It is a dream job...most days! But you should get into innkeeping and running a bed and breakfast with your eyes open or be prepared for a possibly rude awakening....now I have all the dreaming out of my system :)
Read, read and read some more....
Visit www.amazon.com for some books on innkeeping, aspiring innkeeping and running a bed and breakfast. And ask us questions...we are happy to share our experiences owning and operating an inn.
The Albert Shafsky House bed and breakfast inn in Placerville blog. Find out about innkeeping from an innkeeper in California. We have been innkeeping in Placerville, California for over 8 years. Keep up with the happenings in California's beautiful, historic Gold Country, in the foothills between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Ask the Innkeeper
Don't forget, we would love to answer any questions about being innkeepers and what our day-to-day life is like. Life as an innkeeper is never dull and the pros outweight the cons.
Albert Shafsky House B&B to participate in Professional California B&B Industry Conference
Albert Shafsky House B&B to participate in Professional California B&B Industry Conference
............
Intensive Seminars Focus on Hospitality Trends, Better Business Practices
Placerville, CA - Dec 15, 2006 Innkeepers Rita Timewell and Stephanie Carlson of the Albert Shafsky House B&B will attend the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) annual InnSpire professional development conference January 28 – 30 in Orange County. This year marks the 4th year that the Albert Shafsky House B&B has participated in the conference tailored specifically to California B&B owners and operators. During the three-day conference, Rita and Stephanie will attend seminars and workshops designed to help innkeepers run an efficient business and provide guests with exceptional B&B accommodations and service. Each session is led by hospitality and lodging industry experts.
CABBI is the only statewide professional association of certified B&Bs. CABBI has been organizing the annual InnSpire conference for 15 years. In addition to the general sessions designed for seasoned veterans, InnSpire also includes a two-day seminar for people who are new to the B&B industry or considering opening their own inn. Innkeeping as a Profession features a full itinerary of workshops that delve into the basics of buying, owning, and operating a successful B&B in California. InnSpire registration is open to anyone interested in learning more about the B&B industry and fine tuning their business skills. For more information on CABBI, InnSpire 2007, or Innkeeping as a Profession, visit www.cabbi.com.
More about the Albert Shafsky HouseThe 1902 Queen Anne Victorian bed and breakfast in the Placerville Historic District provides a wonderful taste of rich heritage, both inside and out. They are a romantic, comfortable bed and breakfast in El Dorado County, just an hour from Lake Tahoe or Sacramento, California.
Our 1902 Queen Anne Victorian bed and breakfast in the Placerville Historic District provides a wonderful taste of rich heritage, both inside and out. We are a romantic, comfortable bed and breakfast in El Dorado County, just an hour from Lake Tahoe or Sacramento, California. Inside the Placerville bed and breakfast they offer three deluxe guest rooms, each with its own theme and private bath, wine & cheese upon arrival, and a hearty breakfast each morning. To make the most of your bed and breakfast experience they have many fine amenities: Cypress Robes, Deneen pottery mugs, Gilcrest & Soames soaps and lotions. They also offer high-speed wireless connection from all of the rooms in the bed and breakfast so you can stay in touch, during work or play while you visit Placerville.
Venturing out, you can stroll to shops and restaurants on Historic Main Street, enjoy a visit to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park - where gold was discovered in California, Apple Hill, and local wineries, or take a day trip to Lake Tahoe. With our bed and breakfast so close to Sacramento or South Lake Tahoe, they offer a great base to explore El Dorado County.
Learn more...About Shafsky House B&B
Located at 2942 Coloma St in Placerville, CA 530-642-2776 Open as an inn for ten years, Rita and Stephanie have been the owners since 2002
Website: http://www.shafsky.com
............
