tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79118661687226477852012-01-27T20:20:41.028-08:00Innkeeper To GoThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comBlogger5481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-65752473645018271962012-01-27T11:30:00.000-08:002012-01-27T11:30:01.052-08:00A Festival of Your OwnLUNAFEST 2011/2012 Trailer from Clif Bar & Company on Vimeo.
Many innkeepers have large spaces set aside for weddings and other special events, all waiting to be booked and utilized.
But why wait? Sure, you say, you're working away trying to fill those spaces with events.
But why not create your own event?
Many innkeepers create their own workshops as a means to fill guest rooms during slowThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-11062080083021310192012-01-25T12:30:00.000-08:002012-01-25T12:30:46.005-08:00Take a Hike Already
Clear skies, sunshine.
Waterfalls flowing.
Forests lit with magic.
Whale pods swimming close to shore.
Beaches practically empty.
Hard to imagine a more perfect day for a winter hike.
Almost as though nature conspired to create this one magic day just for you.
What exactly are you people doing still inside?The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-86828831838083931632012-01-24T13:00:00.000-08:002012-01-24T13:00:03.177-08:00Without Limit
The Year of the Dragon is already being celebrated in communities around the world as yesterday marked the first day of the fifteen-day Lunar New Year Festival.
If you've never been to San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade, well, you really must. It's a celebration filled with wonder with a weekend long streetfair that spills well into the evening hours with a dazzling parade that's sure toThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-65554324447268370142012-01-23T13:00:00.000-08:002012-01-23T18:21:17.327-08:00Raging
Over eight inches of rain poured from the sky this weekend, making it an optimal weekend for eating cookies by the fire. Here, of course, we took full advantage of that.
Itching to get outside? Take it easy.
Cascades will be flowing. In fact, creeks and streams are raging all around in a brilliant display of nature's power.
Power that inspires stillness in all of us.
Remember that The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-61782176595905095562012-01-22T15:00:00.000-08:002012-01-22T15:00:00.129-08:00Go Niners Chili
One of the things that I've noticed over the years is the fact that most Americans are somewhat intimidated when it comes to cooking for the French.
On the one hand, I can understand that. The French generally have their own techniques for creating the masterful foods that are synonymous with France. On the other hand, it deprives the cook of knowing the pleasure of cooking for guests who, The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-89315997955524491912012-01-20T16:00:00.000-08:002012-01-20T16:00:04.272-08:00Everything's Coming Up Cookies
Winter rains are finally here to much rejoicing.
Of course, folks driving the roads are not rejoicing all that much.
But those of us inside, safe and warm, with our plates full of cookies?
Bring it on. We're ready for the waterfalls to begin.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-2486649991285769202012-01-19T13:00:00.000-08:002012-01-19T13:00:03.854-08:00Excellent News
In case you haven't heard just yet, Obama announced an executive order that will streamline visa requirements and reduce associated costs for some international visitors.
Of course, since Brazil is one of the countries that has reciprocated our own shoot-yourself-in-the-foot fees and requirements, it's not surprising that Brazil is one of the countries specifically addressed in the executive The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-11593069390569736672012-01-18T14:30:00.000-08:002012-01-18T14:30:00.294-08:00On Its Way
A wee bit on the late side but winter is, finally, arriving in Northern California.
Temps have taken a definite dip. Rains coming in and looking to stick around for a few days.
If you're out and about, bundle up. And drive safely. Things will be slippery out there.
If you're inside with a bowl of soup and a plateful of cookies, well, it's just more proof that we are, indeed, kindred The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-26070048179529387932012-01-17T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-17T12:08:28.572-08:00One Billion
That's the magic threshold of tourist arrivals UNWTO projects to be reached in 2012.
Glad to see the report does include some mention of the fact that Europe's growth last winter was impacted by the loss of tourism in North Africa and the Middle East. With their graph telling that story better than the report itself, it would have been hard to ignore altogether.
Personally, I believe the The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-4739306863398430302012-01-16T12:30:00.000-08:002012-01-16T12:30:22.964-08:00In The End
"we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today is a day that serves as a reminder to all of us of the power of our own voices.
And our responsibility to use those voices to speak up against injustice, to break down barriers, to confront hatred with love, lies with truth.
Whatever you're doing to commemorate Martin Luther King The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-45135025840981088372012-01-15T14:00:00.000-08:002012-01-15T14:00:03.331-08:00If Only I Believed In Miracles
I believe in magic and all things unexpected. I believe in the power of one person to change the course of history. One person.
And yet even I cannot see a good end for the spiraling mess Europe's failed leaders have created.
Even I used to believe that there was a possibility - even a probability - that the European Union would out-survive its fatal experiment with common currency.
What The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-53714401275973980882012-01-13T09:45:00.000-08:002012-01-13T09:45:38.107-08:00Lucky Day
It's no secret around here that I'm a tad superstitious. I have days I believe are lucky for me and days that have seemed to me to be cursed.
But Friday the 13th? Always been one of the lucky days on my calendar.
Can't really say just why that is but I suppose it has much to do with believing that it's lucky. So lucky it is.
Hope your day brings you many blessings and much luck, too.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-43768433165487184042012-01-12T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-12T12:04:30.690-08:00Woo Hoos All Around
Marin County visitors often look for glimpses of the many rockstars who live in its hillsides.
