Some very cool events on May 20th in Placerville are the Hangtown Classic Car Show on Historic Main Street, Placerville. Participation is limited by the number of spaces availablefor pre-1972 classic cars. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Main Street, Placerville For more information contact: For information and pre-registration call Mike at (530) 622-1731

and if cars aren't your thing also on May 20th is the 9th Annual Garden Tour - "Springtime in the Foothills" brought to you by the City of Placerville Community Pride Committee. Twelve unique and picturesque privately owned gardens can be viewed on this self-guided tour. The selection committee has worked to bring participants a wide variety of garden types from roses and perennials to oriental, organic, and alpine gardens. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. rain or shine. Tickets are $15 per person. For more information contact: Michael Hendren (530) 344-1981

these are both great events that we have attended in years past.

Bed and Breakfast inns for real

Opposed to what you see on Tori and Dean's show "Inn Love", running a bed and breakfast is hard work, and many of us do that work ourselves. We do not have someone to run it for us, nor do we call someone or give up at the first sign of trouble.

Rita and I have painted several of the rooms in the inn ourselves, in addition to the decorating, cooking, cleaning, furnishing, gardening, etc. only leaving the wiring, and exterior painting to professionals. It we had a one story house, we might have even done that ourselves.

There is not "someone else" taking reservations, staying up to greet late arrivals, or making breakfast, shopping, etc. It is us--and Lily helps too.

While it is most certainly work, doing what you love, innkeeping is a passion as well.

CALIFORNIA HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF BED & BREAKFAST INNS

Here is some big news that just went out to all innkeepers in California.

The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) and the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) today announced that the two organizations have entered into a partnership to provide their respective members with greater access to legislative, marketing, educational and professional development benefits specific to the lodging industry. This newly formed relationship will strengthen the voice of California’s lodging industry across all market sectors, while providing property owners with the tools to operate a successful lodging business in California.

"This is a great step toward unifying the California lodging industry," said CH&LA Chairperson Tony Bruno, vice president of Disneyland Resort Hotels & Downtown Disney. "This partnership gives the industry a stronger voice at the capitol and integrates CABBI into the largest lodging association in California."
"This partnership is another positive sign for the California tourism industry and only strengthens our collective voice," stated Caroline Beteta, executive director of the California Travel & Tourism Commission. "Congratulations to CH&LA and CABBI on a giant step toward unifying the tourism industry."

This strategic partnership will allow CH&LA to concentrate on critical legislative, economic and educational issues pertinent to the California lodging industry, while CABBI focuses intently on developing and implementing targeted marketing opportunities for California bed and breakfast inns. A CABBI Council, largely
comprised of the CABBI Board of Directors, has been created within CH&LA to direct CABBI programs and services. CABBI members will receive CH&LA and AH&LA member benefits, in addition to CABBI’s current programs and services.

"We are pleased to partner with the most influential state lodging association anywhere," said CABBI Board of Directors President Stephen Willey. "CH&LA will significantly broaden program resources available to CABBI members. In turn, CH&LA members who own B&Bs will benefit from CABBI’s niche industry expertise. We are looking forward to a long and successful relationship."

About CH&LA
The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) is the largest state lodging industry association in the nation and a Partner State Association of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Its 1,900 members, which comprise approximately 175,000 guest rooms, include all segments of the lodging industry. CH&LA is the leading resource for communicating and protecting the rights and interests of the California lodging industry. CH&LA was established in 1893. CH&LA is on the web at www.calodging.com.

About CABBI
The California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns is California’s largest association of professional innkeepers and certified bed and breakfast inns. CABBI is a marketing-driven organization designed to create awareness among consumers of individual CABBI members and the benefits of choosing a CABBI-certified inn for overnight accommodations in California. CABBI was established in 1991. CABBI is on the web at www.cabbi.com.

Inn Software for your bed and breakfast

If you are looking for some reasonable software to manage your property that is very easy to set up and simple to navigate look no further. I recently put My Inn Reservations thru some testing am found it to be all of the above.

Here is a sample screen shoot from their homepage.

The software was designed by a bed and breakfast owner and they created it specifically for small inns and bed and breakfasts using Windows XP or Vista. The advantages over pen & paper are many:

Track reservations.
Keep a database of customers.
Create invoices.
Easy to change and update rates, services.
General tax reports.
Revenue Reports .
E-mail confirmations.