Intensive Seminars Focus on Hospitality Trends, Better Business Practices
Placerville, CA - Dec 15, 2006 Innkeepers Rita Timewell and Stephanie Carlson of the Albert Shafsky House B&B will attend the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) annual InnSpire professional development conference January 28 – 30 in Orange County. This year marks the 4th year that the Albert Shafsky House B&B has participated in the conference tailored specifically to California B&B owners and operators. During the three-day conference, Rita and Stephanie will attend seminars and workshops designed to help innkeepers run an efficient business and provide guests with exceptional B&B accommodations and service. Each session is led by hospitality and lodging industry experts.
CABBI is the only statewide professional association of certified B&Bs. CABBI has been organizing the annual InnSpire conference for 15 years. In addition to the general sessions designed for seasoned veterans, InnSpire also includes a two-day seminar for people who are new to the B&B industry or considering opening their own inn. Innkeeping as a Profession features a full itinerary of workshops that delve into the basics of buying, owning, and operating a successful B&B in California. InnSpire registration is open to anyone interested in learning more about the B&B industry and fine tuning their business skills. For more information on CABBI, InnSpire 2007, or Innkeeping as a Profession, visit www.cabbi.com.
More about the Albert Shafsky HouseThe 1902 Queen Anne Victorian bed and breakfast in the Placerville Historic District provides a wonderful taste of rich heritage, both inside and out. They are a romantic, comfortable bed and breakfast in El Dorado County, just an hour from Lake Tahoe or Sacramento, California.
Our 1902 Queen Anne Victorian bed and breakfast in the Placerville Historic District provides a wonderful taste of rich heritage, both inside and out. We are a romantic, comfortable bed and breakfast in El Dorado County, just an hour from Lake Tahoe or Sacramento, California. Inside the Placerville bed and breakfast they offer three deluxe guest rooms, each with its own theme and private bath, wine & cheese upon arrival, and a hearty breakfast each morning. To make the most of your bed and breakfast experience they have many fine amenities: Cypress Robes, Deneen pottery mugs, Gilcrest & Soames soaps and lotions. They also offer high-speed wireless connection from all of the rooms in the bed and breakfast so you can stay in touch, during work or play while you visit Placerville.
Venturing out, you can stroll to shops and restaurants on Historic Main Street, enjoy a visit to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park - where gold was discovered in California, Apple Hill, and local wineries, or take a day trip to Lake Tahoe. With our bed and breakfast so close to Sacramento or South Lake Tahoe, they offer a great base to explore El Dorado County.
Learn more...About Shafsky House B&B
Located at 2942 Coloma St in Placerville, CA 530-642-2776 Open as an inn for ten years, Rita and Stephanie have been the owners since 2002
Website: http://www.shafsky.com
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Innkeeper Tips
Innkeepers need to have a wide variety of skills and interests. That is why the job is so great for more than one person. A team can help each other out and complement each other's skills.
A few traits that are good to have as an innkeeper
A few traits that are good to have as an innkeeper
- be good with people,
- have community contacts at their fingertips
- be helpful with dinner and other recommendations
- like to make new friends, be good listeners (helpful to know how to anticipate needs)
- not mind when people ask the same question over and over
- love to share stories and listen to others
- not mind staying up late for late arrivals
- a basic knowledge of cooking, gardening, plumbing, marketing (and more)
There are many more that will help you be a great innkeeper.
Remember, if you have any questions, please comment on our bed and breakfast blog and we will get right back to you!
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Aspiring Innkeepers and Bed and Breakfast Owners
The latest version of the workshops at the CABBI conference in Irvine.
First Aspiring for those of you who want to be innkeepers:
Saturday - January 27, 2007
8:00 - 9:00am
Registration - Coffee & Pastries
9:00 - 9:05am
Introduction and Welcome, Francois Leclair, Facilitator
9:05 - 10:45am
The Reality of Being An InnkeeperA panel of innkeepers will discuss operating choices: solo, spouse, partner, investor or friend. What are the emotional demands? What does it take to be a good innkeeper? What is it like to work with your spouse/partner 24 hours a day, seven days a week? How will being an innkeeper affect your lifestyle? It takes special people and genuine commitment to integrate personal, social, physical, health, financial and family needs with that of the innkeeping business. This is your chance to ask the people who have first-hand experience.