But, for the most part, those efforts are somewhat futile. Sure, they're there. But they're in those hillsides for a reason: they provide great privacy in addition to great beauty.
Still, every now and then, an especially alert tourist may see a somewhat familiar face walking down the street. The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-62676832660640750352012-01-11T10:00:00.000-08:002012-01-11T10:17:01.428-08:00Um, Yes
Simple answers to simple questions, winter edition.
You'd think at some point folks would stop asking the same questions when they keep producing the same answers. And the same increasingly disastrous results.
Yes, driving people into abject poverty in Europe is the main driver of Europe's problems. People who have no money spend no money. It's a really simple formula.
No, austerity neverThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-62860960690528221792012-01-10T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-10T12:00:04.753-08:00Reputational Harm
Lordy, lordy.
Among the recent changes at TripAdvisor, we can now add to the list that they'll no longer be exploiting questionable reviews about the Dirtiest Hotels. Well, at least not in their annual PR shindig promoting the worst of the worst.
Of course, I'm sure that has nothing to do with that whole pending litigation business, just a little coinky-dinky.
No surprises there, really. The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-37677473807956780192012-01-09T12:30:00.000-08:002012-01-09T12:30:01.197-08:00Readily Achievable
Only 2 months until the new ADA regulations kick in.
If you're not absolutely certain your inn's facilities are in compliance, this would be a good time to look into the new regulations.
Especially since there's no grandfathering this time around and the readily achievable standard will apply.
The good folks at Hotel Law Blog have, as usual, lots of useful information to steer you in the The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-55693853174326913032012-01-07T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-07T12:00:01.466-08:00People Can and Do
Co-operatives are the way it's done.
2012 is the International Year of Cooperatives.
Isn't it time you got involved in something bigger than yourself, something that's about meeting human need, not human greed?
Build a better world. Build a co-op.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-21594338707209436022012-01-06T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-06T12:00:03.460-08:00Except Positive Vibrations
Surf's up in Bo but visitors are well advised to heed the advice of locals: be respectful of the town, be especially respectful of the difficulty boaters face on days like this, and leave no trace.
Positive vibrations, of course, excepted.
If you can manage all that, you'll be welcome in Bolinas.
But no, I'm still not giving out directions, not to Bo.
After all, respecting local The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-22070211666220004372012-01-05T12:30:00.000-08:002012-01-05T12:30:01.617-08:00Wild West Treasure
Heartfelt congratulations go out to the ever wonderful West Point Inn, recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.
A true treasure known to hikers for over a century now, the simple and well hidden inn retains its charm as a refuge from the world.
If you're looking for a bed and breakfast or similarly pampered experience, be forewarned that this is not the place for you.
A The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-66269550159874217292012-01-04T11:30:00.000-08:002012-01-04T11:30:39.876-08:00You and I Both Know What This Means
Yes, beach day.
Still no rain in sight, warm temps, not much wind.
Work? Oh yes, there's that pile that will still be here when I get back, long after the last light has dropped from sight.
I'm pretty sure it's not going anywhere in the meantime.
But me? Already gone.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-27763484617793823202012-01-03T17:00:00.000-08:002012-01-03T17:00:01.921-08:00Move Your Money
Regular readers know I'm a big supporter of the Buy Local movement. Not only because small inns are inextricably linked to the small businesses in their community. And not only because it's just good business to support your neighbors.
No, it's also because buying local is the best way to support jobs in your community.
So when I've supported the initiatives to move money from the fat cat The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-46280927616244427912012-01-02T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-02T12:05:55.516-08:00Happy Days
When my great-grandfather lost every dime that he had in the stock market crash of 1929, he was determined to change the course of his family's sudden change in fate.
He did not give up. He worked harder. He had always been a hard-working man, a Police Commissioner, a fine upstanding community man. But suddenly he swung into high gear, feeling lucky that at least he still had work. Every The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-15828590113307674622012-01-01T11:00:00.000-08:002012-01-03T18:36:14.437-08:00Luck Fortune and Romance
Only good things will await you if you just start your New Year's Day off right. At least that's what I was always told.
Growing up, I believed with all my heart that if I ate my Collard Greens on New Year's Day, I would attract wealth in the coming year. Green for the greenbacks our family cook would always remind me. Got to eat 'em. No two ways about it.
And, of course, I'd need to eat The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-30887760762639620112011-12-31T10:00:00.000-08:002011-12-31T10:01:19.136-08:00Years From Now
We'll look back upon these times and remember only what we have gained from them. We'll remember laughter and dreams and places of intense beauty.
We'll remember our friends, now gone, exactly as they were in the best of times. They will not age, will not endure the troubles of time, will not change. They will love us then as they loved us once, without fail. They will forever hold our The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-18546653736308364572011-12-30T11:00:00.000-08:002011-12-31T10:49:02.076-08:00Just in Time
I know most folks think those 5 gold rings should be, you know, gold rings.
But I, the frugal traditionalist that I am, will take 5 goldspinks any day over 5 pieces of gold.
And, just like magic, on the fifth day, they have arrived. Goldfinches.
Maybe it has something to do with this.
