fbpx

IAA Bed & Breakfast Association

Growing Your Business Using Our Community Digital Marketing Strategy

The IAA Bed & Breakfast Association helps new customers find your business.  You can START TODAY FOR FREE by either claiming your business listing on our site or you can create your new business listing.

What is the IAA Bed & Breakfast Association? 

 

The IAA Bed & Breakfast Association is a key component of the International Association Alliance’s (IAA) community of associations, organizations, businesses and individuals that provides your business with access to new customers who are looking for your business and the products or services that you provide.

 

Business association memberships help you build your brand awareness, while increasing your brand’s credibility.  This helps you to “close the deal” with new customers.

 

The IAA Bed & Breakfast Association helps establish the bed and breakfast community business standards that help attract independent businesses to become members.  These independent businesses understand the value of being part of an industry group that provides credibility and helps them build their brand. 

 

See how easy and inexpensive it is for your business to use the power of multiple association memberships to build your business.  Instead of spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year, your IAA membership allows you to join the associations whose membership will benefit your business, all for one low membership investment.

Why IAA membership is an investment in your business!

 

 

 

IAA membership is a small investment with big rewards and includes membership in our growing number of business associations which include:

 IAA Bar, Pub & Tavern Association

 IAA Bed & Breakfast Association

 IAA Better Business Alliance

 IAA Boutique, Shop & Store Association

 IAA Brewery, Cidery & Distillery Association

 IAA Café, Diner & Restaurant Association

 IAA Farm & Ranch Stay Association

 IAA Global Green Alliance

 IAA Green Business Alliance

 IAA Guide, Outfitter & Tour Association

 IAA Limousine & Coach Association

 IAA Mall, Market & Outlet Association

 IAA Spa & Wellness Association

 IAA Vineyard & Winery Association

 IAA Wedding Association

 

 

Instead of spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year, your IAA membership allows you to join the associations whose membership will benefit your business, all for one low membership investment.

 

Do you care about people and the environment? 

 

What kind of business do you think your customers want to do business with?  Customers today are looking for businesses that help people and protect the environment.  To address this need, your membership also includes membership in Accessibility International and Sustainability International.

Why IAA membership is important for your business.

 

When it comes to your business, everything you do on the Internet is done to get your business noticed.  You hope that your website, and social media accounts will attract attention and help someone to become your customer.

 

The Internet is a great place to market your business, but the competition is fierce.  Do you get frustrated knowing that your small business has to compete for customers with huge global companies? 

 

Because you are working with limited resources, you have to provide even more paths for your business to be discovered by new customers.  And when they find you, you have to quickly give them good reasons why they should entrust you with their business. 

 

Please, if you want more new customers to find your business, learn how the International Association Alliance can help your business connect with those customers.  You have to be creative with your marketing, giving potential customers unique ways to find your business.

 

When a potential new customer searches for your business, they use a search engine, either Google, Bing, Yahoo, or one of the others.   Google is the most prominent search and two of Google’s top-ranking factors for any website are BACKLINKS, and CONTENT.  

 

Your Social Media accounts are a great example of how you are building your content and building backlinks to your business content.  You can easily multiply this effect by engaging on IAA’s industry Social Media Groups that will enhance your brand’s web exposure.

CATEGORIES

Your Guide to the Best Day in Historic Fernandina Beach

Historic downtown Fernandina Beach is known as Amelia Island's most charming corner, decorated with ornate homes from the Gilded Age and more quaint boutiques and shops than anyone can count. This is one piece of the island that you won't want to miss. Here are our...

3 of the Best Spots for Shopping in East Aurora, NY P

With ten exclusive guest rooms and an in-house restaurant that serves five-star, farm-to-table cuisine complete with herbs fresh from our Inn’s own garden, Asa Ransom House knows what visitors desire at a bed and breakfast. That experience is all about relaxing and...

Your Company Must be Customer Focused Not Operations Focused

Is Your Business, Customer or Operations Focused?     Give Your Customer’s a Great Experience   Do you understand what it takes for your company to give customers a great customer service experience?  It takes a lot of effort to create the business...

5 Quirky Things to Experience Near Asheville NC *

Sure, every town has unique quirks and oddities that residents and visitors alike find endearing. But Western North Carolina (WNC) seems to have cornered the market on the “wonderfully weird and wacky” with upwards of 50 oddball places and things to see and do. We...

