Start & Run a Bed & Breakfast. Richard Taylor

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      1. What Is Bed and Breakfast?

      Bed and breakfast (B&B) has its roots in ancient times. In parts of the countryside where public inns were not always available, weary travelers would be accommodated by a local family who would provide food and lodging for a fee.

      B&Bs have been popular in Britain and Europe for many years, but only recently have they gained wide acceptance in North America as a legitimate and popular type of accommodation.

      The modern B&B provides the same type of environment as its ancient counterpart. The emphasis is on hospitality in a family setting. The visitor is greeted by the host and is given overnight accommodation in one of the spare bedrooms. In the morning, the visitor usually joins the host family for a leisurely breakfast and social conversation. The breakfast menu varies from house to house, but guests are offered selection and quality. The cost is usually less than comparable accommodation in a hotel or motel, especially when the price of the breakfast is included.

      Because of the increased popularity of B&Bs, a range of services are now offered in the name of bed and breakfast. Most of them are legitimate, but some vary greatly from the original concept of this special type of accommodation.

      The following are brief descriptions of different establishments that may call themselves B&Bs.

      1.1 Private homes

      The true B&B falls into this category, and it usually consists of a home situated in a residential area with one or two family members running the business. Spare bedrooms are set aside for guests and breakfast is served by the hosts.

      From the guest’s point of view, the emphasis is on visiting a local family, enjoying their companionship, and sharing their home. Meals other than breakfast may or may not be available.

      1.2 Family-run operations

      Family-run establishments consist of small lodges or inns that are owned and operated by a host family. The hosts live onsite and might join the guests for breakfast. Although these establishments are operated on a larger scale, they can provide an alternative to a private home, but guests should not expect the same level of interaction with the host family. Additional meals may or may not be served.

      1.3 Commercial operations

      Larger commercial establishments consist of blocks of apartment suites, cabins, motels, or hotels. The owners usually don’t live onsite, and there is no interaction with a host family. All these operations have some form of lobby or front desk, where the visitor checks in and out. Breakfast can vary from coffee and muffins available in the lobby to a prepared breakfast in a coffee shop.

      These establishments actively advertise themselves as B&Bs in order to attract that part of the marketplace, and although they do, technically, provide a bed and a breakfast, they do not offer the friendly family environment that gives a true B&B its unique appeal.

      1.4 Other variations

      There are a number of other variations of B&B that don’t seem to fall into any particular category. They offer a variety of unusual sleeping accommodations followed by a fairly standard breakfast. Houseboats, camping trailers, recreational vehicles, and tents have all been offered as B&Bs.

      2. Take a Look at Your Competitors

      If you are thinking about opening your own B&B, you have probably stayed at a few establishments and have your own ideas of what you would like to do to make yours unique. It’s a good idea to explore other B&Bs to trade ideas with other hosts or just to see how others have set СКАЧАТЬ