I was very happy to see how easy the progam was to use, and had it up and running my bed and breakfast in about 10 minutes. I loaded the guests from March and played with their rooms, email confirmations, ran reports, and added services to their room stay. I loved how simple the navigation was and the calendar, seen above, that makes it so easy at a glance to see what rooms are booked for the day.

The software can be used on a trial basis to see if you like it and if you decide to keep it, they email the registration key to "unlock" it for permanent use. At only $299.95 it is very reasonable, compared to some other programs that have been marketed to innkeepers. If you are still using pen and paper, think about upgrading and the advantages you will have. At least try it out--you may get hooked.

Innside Innkeeping and what is happening soon in Placerville

Lest you think it is dull in Placerville, or at our bed and breakfast, let me assure you we have much to look forward to in the coming months.

Whitewater Rafting! Whoo hoo! Can hardly wait, as the guidebooks arrive to go get WET on the American River. Why not come to Placerville and have a great day on the river and then stay the night?

Or how about one of these events:
May 20 & 21 the Annual Renaissance May FaireThis event is being put on by Cedar Springs Waldorf School. This event is a family event with fun for all ages. Vendors, Performers, Personal services, Central amusements, Games, andFestivities begin with a townie procession lead by Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth and Her Royal Guards [God Save the Queen] Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA

Renn Faire not your thing? How about the 8th Annual Garden Tour on May 20th - "Springtime in the Foothills"The City of Placerville Community Pride Committee presents this event. Twelve unique and picturesque privately owned gardens can be viewed on this self-guided tour.The selection committee has worked to bring participants a wide variety of garden types from roses and perennials to oriental, organic, and alpine gardens. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. rain or shine Local Gardens all over El Dorado County. Tickets are $15 per person. For more information contact: Michael Hendren (530) 344-1981

Think Lily is cute? We do! And on May 27 & 28 we will probably go to the AKC licensed all-breed Dog ShowHangtown Kennel Club of Placerville at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. Included in the show are Conformation, Obedience and Rally competitions. Best in show will be judged at approximate5:00 p.m. There will be a trophy presentation or the high score in obedience as well. Kennel members will be conducting dog show tours as well. Go and enjoy the show. 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville Parking only - $3.00, subject to change. For more information contact: Cathy (530) 622-6909

Update on Inn Love reality????

The following are the comments I posted to bnbfinder after watching the show tonight:

I wish them all the best and while I am sure that they mean well, the fact that it is a “reality” show makes me think they are just acting to generate interest. I hope they show innkeeping as it really is (despite the above) and that not all inns are “frilly”, and have gnomes in the garden, or are “musty and dusty”. Even in our 1902 Queen Anne (the Albert Shafsky House in Placerville, CA) the frills are kept to a minimum. B&B’s today are attracting all ages, and if this generates more guests (for all of us, not just them), then it is a win for all innkeepers.One note, they need to get a real website–how can you even find the inn, without the help of the Oxygen promos. Most reservations are made online today, particularly by the crowd they say they want to attract.

I did not add how very cheesy the whole thing felt and that I was embarassed for them as I watched. Kinda like watching a train wreck...you just can't stop....

Innkeeping at our Bed and Breakfast

First some Q & A...yes, I did meet Tori Spelling at the bed and breakfast conference put on by CABBI in January. She was there to film her show that debuts tonight at 7:30 PT where you will see a pregnant Tori Spelling braving the wonderful world of B&B innkeeping with her new husband Dean McDermott. Can't believe it? I was there when the crew was taping Tori and Dean's gathering of valuable information, including attending the CABBI luncheon. Oxygen's new show, Tori & Dean: Inn Love, follows Tori and Dean as they "make beds, breakfasts, babies, and beyond." If you still need to see it for yourself, the show premieres tonight, Tuesday, March 20th, on Oxygen.

What do I think about it....well, I don't want them to make innkeepers look bad, or that it is an easy job. But I will hold my review until I see the show tonight.

Innkeeping is a great job and if they can attract a younger crowd, great for all of the bed and breakfast innkeepers. I am not much past the thirtyish crowd they saw they want to attract, and in fact was in my mid-thirties when we started the bed and breakfast.