Why B&Bs Should Feel Optimistic About Chinese Travelers *

The hospitality industry has been aware of the power of the Chinese market for some time now. Data from Euromonitor International shows since 2012 China, has had the highest outbound travel expenditure in the world and will continue to see the largest growth between...

How a Facebook Messenger BOT will increase your bookings *

Today, almost everyone is on at least one social media platform.  I just look at my grandkid's mobile habits to know that social media and mobile technology are here to stay and fully integrated into every aspect of our daily lives. It’s no surprise that travelers are...

How to create your B & B holiday social media strategy P

This article was originally published on Sept. 13, 2018. It was updated on Nov. 11, 2020. Is it just me, or do the winter holidays seem as though they get here faster and faster each year? Momma said that would happen as I got older, but that’s not really the point of...

A Doctor’s Prescription for Good Customer Service

I wanted to share a great post from my favorite customer service guru, Shep Hyken.    A Doctor’s Prescription for Good Customer Service Here’s another great story we can learn from. This reminds us that having a good system with good people who understand how to...

Stop Selling, Social Media Works by Engaging Your Visitors P

Start Engaging Others With Your Social Media   Do you use social media marketing to grow your business?  Are you wondering how to get others to engage with your social media?  Would you like to have others say great things about your brand or product on your...

Here Are 3 of the Best Amelia Island Bike Trails

There may be no means of exploration more relaxing and charming than by bicycle. It’s one of our personal favorites! After all, Amelia Island is known as one of Flordia’s most beautiful places for biking. We’ve compiled a shortlist of the best Amelia Island bike...

5 Best Public Golf Courses Near Asheville NC

Does your diet consist of a "lot of greens?" Are your favorite sayings "Tee it high and let it fly" or "Mistakes are proof that I'm trying?" Hmmm, sounds like you might be... a golfer! Well, if you're a golf fanatic then you must also know that North Carolina is one...

Here are 3 of the Best Amelia Island Bike Trails

There may be no means of exploration more relaxing and charming than by bicycle. It’s one of our personal favorites! After all, Amelia Island is known as one of Flordia’s most beautiful places for biking. We’ve compiled a shortlist of the best Amelia Island bike...

How do you market your B&B (and is it the right strategy)? *

When it comes to promoting your B&B, it’s easy to get comfortable with the same tricks and ideas that you’ve used time and time again. When something is working — or at least working well enough — you may not be motivated to switch it up. However, is your...

Blue Lake Ranch Knows, and Loves Weddings

The month of February is all about love. As people have gotten engaged over the holidays and maybe even Valentine's Day, we know that lots of couples have some amazing weddings to plan. Blue Lake Ranch knows weddings! We also love weddings and couldn't be more...

Is Your Bed & Breakfast Targeting The Wrong Audience? *

What is your marketing strategies target when promoting your Bed & Breakfast to prospective guests?  The first thing you need to determine is who is your target audience. Your digital marketing strategy should be designed to attract the most motivated travelers...

How great photos can win more bookings on your website

We all understand how important images are when choosing a place to stay when going on a trip or holiday. But have you got it right on your own website?  Do you know what it takes to use an image that will make the difference between a traveller booking your...

5 of the Best Niagara Falls Christmas Events

Is a relaxing getaway on your Christmas wish list this year? We can help make it come true! Below, you’ll find some of our favorite Niagara Falls Christmas events. They’re all a short drive from our bed and breakfast in Clarence, NY! From gingerbread houses to...

6 Things to do with Kids over Spring Break in Durango

Springtime in Durango is a magical time and is the perfect spring break getaway for the whole family. We've highlighted six wonderful activities that our guests love to participate in while Staying at Blue Lake Ranch. Spring Skiing: It's no secret that Colorado is...

Cliffside…now fit for a King! (Bed, that is!)

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes Like children, you're never supposed to have a favorite when it comes to rooms at your bed and breakfast. But, guilty secret, I do. As a native Californian whose spiritual home is Laguna Beach, I admit to being partial to Cliffside,...

What to Look for in Your Beach Vacation Resort *

Just down the coast from Jacksonville, St. Augustine is a town rich in history set along beautiful sunlit beaches. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States and is known as "The Ancient City." Today, tourists stroll...

4 Types Of Guests Will Stay At Your Bed & Breakfast *

Each of your Bed & Breakfast guests is unique and will have their own reason to visit your area.  People travel for many reasons, though there are certain common guest types that you may be called upon to host at your property.  Can you name the different traveler...