Update: The magic of the fairy ring seems to be working overtime; five pieces of gold have also arrivedThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-59688859016777479212011-12-29T11:30:00.000-08:002011-12-29T11:30:00.725-08:00I Know I Should Feel Guilty
But the thing is, I don't.
The weather here in Northern California has been just sublime this month. Maybe a bit too sublime as we've had barely a hint of rain. Abnormally dry, in fact.
We hear, though, that a bit of rain may finally make it through over the weekend. We're hopeful it will leave behind that brilliant winter mist that photographers - and the rest of us - so adore.
MeanwhileThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-13426555251059966292011-12-28T10:00:00.000-08:002011-12-28T20:28:49.919-08:00Isn't It Rich?
Well, that didn't take long, did it?
Now that TripAdvisor is more prodigal son than favorite child, Expedia says its reviews will be verified.
Funny. Almost sounds like they just don't buy that whole "more theoretical than practical" spin.
Game on.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-14740357288575212852011-12-27T10:00:00.000-08:002011-12-27T10:00:04.363-08:00Oh No
If there were any turtle doves around here, I'm afraid this guy would have eaten them by now.
Which, I suppose, means we'll never know.
That's okay. I'm still holding out for the three French hens.
Because, just in case you didn't know, French poultry tastes, I'm sorry to say, much much better than the poultry here in America.
Don't know just why that is but I suspect it has much to do The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-8911487194396327202011-12-26T14:30:00.000-08:002011-12-26T14:30:00.079-08:00Sharing The Test of Time
Some innkeepers have asked why I don't post more recipes. They want more, they tell me.
After all, I cook every single day and certainly have loads of recipes under my belt. Why not share more?
But here's the thing. Every time I post a recipe, it means I have to cook the dish first, even if I've cooked it zillions of times before. Especially if I've cooked it zillions of times before.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-68691860436680954672011-12-26T10:00:00.000-08:002011-12-26T10:00:01.682-08:00Goodwill To All
I'm pretty sure the pear tree will arrive any minute now.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-46999301075930644482011-12-25T12:00:00.000-08:002011-12-25T12:00:05.235-08:00Joyeux Noel
From our warm winter wonderland here in the redwoods, we wish you the very merriest of Christmases.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-86113859235990548002011-12-24T11:00:00.000-08:002011-12-24T11:00:00.273-08:00The Best Time of the Year
Don't know if there'll be snow but have a cup of cheer.
Can you tell we've got the Christmas tunes playing here nonstop?
Nonstop.
Hope your world is full of cheer and wonder, too.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-83333886299161377122011-12-22T14:00:00.000-08:002011-12-22T14:00:01.291-08:00Down to the Wire
Holiday shoppers are definitely out and about in my world. In fact, it's almost overwhelming out there.
Almost.
But if it's all too much for you and you'd rather avoid the crowds, the options for buying local have never been better.
My favorite? The cowgirls, of course. And if you can't make it into a Cowgirl Creamery shop, no worries.
Just love those cowgirls. And the cheese? Too The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-64677088279980590592011-12-21T11:30:00.000-08:002012-01-24T19:58:42.200-08:00Naming Names
Robert Coles of RockCheetah continues his guest posts over at Tnooz, with yet another great article about Fake Review Optimization.
What's so great about his post? He names names.
No, not hotel names. One of these days, those names will come out. In fact, if TA had wanted to know who's behind the fake reviews that float all over its site, it wouldn't have had to look too far.
All too The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-12472523748489297062011-12-19T10:30:00.000-08:002011-12-19T10:30:00.783-08:00It's All Dynamic
Patrick Landman has another great post up over at Tnooz that provides invaluable tips for revenue management of spa treatments.
These days, more and more innkeepers are looking at providing spa services as a means to increase revenue and provide a better guest experience.
As they do, it's ever more important that they do so with an eye towards a pricing and scheduling structure that makes The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-21386285458680792112011-12-16T09:31:00.000-08:002011-12-16T09:31:38.068-08:00Made in the USA
Still looking for holiday gifts? If you can't find everything you need from local sources, be sure to check out the fabulous list at American Rights at Work.
What's so fabulous about their list?
Well, besides the great variety of quality gifts themselves, there's an added bonus. Everything on the list was made in America by union labor.
Check it out.
Buy local. Buy products made in The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-72857285846958821552011-12-15T11:00:00.000-08:002011-12-28T20:37:32.744-08:00The Spirit of Cooperation
Wake-up calls are going out around the country along with the news that one in two, yes 1 in 2, Americans are now living in poverty.
While this may be quite the shocker in DC, where the incubation of opportunity clouds the reality that exists outside that bubble, it's not news to most innkeepers.
Sure, some are busier than ever, thanks to deep discounting sites like Groupon and the like, The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-61178342531620730572011-12-14T11:30:00.000-08:002011-12-14T13:09:06.968-08:00Either Fobbed Off Or Ignored Altogether
Chris Emmins of Kwikchex has a guest post up over at Tnooz that asks "What's wrong with TripAdvisor?" and answers the question from their unique perspective.
One thing that really jumped off the page is, to me, the most glaring problem of all and the root of TripAdvisor's current legal woes:
"The number of resolutions was negligible."And really that is the essential problem with an The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-73125474556526405232011-12-13T13:00:00.000-08:002011-12-13T13:00:01.507-08:00Twelve Days and Counting
We've definitely moved into checking it twice territory now.