10:45 - 11:00am
Questions and Answers
11:00 - 11:15am
Break
11:15am - 12:15pm
Finding the Right Inn: The ProcessAcquiring your inn starts with a search to identify the right inn for you. A professional lodging broker will explain how aspiring innkeepers should approach the purchase decision and the steps of the transaction. Learn about market valuation, financing, and operation of inns that will provide valuable insights into this process. Using examples of actual sales, you will learn how inns are valued as businesses and how to prepare a thorough pre-opening and post-opening marketing plan.
12:15 - 1:30pm
Lunch with Saturday Panel Speakers
1:45 - 2:45pm
The Tax Consequences of Inn Ownership: A SurveyRight from the start, a prospective innkeeper is confronted with a myriad of decisions that can have long range and substantial tax implications: how to hold title; what type of entity to use (corporation, partnership, proprietorship, etc.); and how to allocate the assets of the inn. These choices can make a big difference at startup, during operations, and as you plan an exit strategy. We will discuss hot button IRS topics as well as a wide range of tax issues that you can take home with you to discuss with your tax professional to see how it impacts your particular tax situation.
2:45 - 3:45pm
Money & FinancingFinancing the inn of your dreams is the challenge. You have gone through the process of finding a viable inn and now all you need is the money! Financing options are varied: Conventional Bank financing, SBA financing and Seller financing. Learn what is required of you and the property you are planning to purchase.
3:45 - 4:00pm
Break
4:00 - 4:30pm
Question & Answers with Broker, CPA and Financial Advisors
4:30 - 5:30pm
Reception with Speakers and Innkeepers
Sunday - January 28, 2007
8:00 - 8:15am
Continental Breakfast and Networking Time
8:15 - 10:00am
Running Your InnWhat does it take to get organized? Stephanie will share her secrets on what supplies and services you will need to prepare for opening day. Then, with all that in place, it's time to run your inn. You will learn all about scheduling staff, staying legal (food codes, ABC license, liability issues, etc.), menu planning, forms and procedures and more!
Stephanie McCaffrey, McCaffrey House
10:00 - 10:15am
Break
10:15am - 12:00pm
Marketing Your Bed & Breakfast InnBuying or building a great property is the first step. Now, how do prospective guests find you? This fun and informative session will include business development opportunities through the internet as well as more traditional marketing. Discover secrets to your immediate success and learn how to avoid the costly, time-wasting mistakes made by innkeepers over the years. Online marketing, website development and search engine optimization will be covered as well as samples of effective website design. In additional, conventional marketing techniques such as print advertising, brochures, seasonal packages and specials play a critical role in your marketing plan.
12:15 - 12:30pm
Questions and Answers with Stephanie and Bill
12:30 - 2:00pm
Annual CABBI Membership Meeting & Lunch
2:15 - 3:00pm
Total Media MarketingIn order to make your business successful, you must be creative and market your inn on many different levels. You want to let as many potential guests as possible know about your inn, and since people search out information in many different ways, it's important to utilize all media that are available. Learn how directories, press releases and newspaper coverage can widen your exposure to the traveling public.
3:15 - 4:30pm
Developing Your B&B Marketing PlanThis session is designed to assist the potential B&B owner on how to develop an actionable marketing plan for a future property. You will learn to develop a market planning model as well as the thinking process needed to transform your property into a market-driven business designed to increase revenues.
Carl Ribaudo, Strategic Marketing Group/Corporate Events
4:30 - 7:30pm
InnSpire 2007 Innkeepers Conference & Trade Show ReceptionVisit with innkeepers and shop with a wide variety of exhibitors at the InnSpire Opening Reception. This reception will include tasty appetizers and wine pouring sponsored by Matanzas Creek Winery.
