If you could answer yes to any of these or similar questions, and you’ve long dreamed of being a bed and breakfast inn-keeper, then this book is for you. Not only is it easy and fun to read, but it’s an excellent investment. If you decide to follow your dream, you’ll find its invaluable advice a great help. If you flunk the inn-keeper wannabe test in Chapter 1, you’ll be thankful that you purchased the book that saved your fantasy dream from becoming a reality nightmare.

Over the past 15 years, we’ve seen the bed and breakfast industry evolve from modest homestays where shared baths were the norm to today’s sophisticated operations, where in-room whirlpool tubs, fireplaces, media centers, and telephone and Internet access are commonplace. Not long ago, not many Americans even knew what a B&B was, much less stayed in one. Today bed and breakfast inns are an accepted sector of the lodging industry, and are mentioned often—and not just in ads—in magazines, on radio and television, and in movies.

The widespread use of computers and the Internet has sparked the biggest change of all. Combining the high-touch world of innkeeping with the high-tech world of Web sites, online bookings, e-mail newsletters, and computerized property management software, is both a challenge and a tremendous opportunity; authors Park Davis and Susannah Craig do a great job of leading you through the maze of software and online options you now have open to you.

It used to take years to get listed in the best guidebooks; now it takes a month or two to be included in the top online directories. Inn-keepers who used to agonize endlessly about the expense of creating a lavish color brochure now can create an extensive Web site at a fraction of the cost, yet have thousands of additional readers. Print newsletters, which cost a small fortune to mail, can now be sent free via e-mail. All this information—and much more—is outlined by Park and Susannah, liberally salted with comments from experienced inn-keepers around the country, plus lots of helpful tips and thoughtful suggestions.

In addition to giving you all the technical savvy, hands-on practicalities and strategic planning advice, the authors never lose sight of the key quality that sets ordinary inns apart from the extraordinary ones—the inn-keepers themselves. These amazing folks can sense which guests need a little extra time and advice and which ones want only privacy. These inn-keepers have learned to create a gracious atmosphere where guests can be pampered, and they also know how and when to recharge their own batteries. They’re able to keep their inn running smoothly, yet avoid having a long list of rules that would be more appropriate for a youth hostel than for a B&B. After you read this book, you’ll either be on your way to becoming just such an inn-keeper, or, if you decide not to quit your day job, we’re sure you’ll have a new appreciation for the challenging job of running a B&B.

Eric Goldreyer and Sandra W. Soule

Eric Goldreyer is the president of BedandBreakfast.com, which he founded in 1994. In a few short years Goldreyer has made BedandBreakfast.com the leading online publisher in the B&B industry, with information on more than 23,000 bed and breakfasts and inns throughout the United States and internationally. In 1999, Goldreyer formed a partnership with WorldRes, Inc., the leading online hotel distribution network connecting hotels to leisure travelers.

Sandy Soule published America’s first B&B guidebook in 1982. She’s gone on to write her own guidebook series, inaugurate the Internet’s first inn directory, establish her own Web site, and tour hundreds of B&Bs. At BedandBreakfast.com, Sandy writes the BedandBreakfast.com Report for consumers, the Innkeeper News for inn-keepers, and has led workshops at dozens of inn-keeping conferences.