So much to do, so little time.
And yet there always seems to be just enough time to do the things that matter.
The trick, of course, is knowing what matters.
And sometimes the trick is to ignore it all and go for a quick walk.
But then again, sometimes that little walk is the thing that matters the very most of all.
Here's The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-16141859192985813222011-12-12T13:00:00.000-08:002011-12-14T12:50:43.986-08:00Secrets of the Innkeeper's Kitchen
It's the holidays - a time when we all pull out those time-tested recipes and add a few new twists as well.
A good time, too, to clear through some of those frequently asked questions about recipes, cooking, and other such things.
I'm frequently asked why, as an innkeeper, I post recipes for dinner and lunch dishes but not breakfast dishes. That's easy. I think most B&B innkeepers are The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-17963630954578562142011-12-11T11:30:00.000-08:002011-12-11T11:30:01.556-08:00Boeuf Bourguignon Pot Pie
Who could resist?
Pot pies seem to me to be the most universally appealing of comfort foods.
What guest wouldn't love to arrive after a long, dark drive on a winding road to find a small pie waiting just for them?
Especially if they were to find a real delight underneath that flaky, buttery crust: Boeuf Bourguignon.
The truth is, we make all kinds of pot pies around here. But since Boeuf The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-84762551620532018192011-12-09T12:00:00.000-08:002011-12-09T12:00:04.214-08:00Is It Just Me?
Or does it seem like weekends get here more and more quickly all the time?
Maybe that's just the effect of the waxing moon telling us its time to sow those root veggies.
Maybe it's true that time is, indeed, spinning at a faster pace.
Or maybe that's just my life spinning at a faster pace.
Whatever it is, the weekend's here again. Already.
Have a good one!The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-60314957122015287472011-12-08T13:00:00.000-08:002011-12-08T13:00:02.645-08:00Just The Way It Is
When winter arrives in Northern California, we all take a breath.
The first sign of winter, of course, are the rains. We are ever so grateful to see those first few rains bringing, as they do, an end to fire season. And the bounty only the winter rains allow us to know.
The shortened days mean those winter hikes must start earlier. An extra layer or two of protection from the slight chill The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-56264058716032086672011-12-07T13:30:00.000-08:002012-01-25T15:21:09.178-08:00They’ll Have to Let These Assets Go
If it seems that the rate of foreclosure against small inns and bed and breakfast owners is higher than the rate of foreclosure against larger corporate-owned hotels, there's a reason for that.
Lenders readily admit that they are much more likely to foreclose on the mom and pop owned small inn than the larger (and much more leveraged) properties.
The question then becomes why.
In many cases,The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-67716025592733223932011-12-06T12:00:00.000-08:002011-12-06T12:25:20.649-08:00Something That is Unique, That is Irreplaceable
We haven't had much in the way of good news for tourism in Arizona for quite a while now.
Much of that is, sadly, the result of poor public policies that have tainted the state's image and kept tourists at bay.
Finally, though, we hear of some good policy news coming through at the federal level: a 20 year ban on uranium mining in the Grand Canyon is expected to be put in place. At leastThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-2308738819899047812011-12-05T15:00:00.000-08:002011-12-31T13:58:29.543-08:00Austerity Tips Gone Awry
It makes sense, of course. On its surface.
Folks want to get their personal debts under control.
Want to make sure that when they use credit, it's responsible use.
And I'm definitely all for folks giving more to local charities who support the homeless and near homeless, whose ranks grow each day.
But the problem is that all of those small local businesses that are being bypassed as too The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-36303691528482728002011-12-05T12:30:00.000-08:002011-12-05T13:19:47.420-08:00The Foot is Right There for the Shooting
I actually do try to steer clear of many of the controversies that hotels may bring upon themselves.
But sometimes, the act of shooting oneself in the foot is so glaringly obvious that it merits some attention.
Case in point, the W Hotel in San Francisco has let it be known that they are opposed to the much anticipated expansion of their neighbor, MOMA (SF Museum of Modern Art). Why? The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-12758963853855010492011-12-03T12:30:00.000-08:002011-12-03T12:38:50.965-08:00Dream Winter
The weather in Northern California is just sublime this weekend. Christmas shoppers are out and about in the village. Shops are bustling.
Trails are clear. Crabs are served. Oysters being shucked.
No sweater needed in the middle of the day. Brilliant sunshine. A little breeze bringing up some small waves.
The December of our dreams. And it's here today.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-45369494202192650942011-12-02T13:10:00.000-08:002011-12-02T13:10:04.500-08:00An Instinct to Protect and Shelter
Guy Trebay describes in the NY Times the joys of hotel life, from a frequent guest's perspective.
A lovely article that speaks to a lifetime fascination with hotels, innkeepers, and all that they hold in their hands.
Do go on over and read the whole thing.
An inspiring weekend read.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-78255058047690191242011-12-01T16:40:00.001-08:002011-12-03T19:07:47.637-08:00With Us Still
We all have them. Those days we would just as soon not happen. Because they're too difficult. Because it would be so much easier to just go on with life and not remember.
World AIDS Day is one of those days for me.