Hike the Hamptons, and Bounce Back in March!

                    It's been a mild winter on the East End of Long Island and though, as they say in financial advisor ads, "Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns," we're starting to hope that we might...

Why Staying at The Addison on Amelia Island Is a Safe Choice

The Future of Travel Leisure travel is on hold for now while we band together to "flatten the curve" of the pandemic. We're all yearning to travel and, soon enough, we'll be able to. In the meantime, many are asking what traveling will look like in our post-pandemic...

Maine Is Your Answer for Winter Fun Surrounded by Natural Beauty 

After we all get through the Christmas and New Year’s season, we will really need to get outdoors from time to time this winter. One excellent solution to this question in New England is simply: Maine. Every region of this state of dramatic outdoor beauty has outdoor...

Reduce 5 Types Of Friction to Increase Your Direct Bookings *

While Online Travel Agents are important for your bed & breakfast, the value of direct bookings are huge.  Direct bookings not only impact your profitability, but they influence your guest relationship. As the industry matures, it's inevitable that at times it...

Join the Manor’s Sleep Around Club

It started out as a joke when a room wasn’t available for the entire span of time that a guest wanted to book, necessitating a change of rooms during their visit. “You’re joining the Sleep Around Club,” we’d tell them. “The elite club of people who have slept in every...

Complete guide to B & B website design *

Bed and breakfast websites For bed and breakfasts and other small accommodation providers, it’s vital that the impact and importance of their website is not underestimated. For most of your guests, their first impression of your brand began long before they arrived...

3 Fun Ways to Explore Amherst State Park P

Get outside and explore nature this season! If you’re looking for the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors in Western NY, try Amherst State Park. Measuring 80 acres, it’s a hidden gem offering fantastic trails and landscapes. Here, you can avoid the crowds that...

Offbeat Things That You Can Do in Asheville NC

Offbeat. Funky. Eclectic. These are words often used to describe Asheville, a city that contradicts itself as often as a new craft brewery opens. Asheville seamlessly blends today’s cutting-edge art and technology with its centuries-old Appalachian folk past. Unlike...

How to Market Your Bed & Breakfast to Millennials *

Born in the 1980s and 1990s, millennials are changing the way that businesses operate.  A valuable market segment, millennial travelers are young and vibrant placing a higher value on experiences rather than material things. Traveling the world in increasing numbers,...

You Can Build Your Online Brand Reputation and Credibility *

How to Manage Your Online Reputation   What is reputation management?  Reputation is usually defined as the power to influence and control your reputation as viewed by others.  This was originally a term associated with public relations.   How to Influence...

See the Best of WNY on These Scenic Drives From Buffalo *

There's so much to enjoy in Buffalo, but don't forget to head outside the city limits and explore the surrounding area, too! There are several scenic drives from Buffalo to choose from, allowing you to enjoy the natural beauty and small-town charm of Western NY. The...

5 key tasks for successfully advertising your B&B *

In order to drive bookings at your B&B, you have to be visible to your prospective guests and you need to impress them once they discover your brand online. To effectively advertise your B&B and promote your amenities online, you need to consider these five...

Save Time Scheduling Your Bed & Breakfast Social Media Posts *

If you don't have extra time each day, it’s difficult for you to regularly check and update their various Bed & Breakfast business social media accounts. Scheduling your Social Media posts is the best way to recover your freedom because it decreases the time you...

How to Develop Your Successful Digital Marketing Strategy

What’s Your Digital Marketing Strategy?   Don’t be Afraid, Digital Marketing Doesn’t Bite!  I Promise.   Digital Marketing Strategy, three words that strike fear into a lot of small business owners.  It may be difficult, deciding what needs to be done to...

Enjoy Four Seasons Weather in Remarkable St. Augustine

If you think that St. Augustine is a summer-only destination, then we’re about to rock your world! In addition to the city’s unforgettable charm, St. Augustine weather is perfect all year long. During the cold months, St. Augustine is the perfect place to escape from...

Winter Activities in Hendersonville

While many people think of visiting the mountains in the summertime, the winter is actually a wonderful time to visit Hendersonville and the surrounding area! Take advantage of all that the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer without the crowds that the warmer months...

