The trend toward B&Bs began about 15 to 20 years ago. You might even remember the first time you said, “What’s a B-n-B?” Now most everyone knows what B&B means (and that it’s not “Bed & Brothel”), or at least they think they know. The classic definition of a cute old couple in a cute old farmhouse with cute lace curtains, home-baked biscuits, and decorative ducks definitely has changed. There are still very nice country-style B&Bs out there but they are no longer the only option. What started as a trend has turned into a steadily growing industry. And all in about a decade!

What’s the difference between a B&B and an inn? Good question. Here’s another good one: Does it matter which term you use? Not really. Although there are some basic guidelines for the distinctions between B&B, inn, B&B inn, guesthouse, homestay, manor, house, mansion, lodge, and plantation, the terms differ in meaning from place to place anyway.

The most important part of your business’s name will be what you add to “Inn,” “B&B,” “Lodge,” or the like. Spend some time on this and come up with something that represents you as the owner, the area you’re located in, or the house itself. Pick something catchy, historical, or quaint. If the house was built before 1900, find something from the past to use in the name. A lot of houses built in the eighteenth century use the year of construction in their names, such as “The 1776 Hale House.”

Here are some of the common distinctions among types of B&Bs and their counterparts:

People from all walks of life—from cell phone salespeople to kindergarten teachers, and computer geeks to travel agents—are leaving their commuting jobs and starting up B&Bs. Those with experience in the service and hotel industry are learning from the bigwigs and then applying their knowledge to their own business. It’s a smart way to go, especially as the outside world and B&B owners start to take the profession more seriously. Guests now are expecting more service at B&Bs, or at least more hotel-like amenities, such as TV/VCRs with remotes and small bottles of high-quality shampoo, and they’re getting it, particularly in touristy and bustling areas where there’s more competition among B&Bs for guests who increasingly pass up hotels for cozier lodgings at the “little guy.”

Boutique guesthouses are fast becoming a popular trend among investors. These properties have a distinct character based on what they were originally; a property could have been something as unique as a prison, as common as a bank, or have simply been a hotel that went on to operate as a rooming house in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Owners have restored the original structures but updated the amenities, and they typically offer pampering guest service.

Utilizing all manner of unlikely buildings, boutique hotels tend to have 50 or more rooms and are filling a gap in the expanding hotel market here and abroad. These often quirky, sometimes trend-setting properties are springing up all over the place, even in big cities where there simply is not enough space to build conventional hotels.

More and more potential B&B owners are considering this lifestyle change for two main reasons. First, the industry has grown because of exposure through the Internet and because people are traveling more than ever. As B&B owners look to sell, they’ve been able to use the Internet as a marketing tool to reach investors they might not have found otherwise. In addition, the increasing number of travelers who stay in B&Bs gain insight into B&B life or, at least, what they imagine B&B life is like, and are drawn to it.

Second, more people who are making money in other fields are looking for either a lifestyle change or an investment property to use as a tax shelter. This growing breed of B&B owners looking for a piece of the B&B lifestyle has created a lot of turnover in the business. Some find out that they bit off more in workload than they could chew, and others fix up and sell B&Bs to make a profit.

According to the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) in the 1998 B&B/ Country Inn Industry Study, “An overwhelming majority of inn-keepers are part of a couple, although for many only one part of the couple is fulltime at the inn.” Also according to PAII, the average age range for inn-keepers is “30 to 65+ years old with a heavy cluster in the 40 to 55 range.” So you’re not retired—you’re not even part of a couple—can you own a B&B? Of course! Although it’s true that couples own a good portion of B&Bs, singles are starting to get into the mix, too. As the industry has grown from a Mom-n-Pop operation, more and more singles are moving from their respective fields into the B&B business.

Michael MacIntyre, co-owner and inn-keeper of The Brass Key in Provincetown, Massachusetts, has some insights into why older rather than younger inn-keepers are more typical. “I see the average B&B owner as being between 40 and 65 years old. I think it’s due to the fact that this population has already gone through the first phase of the typical work environment. They no longer want to work for others. They also have more money put away to invest in a B&B. Young people don’t normally have the resources and life experiences that the older age bracket has.”

The biggest attraction for a lot of future B&B owners is the ability to work at home. Most haven’t done enough research, and don’t realize just how much work they’ll be doing at home when they run a B&B. Buying this book is a good start, and so is attending seminars and classes, and talking to other B&B owners.

Location, location, location. Learning a few things from your brothers and sisters in the real estate business will serve you well. If you live in Boonietown, USA, where very few people pass by in any season or for any reason, you might want to reconsider your location. If, however, you live in Boonietown but there’s a reason for people to come your way, such as great hiking, you might have a reason to be in the business there.

Most B&Bs are found in coastal areas, in the mountains, near lakes, by rivers, and in other vacation areas. One of the biggest trends in location, however, is big cities. A lot of B&Bs are cropping up in New York City, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, and other urban locations. Wherever you decide to locate your B&B, first find out how other businesses are doing. Get to know the area by talking with owners of lodging houses, restaurants, gift shops, and book-stores, and anyone else who can give you insight into the economy and your business prospects.