I know it's kind of crazy. If I were to count up just all the hours I spent serving on the board of just one AIDS service provider, well, those hours alone would seem to meanThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-17434548340035773282011-12-01T10:44:00.001-08:002011-12-01T11:00:53.752-08:00Winter Wonderland
It's true that in the mountains, we do get snow here in California. In fact, skiing in Tahoe is a celebration of all that is California: gorgeous and filled with adventure.
But for those of us along the coast, we have our own version of a winter wonderland. Sans the snow and cold.
Sure it's colder in winter than in spring and summer. Definitely colder than those balmy autumns we tend to The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-378772016724709372011-11-29T14:00:00.000-08:002011-11-29T14:01:04.476-08:00Get Your Salt Water Boiling
What great news.
With much anticipation, Dungeness Crabs will finally start reaching local markets in Northern California.
Any day now, in fact.
And even better news? They'll be reaching my table any day now, too.
It's like the Thanksgiving feast that never ends. Literally.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-11016941237568756432011-11-28T11:30:00.000-08:002011-11-28T11:30:00.460-08:00The Path is Clear
Unfortunately in Europe's case, the road not taken was the right path all along.
And still is, if only folks will learn to look behind them to see what's coming.
Who knew? Oh, wait.
Still old habits die hard. And I'm afraid that's just the way Europe's dreadful experiment with common currency will end.
With a hard fall.
Standing close to the cliff ourselves, a lot of that debris is The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-70108756045515863912011-11-27T17:30:00.000-08:002011-11-27T17:31:34.025-08:00Some Final Thanks
As we approach the final stretch of this fabulous Thanksgiving weekend, we pause for one final round of thanks.
We have, it seems, so very much to be grateful for in these times, times that will only grow more turbulent in the weeks and months ahead.
So as you savor one last turkey sandwich - or as we do here, reach for one more bite of turkey pot pie - and you suddenly find yourself The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-56437469616026404182011-11-25T11:30:00.000-08:002011-11-25T11:32:49.752-08:00No Good Karma Comes From Bad
If you want to convince folks who have become, how shall we say, a bit skeptical of the trustworthiness of your online review site, do you:
a. Work hard to weed fake reviews out of the system?
b. Create a verifiable system of accountability?
c. Refrain from cheap PR tricks like hyping extreme reviews that have not been verified and can cause lasting damage?
d. Or do you hire a PR firm knownThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-6057893498640299992011-11-24T11:00:00.000-08:002011-11-24T11:08:15.161-08:00From The Forest To The Sea
Thanksgiving blessings to all.
As we take full measure of our blessings over the past year, we prepare the feast.
Every year it seems our perfect Thanksgiving changes just a wee bit and holds its own on time honored traditions.
This year's perfect menu:
Curried Pumpkin Seeds and Spiced Pecans
Savory Pumpkin Soup
Turkey Steamed in Wine and Leeks
Herb Gravy
Cranberry Lemon Rosemary The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-52531696754568162262011-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-23T12:04:51.031-08:00Bounty Love and Warmth
On this busy travel day and super-busy day of preparations for the big feast tomorrow, warm wishes go out to all of you.
Here the bird is brining, the oysters are all shucked and ready, sherry is at the ready, recipes are all planned out.
We'll survive, I think, without Dungeness Crab this year.
But we wouldn't have survived this far without the many blessings of friends around the world. The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-88470239047828488902011-11-21T11:01:00.000-08:002011-11-21T13:19:10.577-08:00Scraping Party Ice from an Iceberg
Robert Cole of RockCheetah continues his series of guest posts on Tnooz with today's excellent post on combatting fake review optimization.
It's rare these days that I agree 100% with any hospitality consultant's advice as far too often that advice is short-sighted or self-interested.
Not so in Robert's case. I agree wholeheartedly with every word of today's post.
Longtime readers and The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-23476780320277195582011-11-20T12:02:00.001-08:002011-11-20T18:41:19.714-08:00Turkey Steamed in Wine and Leeks
I've been steaming my turkey in wine and leeks for many years now, thanks to a lovely little Christmas cookbook, "Tis The Season" I received as a gift from my sister back in the eighties.
I've long since lost the book but the recipe is so simple that it's been embedded in my brain for years. I've adapted the original recipe somewhat over time but the method itself is still basically the The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-7807556934110035942011-11-18T16:00:00.000-08:002011-11-18T16:06:17.038-08:00Eternally Optimistic
It's a rainy day on the coast of Northern California today. So the crabbers aren't in any hurry to reach an agreement on their selling price just yet.
I'm hopeful that will change by Monday and we'll, in fact, have some of this year's plump sweet crabs on the Thanksgiving menu.
The delay leaves a bit of time, though, to decide on just how to prepare them. And truthfully, I can't think of The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-81751663925355908672011-11-17T15:00:00.000-08:002011-11-17T15:15:48.176-08:00Fair Bounty
Just one week to go til the grandest of all grand American holidays.
The day we give thanks for our bounty by trying to eat as much of that bounty in one day as is humanly possible.
Here we will most definitely be serving my famous Turkey Steamed in Wine and Leeks alongside Scalloped Oysters and other traditional fare. We'll have a soup course, we'll have Pecan Pie. We'll have, as always, The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-41716563487759292452011-11-15T11:30:00.000-08:002011-11-15T11:30:01.297-08:00Virtual Game of Whack-a-Mole
The good folks at Tnooz are hosting a series of guest posts this week by Robert Cole of RockCheetah, all related to the nasty game of fake online reviews.