5 Reasons to Take the Ghost Tour in St. Augustine

If you're staying at a Saint Augustine beach hotel and you have a taste for the darker and spookier side of things, then you simply can't miss the city's famous ghost tour. The Ghosts & Gravestones tour lets you ride along on the trolley to some of the most...

7 Amazing Strategies to Help Your Blog Succeed *

How Your Amazing Blog Helps Your Digital Marketing Success   Your business blog can help you meet many of your corporate goals.  Your successful blog’s content is key to increasing your companies visibility and reputation.  It’s amazing how your blog’s great...

Best Peach Crepes Recipe In Asheville, NC

One of the bright spots to emerge from a prolonged period of staying at home is the fact that people have been honing their culinary skills. As a result, one of the most popular topics online over the past few months has been recipes. Wildberry Lodge would like to...

B and B management basics: Email marketing explained *

Email marketing is not necessarily a new marketing tactic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t revamp the way that you are using this technology. Email marketing can be a powerful and useful way to generate bookings, increase customer loyalty and engage your target market...

Grandma Goldberg’s Honey Cake

Grandma Goldberg’s Honey Cake Honey cake recipe and memories from the Brass Sisters, Marilynn and Sheila. Our mother, Dorothy Katziff Brass, taught us how to cook as soon as we could reach the table. She had a wonderful recipe for honey cake, but for some reason we...

Experience the Holidays in Asheville NC | Virtual or Live

Asheville's business community continues to find creative ways for residents and visitors alike to discover and enjoy what makes this unique and charming place so unlike any other. With increased precautions and restrictions due to COVID-19, Wildberry Lodge and the...

Classic Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs A tray of classic deviled eggs is always a welcome sight at any party, picnic, or cookout. Total Time: 25 Yield: 16 eggs   Ingredients 8 hard-boiled eggs 3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2...

Your Guide to the Best Holiday Lights in Asheville *

It's hard to believe that we're already thinking of the winter holidays when summer is just ending, but we've got to make those plans early to concoct the best strategy for seeing all the best holiday lights in the best season of the year! What a lovely idea for a...

Top Tips for Winter Visitors

This morning we woke up to a beautiful snow covered landscape! This was the first "real" snow that we have seen since we moved to the area, and I have to say, it is a gorgeous sight. Locals tell us that this has been an unseasonably warm December and January, so we...

Why You Should Visit Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth

When some people think of vacationing in Florida, places like South Beach or Disney World might come to mind. But if you're not looking for a costly vacation with tons of crowds and long lines, you should strongly consider visiting the beautiful sites along St....

Give Someone You Love the Gift of Anticipation

Admit it. Ever since the COVID-19 lockdown began, you've done so much online shopping that your Amazon Prime delivery guy is now on your holiday gratuity list. And now it's the holiday season and you've got every possible thing you want, so what is there left to give...

12 Ways The Addison Puts Your Safety First

With travel restrictions lifting and cabin fever at its peak, we couldn’t wait to welcome new and returning guests to our Amelia Island bed and breakfast. We understand that these are still uncertain times and there’s now enhanced caution surrounding traveling. That’s...

5 Easy Steps to Promote Your Amazing Blog P

How Can you Grow Your Blog Readership?   It’s no secret that every blogger wants their blog readership to grow.  Because more readers is the currency which we all seek.  How can we increase our audience?  What is the secret of getting more readers for our blog?...

Chocolate Bûche de Noël

Chocolate Bûche de Noël A simple chocolate jelly roll recipe becomes an impressive Christmas Bûche de Noël thanks to chocolate filling and buttercream frosting. Use a fork to make ‘wood grain’ lines in the frosting. Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Hands-On Time: 30...

Are you closely monitoring your B&B’s social media feedback? *

When you are running a B&B social media page, you can’t simply create a post and promptly forget about it. In fact, it’s the minutes and hours following a social post that are the most important for your business. You need to continually monitor all posts and...

Which Social Media Performs Best for Your Bed & Breakfast *

Some social networking sites have stood the test of time, others seem to go through trends much like viral videos that eventually fade into relative obscurity. Which social media platforms are best to use as part of your social media marketing strategy?  How can you...

Enjoy Retail Shopping Therapy During a Day in St. Augustine

From unique shops to a charming downtown setting, St. Augustine offers the perfect retail therapy atmosphere. Visit one of the many downtown shops to find that handmade trinket or shop till you drop at the outlet mall to find the perfect bathing suit for lounging on...

