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Top Tips to impress your guests.

One key ingredient in running a successful bed and breakfast is the ability to get along with all types of people who will be staying at your B & B. When you operate a bed and breakfast, you become the host (not an owner) who greets and welcomes guests (not clients).

Hospitality is our business. A successful bed and breakfast operation builds its reputation on the hospitality it provides. Repeat business and referrals often come as a result of your interactions with the guests. Guests who frequent bed and breakfasts usually seek the enjoyment of getting to know their hosts and sometimes develop close friendships with them.

Provide a warm, friendly welcome at the front door.

Show guests to their room and give them an opportunity to settle in.

If they feel up to it, you may want to give guests a quick tour of your home soon after they arrive.
Offer a beverage and/or a light snack after guests have had some time to settle down from their trip.
Be a "fountain of information" for your guests. As hosts, you should be able to answer questions about your area and mention nearby attractions and places of interest.

Provide guests with a fact sheet listing frequently asked questions and answers about your B & B and the surrounding area.

Collect brochures and maps for the immediate area as well as other nearby areas of interest. Make these available to your guests at no cost.

Collect menus from local restaurants. You may put these in guest rooms or leave them in your lounge area.

Offer "special touches" that will appeal to a variety of guests, such as offering breakfast in bed for newlyweds or for special occasions.

Find out when guests arrive what they would prefer as a beverage in the morning, and always have coffee made early. A pot of freshly brewed coffee outside the door in the morning will be a treat for the true coffee drinker.

Be sure to provide a variety of beverages so that guests can choose from a good selection. Coffee should be of the best quality -- never instant! Experiment with different blends.

Offer -- for an extra fee -- to make special picnic baskets for lunch or dinner so that guest may enjoy a special outdoor location.

Provide an umbrella stand with loan umbrellas near the door for guests who aren't prepared for bad weather.

Set up a special corner in your public lounge area with a variety of games, cards, books and magazines. Provide a variety of reading material in each room.

Have extra sample-size toilet articles on hand for your guests, such as shampoo, hand lotion, toothbrushes, razors and toothpaste. You can order a supply of many such items imprinted with your logo to promote your bed and breakfast.

Use liquid soap or small, individually wrapped soaps in the bathroom so no guest have to use someone else's soap.

A special guest "welcome tray" in each room can include fruit, biscuits or individually wrapped chocolates. Provide disposable drinking cups in each room as well as tissues, etc.

Have an area, which is easily accessible to guests where they can always find a beverage or snack of some kind.

Keep an extra hair dryer, make-up mirror, curling iron, iron and ironing board available for guest use.
Provide a local newspaper.

Be able to provide your guests with a local map. Mark your home, restaurants and other attractions on the map.

Collect discount coupons from local restaurants, and other attractions for your guests' use.