Today's post discussing just how the whole game of online review cheating really works is a lengthy one but well worth taking the time to read.
Regular readers won't be surprised that I think exposing the game to the light of day would be aThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-23972491635640352762011-11-14T11:30:00.000-08:002011-11-14T11:30:00.928-08:00Fresher More Recent Secrets
Google spills the beans on 10 of its most recent changes in algorithm.
But it also comes with the reminder that hundreds, yes hundreds, of algorithm changes go on every year.
In other words, the real secrets are still just that. Secret.
That said, it's still worth taking a glimpse at a tiny bit of what Google sees and how that's interpreted for the rest of us.
What should innkeepers do The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-47595899722292950772011-11-12T13:00:00.000-08:002011-11-12T13:16:29.040-08:00The Great Well of Relationships Between People
At the end of the day, that's what it all comes down to.
Isn't it?The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-74191974236581002962011-11-11T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-11T12:00:00.317-08:00And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood
Happy Veteran's Day.
To all the military out there, both active and retired, and their families, thank you.
You have my undying gratitude for your service, commitment, and sacrifice.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-71205934839799232222011-11-10T13:30:00.000-08:002011-11-10T13:30:00.299-08:00Sorry To Have To Say So
But I am afraid that I am in complete agreement that we will, indeed, see a huge increase in hotel foreclosures in 2012.
We will also see a huge increase in B&B foreclosures and small inn foreclosures.
Many folks have been hanging on hoping for a speedy recovery. It's not going to happen.
If that sounds like a broken record, sorry for that, too. But, sadly, someone has to speak the truthThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-43591490772099230462011-11-09T13:35:00.000-08:002011-11-09T13:35:55.468-08:00It's True What They Say
Responsible tourism really does change lives.
Hearty congratulations to the winners of this year's Responsible Tourism Awards.
And to everyone else, a very happy World Responsible Tourism Day to you.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-25322616560124732172011-11-07T11:25:00.000-08:002011-11-07T11:25:33.730-08:00Future Planning
Contingency planning or a less-than-subtle insult?
A German tour operator asks hotels in Greece to sign a new contract that stipulates how they'll be paid when Greece defaults and leaves the euro behind. Financial Times registration required to access story; it's free.
What's the reaction of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises? Simple denial that the problem even exists with a The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-66063114821248837522011-11-04T11:30:00.000-07:002011-11-04T11:30:02.766-07:00Dear Guests
Please don't get swallowed by any whales over the weekend.
Thank you.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-46245471118631081762011-11-01T14:00:00.000-07:002011-11-02T15:46:12.848-07:00If a Potato Can Do It, Why Not You?
Great article up over at Smithsonian on how the humble potato changed the world.
Alleviated poverty, provided a reliable food staple for peasants everywhere.
And, sadly, spurred the growth of the use of pesticides, a battle we fight still today.
If a potato can change the world, it sure seems that innkeepers can have a powerful impact, too.
After all, few professions bring together The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-70200084944866572202011-10-31T11:30:00.000-07:002011-11-07T17:24:44.625-08:00Everyone Just Wants a Fair Shake
On this most joyous and exuberant of American holidays, we celebrate illusions.
Tricksters are rewarded - or bribed - with treats meant to ward off some unknown ill fate.
Longtime treaters know, though, that the real reward comes from the tricksters themselves whose elaborate costumes or simple cloaks of illusion warrant more than a few cookies, pieces of candy corn, or other such fancies.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-29535361244031496162011-10-28T13:00:00.000-07:002011-10-28T13:00:01.021-07:00Perfectly Lovely
The weekend coming up looks to be filled with activities, the loveliest of company, and divinely perfect weather.
Hope your pumpkins are all carved and your treats are all ready.
Because ready or not, the ghosts and goblins are just around the corner.
And I hear they're hungry this year.
That's okay. Soup's on. Pumpkin seeds are toasted.
And, oh yeah, candies and cookies are ready, The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-48053778633291050382011-10-25T12:30:00.000-07:002011-10-25T20:04:55.443-07:00Ethics
They're not just for innkeepers.
USA Today kicks off new website devoted to cruises and includes very specific and lengthy ethics rules. Including no freebies. Or as USA Today refers to it - no bribes.
No, I'm not a cruise fan. But I am a fan of full disclosure, which sadly rarely happens when a reviewer is talking about a free cruise or any other free stay.
My ethics require this: GetThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-91212373444967844472011-10-21T13:00:00.000-07:002011-10-21T13:00:04.277-07:00Make Music
Make cookies. Make breakfast. Make conversation.
Make beds. Make beds again. Make reservations. Make more cookies.
Sounds like a typical innkeeper weekend to me.
Have a good one!The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-72681835439308261662011-10-19T11:30:00.000-07:002011-10-19T23:01:17.065-07:00A Whole New Form of Foreclosure Hell
If you're thinking of snapping up one of those bank-owned inns in Massachusetts, this might give you cause for pause.