We’ve all had growing pains; so do growing industries. Many newer B&Bs and inns and other types of small lodging have become just a little bit sleeker, leaving older ones to fall by the wayside. Some new B&Bs fail, too, when owners eager to jump into a growing industry take a big leap before looking both ways. It’s a good idea to talk to people who’ve given up a B&B, if they’ll talk to you. Why not learn from their mistakes? Listen closely to their advice, but don’t let it dishearten you. Just because they couldn’t make it work doesn’t mean you can’t!

A couple of decades ago, those travelers who frequented B&Bs were mostly looking for a quaint getaway. They knew what to expect: minimal amenities, a quiet house, a shared bath, and morning chatter with the host over home-baked biscuits and tea. These guests expected to travel a bit out of their way but would do so for lower room rates or relaxed ambiance.

Times do change mighty fast and, although some of these experiences still exist, the industry is growing up. As it grows, B&Bs become more sophisticated. Gone from most of them are lace doilies under candy dishes and pictures of grandma’s kids in the hallways. Gone are the days of hosts eating breakfast with guests and telling stories of the “Guest of Christmas Past.” The biggest trend among new ownerships is a movement into more hotel-like guest services. Guests might opt for your B&B over a Holiday Inn, but they’ll still look for those little bottles of shampoo and big white towels.

We’re not saying that the charm and quaint appeal of B&Bs has been tossed aside. Absolutely not! It’s okay to be nostalgic; those were good times. Some of those good times still exist, especially in B&Bs run by the same owner for many years. Your guests will stay with you in hopes of having a more personal experience. They’re looking to you and your B&B for the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere that they know hotels can’t offer. It’s the combination of these two worlds—a charming atmosphere with more amenities and services—that has broadened the B&B’s appeal and brought the industry into a new era.

Guests will choose your place over the Holiday Inn because they want a different experience. Do you know what a major part of that experience is? You!

You are an extension of your business and your business is an extension of you. In larger inns (25 rooms or more) guests don’t anticipate having much—if any—contact with the owners, although they still expect employees to be more charming and personable than hotel staff. The smaller the establishment, the more the guests look forward to making a personal connection with you and your troupe. This doesn’t mean that guests expect, or even want, a host who follows them around or spends the evening with them, but before guests walk through your door, they’ll assume that you have an easygoing, charming nature and that you’ll want to make their stay memorable. That is exactly what they should find! As the lodging industry grows and changes, the factor that continues to distinguish the B&B from the more commercial establishment is—again—you. If hosting is not your cup of tea (or your partner’s), you have some work ahead of you. Take the hosting skills test and learn how to improve your score in Chapter 1, “Open, Sez Me!”

Some trends such as platform shoes and the Smiley Face tend to float in and out like, well, platform shoes and Smiley Faces. The B&B and country-style inn, however, is a trend that began about 15 years ago and is now a booming industry. The current industry-wide emphasis on guest services seems to be less of a trend and more of a response to a general change in the lifestyle of B&B clientele.

Although the contemporary B&B retains much of its traditional warmth and charm (due in great part to the host), guests expect more in the way of room amenities. Some of the “extras” that guests are looking for are a phone with voicemail; TV/VCR; mini-fridge with freezer for ice; iron/ironing board; alarm clock/CD player; hair dryer, bathrobes, shampoo, soap, and lotion; and control of heat and air conditioning. Most guests don’t expect bigger attractions such as a whirlpool tub, small kitchen, fireplace, or deck or patio access, but those perks do appeal to those who are willing to pay more.

It’s important when taking a reservation to tell guests as much as possible about the amenities in each room. Put your best feature forward once you get a sense of what your future guest is looking for in a room (see Chapter 17, “One Day at a Time,” for more on taking reservations).

Other expectations guests might have are services such as a fax machine and phone lines with data ports, popular in B&Bs that service a lot of business travelers. For vacationers, it’s becoming more common to provide concierge-type services such as making reservations for meals and tours. B&Bs looking to pamper their guests will offer bath salts for their whirlpool tubs, and full turn-down service.

In whatever direction you decide to take your B&B, remember that you are not limited in your choices. Guests will be pleasantly surprised by even the smallest touches that reflect you and the personality of your house. For more on guest services see Chapter 18, “Guest Services with a Smile.”

There are some classic traits of the typical B&B guest. Does this mean that all your guests will either be fun-loving honeymooners or sweet old couples? Not by a long shot. You’ll encounter a wide range of interesting and not-so-interesting folk from around the world. Major segments of the B&B guest market, however, do fall into categories. Here are some of them from a 1998 study created by YBR Marketing and the Professional Association of Innkeepers International:

Your typical guest will vary according to your type of operation and location. If you’re near a college town expect a lot of middle-aged parents and traveling speakers. A B&B in a touristy town, particularly by the ocean, will see all types. Historical areas typically draw older folk or historians. Convention center areas fill up fast, so if you’re near one expect to see a lot of suits at your breakfast table.