3 Ways Your B and B Can Compete With Large Hotel Chains

As a small bed and breakfast owner the task of marketing your property can seem overwhelming.  I'm sure that you are wondering, how can I hope to compete against the marketing power of large multi national hotel chains? It would be impossible to match their financial...

What to Look for in Your Beach Vacation Resort *

Just down the coast from Jacksonville, St. Augustine is a town rich in history set along beautiful sunlit beaches. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States and is known as “The Ancient City.” Today, tourists stroll...

SEO is Central to Your Digital Marketing Strategy *

Why Search Optimization is Vital   What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?   Search Engine Optimization (SEO) determines the amount of online visibility which your website or a web page will garner in an organic search results.  An organic search engine...

Apple and Sweet Potato Pancakes (Latkes)

Apple & Sweet Potato Pancakes (Latkes) Every year, senior food editor Amy Traverso’s family hosts a big Hanukkah party for a couple of dozen friends, serving up four or five different kinds of latkes (potato pancakes) at a time. These sweeter latkes, accented with...

How to Enjoy the Best Romantic Getaways in Western NY

Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary or you’d like to surprise your special someone with a spontaneous trip, we can help. Romantic getaways in Western NY are the ideal way to make lasting memories together, and Asa Ransom House is the perfect spot for them. You...

Your Social Media Posts Aren’t Word of Mouth Marketing P

Social Media Dominates the Conversation   Whether on social media or through word of mouth, next week’s sales are driven by this week’s conversations about your brand.  The best way to grow your business is to help your customers do it for you.   Social...

7 Interesting Facts About Western NC Christmas Trees *

This year has been a very unusual year (and that's an understatement), full of interesting oddities, new habits and obsessions, both in life and work. One surprising development in 2021 is the rapid growth of holiday home decorating, including an increased demand for...

Three Essentials for the Best Spring in St. Augustine, FL P

Whether you’re visiting for spring break or the whole season, St. Augustine will charm you every day. Ancient City is a superb place for a spring getaway! Complete with sandy beaches, sunny days, exciting outdoor activities, and lively annual events, Spring in...

5 Fun and Dog-Friendly Activities in Waynesville *

Moving to Western North Carolina we were very excited about all the great outdoor activities. We were even more excited because the area was known for being exceptionally dog-friendly. Since our inn has two dog-friendly rooms, we wanted to share some of our favorite...

You’ll Enjoy A Day at the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine

You may already know that St. Augustine, FL, is known as the Nation’s Oldest City, but do you know the story behind the name? If you don’t, then you must visit the legendary Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine. This historic site holds the stories of our country’s...

5 solutions B&Bs still use which have become redundant *

Due to fear of increasing expenses, many B&B owners are still using outdated hotel technologies. Although it may seem like a sacrifice in the name of saving money, this redundant technology is only hindering the way they manage their property and is inhibiting...

Hidden Attractions in St. Augustine That You Must Visit

Some will say that St. Augustine is an attraction in and of itself. Just roaming the cobblestone streets of this charming north Florida coastal town is a wonderful travel experience. However, if you’re really interested in digging into this town’s history, culture,...

How to Engage Your Customers Using Mobile Messaging *

How Can Your Mobile Messaging Increase Customer Engagement?   Mobile Messaging is designed to capitalize on the opt-in email lists developed by your brand’s landing page call-to-actions.  Your visitor lists help you establish an ongoing relationship with your...

How to get more reservations via your B&B’s website *

Your B&B’s website is one of your most valuable assets. Not only is it the best place for you to promote your property and describe your amenities, but it is also a key location where you can earn the most revenue per booking. Knowing the important role your...

First Timer’s Guide to the Biltmore P

One of the area's most popular attractions is the Biltmore Estate. First-time visitors to the area may be unfamiliar with the Biltmore and its rich history. This article is a first timer's guide to the Biltmore. What is the Biltmore? The Biltmore Estate was the...

A Guide to Finding the Best Places to Stay in St. Augustine

If you're looking for a vacation destination that has a little something for everyone in your family, there's no better place to visit on your next trip than St. Augustine. With stunning beaches, a thriving culinary scene, a grand downtown area steeped in history, and...

How Technology Can Attract New Bed & Breakfast Guests *

Developing an effective bed & breakfast digital marketing strategy is a complex process.  Lodging providers often balance the benefits of their online marketing strategy with the components of traditional marketing.  If you want to properly promote your B & B...