In a surprise ruling - surprising meaning that the banksters never ever thought it would happen - the Massachusetts Supreme Court upheld a ruling that can have the impact of reversing foreclosure sales that were made improperly.
Improperly as in having no clear title to the The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-15534193940281815922011-10-16T14:30:00.000-07:002011-10-18T12:24:30.037-07:00Solidarity
Over time, some innkeepers have gotten the mistaken impression that I, cough, have money.
And really nothing could be further from the truth.
Sure, like most innkeepers, I am blessed with a fortunate life that, among other things, means living among the wealthy. In my small town, it's no secret that there are more than a few one percenters walking around.
Or driving their Porsches around.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-26763358440695249652011-10-10T15:00:00.000-07:002011-10-10T15:00:01.073-07:00An American Tradition
Over the past few years, some of the most frustrating conversations between the Fabulous Frenchie and myself have centered on just why, oh why, are Americans not in the streets protesting, given all that is going wrong.
And, truthfully, I've never been able to satisfactorily explain to him why that is. It seems pure insanity to a Frenchman. The French, after all, love a protest.
One shiningThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-60793460252961884202011-10-03T13:00:00.000-07:002011-10-03T13:19:35.957-07:00There Is No Map
I love the theatre probably just about as much as I love ballet. And just about as much as I love the symphony. And, oh, how I do love the symphony.
In fact, back in the day, I raised an awful lots of funds for a number of fledgling theatre groups and dramaturges.
If my name - changed as it is from back in the day - does not roll from their tongues, I don't find offense. In fact, that The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-39178666747155309762011-09-30T13:00:00.000-07:002011-09-30T13:00:02.387-07:00Still Kicking
Yes, still here. Alive and well. Well, pretty well, as they say.
Hope to be back to my regular blogging schedule next week. Meanwhile, to those innkeepers and other regular readers who have wished me well and sent along warm thoughts: many many thanks.
We had a slight sprinkling of a first rain a few days ago and the Fabulous Frenchie captured the magic of that in the photo above.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-41333403885188851092011-09-19T14:00:00.000-07:002011-09-19T18:37:00.076-07:00Hello Cart, Your Horse is Way Back There
When it comes to promoting ethical tourism, sustainable tourism, or the fact that tourism is "a vital force for the promotion of international understanding, peace and prosperity," well, regular readers know I don't need convincing.
So it's not surprising that I would think that the 1st International Conference on Ethics and Tourism, held last week in Madrid under the auspices of the UNWTO, The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-52037261006236371492011-09-12T11:00:00.000-07:002011-09-12T11:01:26.614-07:00Ever Evolving
A subtle attempt to bury the fact that for years now TripAdvisor has been promoting the trustworthiness of its reviews?
Or simply evolving communications? Ever evolving.
Hmmmm.
Now they're no longer "reviews you can trust" but "reviews from our community" which might lead a cynical innkeeper to believe that they're no longer willing to say that their reviews can be definitively trusted. The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-20680002582530061812011-09-09T17:00:00.000-07:002011-09-09T18:47:50.027-07:00A Moment of Reflection
With all that's on the minds of Americans this weekend and heading into next week, I am hopeful.
Hopeful that you have an inn full of guests to nurture.
Hopeful that you have time to nurture your own dreams, too, and can remain mindful of the blessings those dreams have brought to you.
And whether you have an inn full of guests or an inn full of dreams, I am especially hopeful that you The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-14255969815682647092011-09-08T12:00:00.000-07:002011-09-09T10:58:16.728-07:00Consciousness Rising
I did not grow up in a union family. That's no surprise to you, since if I had I'd probably have known what crossing the picket line even meant when I was a young adult. Ahem.
I was extremely fortunate in my early career. I was given opportunities to develop skills, to travel, to not only become a leader myself but to develop leadership skills in others. I was also given the opportunity toThe Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-12482923948284719312011-09-06T12:30:00.000-07:002011-09-08T11:35:20.040-07:00Giving Up The Ghost
It is not simply because I have family in Europe or that I'm married to a European that I watch the exploding financial crisis there so closely.
And it's not simply because I have lived and worked in Europe myself.
Yes, it's true that I expect to spend my final years and retirement in France. Of course, the Fabulous Frenchie wants us to spend our final years in Tahiti, which is still The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-40375457640856734522011-09-06T09:00:00.000-07:002011-09-06T13:34:55.700-07:00Pushing Back
Marriott says it will seek tens of millions in damages over the Waikiki coup disaster.
The war of words will escalate quickly now but here's the thing. 67% and 80% occupancy in a new hotel, the first of a brand new chain of hotels, in the luxury market, in Hawaii in summer, in this economy - well, I think you know where I'm going with this. I may not be a fan of the whole neo-boutique The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-71986652869188189922011-09-05T11:00:00.000-07:002011-09-05T11:00:04.932-07:00Labor Day
Have a good one.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-33471944181030602032011-09-02T10:30:00.000-07:002011-09-03T09:43:51.604-07:00Yes
Just another in a long line of simple answers to simple questions.
Labor Day weekend edition.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-92023020760119566752011-08-31T15:00:00.000-07:002011-09-03T11:42:17.155-07:00A Whole New Set of Master Keys Forged. Again.
They're baaaaaack.
Seems the coup in Waikiki didn't last long.
