| One way to increase the bookings at your bed and | | | | Know about these exhibits and how long they will be |
| breakfast is to find out why people are visiting your | | | | in the area. |
| area, then apply that knowledge as you proceed with | | | | - Military and Large Corporations: Are their |
| a marketing campaign. Fortune 500 companies | | | | armed-forces bases near you, or large corporations? |
| perform market research in order to find the best | | | | Both of these tend to move people around the |
| way to provide a product or service, and so should | | | | country as needed. Often their stay can be short, |
| you. You are running a bed and breakfast business, | | | | either for themselves, or family. Try to find the |
| after all. | | | | public-relations officer of a nearby base and see |
| Some of your guests will come to you simply | | | | what information they keep on hand for local |
| because your bed and breakfast itself is the primary | | | | businesses. Visit the corporate website and learn |
| destination. They aren't there in order to see the | | | | something about how they conduct business, what |
| sights, or visit family, or work. They've come just | | | | they make, sell, or provide, and where other offices |
| because your home is a quiet getaway that gives | | | | are. |
| rest and regeneration. "Don't bother us until | | | | - Sunny Beaches: Are their beaches, bicycling-trails, |
| breakfast!" And while it's still important to know how | | | | recreational sites, parks, campsites, marinas, major |
| these folks found you, the majority of the people | | | | waterways, or cultural sites in the area? Know them |
| who stay with you are there for some other reason. | | | | all. Take the tour! Seriously, get on a bicycle and go |
| Find out that reason by simply asking them. They'll be | | | | ride down your nearest Rails-to-Trails bike path and |
| happy to tell you! | | | | see what it's all about. |
| However, don't wait to glean from visitors what | | | | - Weekend Festivals: Are there craft-fairs, |
| activities are in your area. In the bed and breakfast | | | | art-festivals, Highland Games or Scottish Festivals, |
| world knowing why a guest happens to be visiting is | | | | Renaissance Fairs, music festivals, Civil War |
| only half of the game. One way to increase bookings | | | | re-enactments going on? Know them, dates, times, |
| at your bed and breakfast is to know what kind of | | | | locations, well in advance so that you can use the |
| events, gatherings, landmarks, or sites are in your | | | | information in your marketing. |
| area. This information is invaluable to you as you go | | | | - Weddings and Funerals: People are known to travel |
| about the process of marketing your bed and | | | | long distances for both of these gatherings. Know |
| breakfast. | | | | where the chapels and churches are in your area, as |
| Because location plays such an important role in how | | | | well as the location of the funeral homes. |
| successful your bed and breakfast can be, know | | | | - Competition: Find the other B&B's in your area, |
| what kind of attractions are around you. Here is a list | | | | and make friends! You will be surprised how often |
| of some things to be familiar with that may be in | | | | you can come to the aid of each other to your |
| your area: | | | | mutual benefit. Of course, you'll have to use your |
| - Historical District: How has your area weathered | | | | best judgment when dealing with a competitor who |
| history? Is there a place where that history is | | | | sees you as a threat, and acts like it! |
| preserved? Some statistics show that in the US | | | | Don't stop with this meager list, though. To obtain |
| many people enjoy this type of activity, and they will | | | | other market information consider the following: |
| travel for this very reason. | | | | - Your local Chamber of Commerce |
| - Universities: Is there a university or large college | | | | - Provincial, state, or local government offices |
| near you? College football is a big draw in the US, | | | | - Travel brochures |
| and populations in some college towns can | | | | - Local tourism office |
| temporarily increase over a weekend by 100,000 | | | | - B&B guide booklets |
| people or more. It would be great to have some of | | | | - Local seasonal visitor patterns |
| them stay with you. | | | | To run a successful bed and breakfast one of the |
| - The Arts: People love the opera, symphony, | | | | best things you can do is know what attracts visitors |
| theater, art-museums and galleries. Are there any | | | | to your area, and even what brings some of them to |
| semi-permanent displays currently in your area? | | | | your door. With that market research in hand you |
| Exhibits like King Tutankhamen regularly travel around | | | | can craft a very effective marketing campaign to |
| the world and stay in one place for a month or two. | | | | increase bookings at your bed and breakfast. |