SEO is Central to Your Digital Marketing Strategy P

Why Search Optimization is Vital   What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?   Search Engine Optimization (SEO) determines the amount of online visibility which your website or a web page will garner in an organic search results.  An organic search engine...

How to capitalise on destination marketing at your B&B *

Rather than focusing solely on your B&B marketing strategy, you may want to consider working with other local tourism businesses to create a destination marketing campaign. Destination marketing can generate buzz about your region and bring an influx of travellers...

What are the Pros and Cons of Staying at a Bed and Breakfast?

With the growth of digital marketing, there are now more options for travel accommodations than ever before. Whole genres of travel lodging have arisen thanks to the quick, efficient, and secure marketing and procurement available online. However, one of the most...

Be Focused on Your Customers, Not Your Operations P

Is Your Business, Customer or Operations Focused?     Give Your Customer’s a Great Experience   Do you understand what it takes for your company to give customers a great customer service experience?  It takes a lot of effort to create the business...

Make Your Customer Bill of Rights Your Customer Experience P

Why You Need a Customer Bill of Rights   Your company “Creed” is a brand promise that is simple, concise and easily understood by both employees and customers.  A Brand Promise lays out generally what customers can expect when they deal with your business. Your...

Responsible Sustainability is Your Business Success Story P

Business Has a Sustainability Role   It’s become accepted that business has a role to play in improving the environment and dealing with climate change.  What is undecided is how to do that, and for some, what actions are expected.  Generally, companies are...

Pros and Cons of Staying in a Bed-and-Breakfast P

With the growth of digital marketing, there are now more options for travel accommodations than ever before. Whole genres of travel lodging have arisen thanks to the quick, efficient, and secure marketing and procurement available online. However, one of the most...

Where to Enjoy Horseback Riding in St Augustine P

Escape the ordinary and treat yourself to a unique adventure in St. Augustine. This stunning historic city is known for its scenic landscapes and peaceful surroundings. Here, you can leave behind your boring daily routine, connect with nature, and enjoy the best St....

Facebook is Perfect for Promoting Your Blog Content *

Facebook – The Most Popular Social Network   Facebook is the premiere global social network and ranks number one  among the most popular social networks worldwide.  With 2.3 billion users worldwide, Facebook logs over 7.2 billion page visits every day.  This...

How A Great Customer Experience Energizes Customer Validation P

Your Great Customer Experience Creates Customer Validation!     Your Customer Experience is a Philosophy!   Many people think of customer service as a department.  I believe that customer service is part of a companies philosophy, not a company...

7 New Businesses and Eateries to Try in Asheville NC

Welcome 2021! Here in Western North Carolina, where "Yellowstone" meets the Great Smoky Mountains, we are as excited about 2021 as a child watching fresh flakes of snow drift down from the sky. We are especially excited about the new businesses in greater Asheville...

How Innovation Can Clean Up Our Environmental Mess P

Can Innovation Solve Our Environmental Problems?   Innovation is an abused business buzzword that is often applied to the topic of sustainability.  Online literature is full of articles and reports on sustainability and innovation, sometimes converged into...

Your Business Success Story is Embracing Sustainability P

Your Business Has a Sustainability Role   It’s become accepted that business has a role to play in improving the environment and dealing with climate change.  What is undecided is how to do that, and for some, what actions are expected.  Generally, companies are...

How to protect the privacy of your small business

Much like an entrepreneur would incorporate a business to ensure it receives limited liability protection, it is critical that owners of small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) emphasize protecting the privacy of a small business. Data breaches and cybersecurity...

Narrow Your Customer Gap While Widening Your Business Gap P

What is the Business Gap?   I’ve written about creating a gap between your company and your competition.  This is how most businesses judge their success in their relationship to competitors.  If you were widening the gap, it meant that you were outdistancing the...

Our Top Winter Getaway Ideas

Winter is a wonderful time to visit Western North Carolina for a getaway! Outdoor enthusiasts (and those who don't mind a little cold) will enjoy activities like skiing, tubing, and winter hiking. Foodies can warm up with hot coffee and cocoa, and visit the bakeries,...

Make Your Blog Posts More Engaging and Conversational P

To Be Effective Your Blog Posts Must Be Engaging   I’m sure that you’ve already heard that your blog posts need to be written in a style that is  “conversational”.  You may not understand why it is important to do this.  Your posts are telling your story and...