Keep that popcorn popping. This power struggle is far from over.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-67717296677680579682011-08-31T11:00:00.000-07:002011-09-03T11:43:36.576-07:00Wear The Union Label
Remember that campaign? I do.
It was around the same time as that other campaign: buy American made products. In those days, we thought of both as something patriotic.
Because they were. Patriotic.
You know. Back when Americans still had jobs and actually had the possibility of buying pretty much everything they needed from American companies - who still made their products in The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-85681628305161375212011-08-30T17:00:00.000-07:002011-08-30T17:00:01.949-07:00Don't Get Burned By The Storm
The storm after the storm, that is. The storm of scammers.
Pat McCoy at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has put up a post with tips on how to avoid being scammed after a natural disaster.
Do go on over and read the whole thing.
Scammers will be out in full force even before your inn is dry from the storm. They're hoping to take advantage of your shock and vulnerability.
Don't The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-56016219299730564042011-08-30T12:00:00.000-07:002011-09-03T11:41:52.784-07:00Deck Chairs All Perfectly Rearranged
Some innkeepers have asked why I haven't weighed in on the coup that went on over the weekend in Waikiki.
And really, it's just because I don't think I have a whole lot to add that I haven't already said on this topic.
That said, since you asked, let's rehash just what I think of all of this. In a nutshell.
Basically, I think the whole neo-boutique movement by the fat cats is doomed. For The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-5025607878327402932011-08-29T13:30:00.000-07:002011-08-29T21:28:56.773-07:00No Rest for the Weary
In the next few days, innkeepers throughout New England will find a whole new problem borne out of the flooding of Irene: mold.
If your inn was flooded - or sprung a leak - don't wait for the nasties to take over. Because if you wait, they surely will.
Having seen the effects of toxic mold up close and personal myself, I take its invasion seriously. I hope you will, too.
Here are some The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-66718568766854207362011-08-27T13:00:00.000-07:002011-08-27T13:04:01.874-07:00Until the Light of Day
Warm wishes to all in the path of Irene who is here to remind us that plans change, even if they once seemed the very best laid plans of all.
Here on the edge of shake central, we hold a collective breath and hope the long night ahead brings you many great stories for the future, winning hands at many many candlelit card games, and the greatest wish of all - that you are on high ground, safe, The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-31268781398537228842011-08-25T13:00:00.000-07:002011-08-25T19:37:36.878-07:00Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Regular readers have no doubts about where I stand on the issue of online reviews.
In theory, they're the best way for travelers to learn from each other just what's worth visiting along the road.
In reality, they're a hornet's nest of manipulation.
Traveling bullies use the threat of bad reviews in attempts to intimidate innkeepers into ignoring cancellation policies, rules about pets, The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-73224651732740604272011-08-23T13:00:00.000-07:002011-08-24T18:20:50.238-07:00Rattle It In
Having grown up in hurricane country - and having had more severe impacts from bad storms than I'd have liked - I've always been in awe of the power of nature. How small we are in comparison and how seriously we should heed its warnings.
Storms we know about in advance. So everyone rushes out and stocks up and boards up. And then gets out. At least that's how it's supposed to happen.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-21947714998486025932011-08-19T12:00:00.000-07:002011-08-25T13:24:47.445-07:00Ring The Bells That Still Can Ring
Perfect weekend. Cooler weather, fabulous company, and splendid views.
Hope you, too, find a way to let the light in.
It's out there. Just waiting for you to find it.The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-34931641923578723742011-08-17T12:00:00.000-07:002011-08-22T11:02:03.670-07:00Into That Good Night
No one thought it would be easy transferring ownership of the Chelsea. In fact, even the mere possibility of going gently into the night was never one of serious consideration.
Still, you'd think that folks would have learned a thing or two by now.
And by folks, no, I don't mean the long term residents who are none too pleased about being kept in the dark. I mean the folks who are keeping The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-31216257335359950012011-08-15T13:30:00.000-07:002011-08-25T09:50:29.977-07:00Secrets of an Innkeeper
It's no secret at all that my life has never taken what would be considered a typical course.
In fact, some folks are convinced that the only explanation for the many places I've lived and the many times I've landed on my feet is that I must be some sort of spy. I'm not, of course. I'm just a girl who has chosen an unconventional life.
But that doesn't mean that I don't have secrets. We The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-57735237961164816932011-08-13T12:00:00.000-07:002011-08-13T12:00:04.872-07:00Startling Reversal of Fortune
Yeah, I'd say so.
Groupon is bleeding cash and some folks say they may be headed to bankruptcy?
Just before their much-touted IPO?
If all that's true, then it would be a reversal of fortune indeed. Or maybe just reality exposed to the light of day.
Take your pick. Either way, doesn't sound good at all.
The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911866168722647785.post-28489748966282817522011-08-12T17:00:00.000-07:002011-08-12T17:00:03.119-07:00Can't Give 'em Away
Yowser. Even the bottom feeders are laying low.
What happens if you have an auction and no one comes to buy? Even if the starting bid is only $25k on properties valued at $15 million?
Yes, you read that right. Starting bid $25k. No bidders.
The hotels in question, with a combined value of $15 million, in deeply distressed Fresno, brought no bidders. No one was even willing to cough up The Innkeeper To Gohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09133729374442081223noreply@blogger.com