7 days in advance - it is not a surprise visit! (note: The application fee is separate from the membership dues.)
"Start My Benefits Now" is an excellent value! Immediately following your membership approval, your member benefits - including the all important www.yestobliss.com listing - can begin!
Dues are pro-rated for new members for the number of months remaining in the year (our full membership year is Jan 1 thru Dec 31) …don’t worry, we’ll do the math for you!
Examples: Here is what you pay:
July - December (6 months) Membership Dues
- $240 for a 2-guest bedroom B&B
- $300 for a 4-guest bedroom B&B
- $385 for an 8-guest bedroom B&B
We encourage you to apply for membership at your earliest opportunity ...
Thousands of B&B guests visit WBBA websites monthly ...
promote your B&B ‘in living color’ as soon as possible to these travelers.
Please contact us for additional information
... we look forward to partnering with you to provide warm Wisconsin hospitality!