What Does TripAdvisor’s ‘Instant Booking’ Option Mean for Your Small Hotel? *

You may or may not have heard that TripConnect now offers an Instant Booking option, so that you can offer your guests the ability to book with you directly through TripAdvisor. Previously, TripAdvisor’s TripConnect only operated on a pay-per-click model (click here...

Why Guests Return to The Addison on Amelia Island?

Our stunningly beautiful Amelia Island draws visitors from around the world, with its beaches, waterways, green spaces, and historic downtown. But what draws people to choose The Addison when they’re deciding where to stay on Amelia Island? More importantly, what...

Your Brand’s Authenticity Must be Unscripted and Genuine *

You Can’t Script Authenticity in Your UX   Your Authenticity is Customer Focused   It’s easy to know when you are dealing with a customer service representative who is less than sincere.  They lack authenticity which goes hand in hand with their insincerity....

Four of the Best Wine Bars in St. Augustine

The incredible variety and flavor of the many wine bars in St. Augustine make this lively coastal city the ideal place to find your new favorite wine. This breathtaking coastal region houses some of the best wineries on the East Coast. Everything you need to plan the...

Online Booking Sites are Important to Your Marketing Strategy *

At the IAA Bed & Breakfast Association we believe it is important to include online channels in your online marketing plan, if you want to generate the highest possible revenues and increase your occupancy rates. 4 reasons why you should maximise the use of Online...

Searching for Jingles Cookies

Once Christmas in America meant chopping down a tree, caroling door-to-door and baking holiday cookies with Mom. But at this time of year boomers like me feel the same kind of holiday nostalgia for unpacking a fake, boxed tree while watching “A Charlie Brown...

Sometimes it Pays to be Different P

This is a repost of one of my favorite customer service guru's, Shep Hyken.   Be Different If you compete head-to-head with your competition, you may win or lose. If you compete by being different, you stand out. And, that’s a win. Over the years I’ve talked with...

Blue Ridge Travel Ideas for the New Normal

Our recent experience with the Coronavirus has left many of us hesitant leave our homes, let alone travel. At the same time, the self-isolation has also been challenging, and for many, feeding anxiety and depression. We live in the constant tension of feeling cooped...

How do boutique hotels feel about working with Airbnb *

Recently, researchers began exploring the relationship between small accommodation providers, such as B&B operators, and the sharing accommodation site Airbnb. Here are a few of the key findings from the study: B&B owners and operators seem to agree that the...

What Do Your Guests Really Care About During Their Stay? *

As technology transforms our lives, lodging around the globe is taking the opportunity to adopt technology into their rooms and operations. This technology impresses the guests who stay at these properties, but it adds convenience while improving the guest experience...

B&B management basics: Facebook marketing explained *

Facebook is one of the most powerful social networking sites in the world, and it’s one of the best places to promote your B&B online. Here’s everything you need to know about marketing your B&B on Facebook. Creating a Facebook page is free, but paid...

Discovering The Latest Trends In B&B Guest Entertainment P

Today’s travelers are becoming more and more digitally inclined. Guests are now checking-in with their own technologies such as tablets, iPads, laptops and mobile devices. Due to the growing partnership between guest technology and entertainment, customers want to...

Step Aboard for One of the Best Erie Canal Cruises

In 1817, construction began. By 1825, one of the most famous engineering feats had been completed — the Erie Canal! Mostly dug by hand, this 363-mile wonder stretched from Albany to Buffalo, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. It...

Most Romantic Picnic Spots Around Hendersonville

As winter has faded away, welcoming in its place warmer weather, it’s the perfect time to picnic. Picnics blend three of the best things in life – good food, being outdoors, and your sweetheart. We’ve compiled a list of our top favorite romantic picnic spots around...

Our Top Winter Getaway Ideas

Winter is a wonderful time to visit Western North Carolina for a getaway! Outdoor enthusiasts (and those who don't mind a little cold) will enjoy activities like skiing, tubing, and winter hiking. Foodies can warm up with hot coffee and cocoa, and visit the bakeries,...

Offbeat Things To Do in Asheville NC

Offbeat. Funky. Eclectic. These are words often used to describe Asheville, a city that contradicts itself as often as a new craft brewery opens. Asheville seamlessly blends today's cutting-edge art and technology with its centuries-old Appalachian folk past. Unlike...

Accessibility Toolbar