Then for innkeepers who already own a bed and breakfast--or aspiring innkeepers....
Sunday - January 28, 2007
9:00am - 6:00pm
Innkeeper's Registration
11:30am - 12:15pm
New Member / First-time Attendee Orientation
12:30 - 2:00pm
Annual Membership Town Hall & Lunch
2:15 - 3:15pm
Concurrent Workshops
Build a Better Website, Part I
Small Property Idea Fair
3:30 - 4:30pm
Concurrent Workshops
Build a Better Website, Part II
Create Your Own Marketing Plan
4:30 - 7:30pm
Trade Show Opening Reception with ExhibitorsCyber Café Open
Monday - January 29, 2007
8:00 - 9:00am
Concurrent Workshops
Healthy and Easy Breakfasts
Website Revenue Tracking & Conversion Rates
Use Your Inn as a Special Events Venue
9:00 - 10:30am
Exhibit Hall Opens - Coffee with Vendors
10:45 - 11:45am
Keynote Address, Caroline Beteta, Executive DirectorCalifornia Travel and Tourism CommissionMarketing California as a Premier Travel Destination
12:00 - 2:00pm
Buffet Lunch and Shopping Time with Exhibitors
2:15 - 3:15pm
Concurrent Workshops
Create Elegant Centerpieces
How to Build an Online Relationship
Tool Time From A-Z
3:30 - 4:30pm
Exhibitor Teatime, Innkeeper Shopping, Vendor Drawing
4:45 - 5:45pm
Concurrent Workshops
Introduction to Wine, Sponsored by Cambria Winery(class limited to 35)
Technology on the Cutting Edge
Niche Marketing & Value-Added Packages
7:30 - 11:00pm
Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration Dinner Party and Silent Auction
Tuesday - January 30, 2007
8:00am - 12:00pm
InnTouch One-On-One Appointments
9:00 - 10:00am
Concurrent Workshops
Protect Your Investment, Part I
Yield Management 101
Attract Travel Writers to Boost Your Inn's Visibility
10:15 - 11:15am
Concurrent Workshops
Protect Your Investment, Part II
Repeat Guest Marketing
Provide Internet Access For Your Guests
11:30am - 12:45pm
Lunch & Special Guest Speaker, Patricia Griffin, President & Founder,Green Hotels AssociationSave Money, Save the Environment - Think Green!
1:00 - 2:15pm
General Session, Jim Abrams, President & CEOCalifornia Hotel & Lodging AssociationRights & Responsibilities of Innkeepers
2:30 - 4:00pm
Guest Management Software Training / User Groups
First Aspiring for those of you who want to be innkeepers:
Saturday - January 27, 2007
8:00 - 9:00am
Registration - Coffee & Pastries
9:00 - 9:05am
Introduction and Welcome, Francois Leclair, Facilitator
9:05 - 10:45am
The Reality of Being An InnkeeperA panel of innkeepers will discuss operating choices: solo, spouse, partner, investor or friend. What are the emotional demands? What does it take to be a good innkeeper? What is it like to work with your spouse/partner 24 hours a day, seven days a week? How will being an innkeeper affect your lifestyle? It takes special people and genuine commitment to integrate personal, social, physical, health, financial and family needs with that of the innkeeping business. This is your chance to ask the people who have first-hand experience.
10:45 - 11:00am
Questions and Answers
11:00 - 11:15am
Break
11:15am - 12:15pm
Finding the Right Inn: The ProcessAcquiring your inn starts with a search to identify the right inn for you. A professional lodging broker will explain how aspiring innkeepers should approach the purchase decision and the steps of the transaction. Learn about market valuation, financing, and operation of inns that will provide valuable insights into this process. Using examples of actual sales, you will learn how inns are valued as businesses and how to prepare a thorough pre-opening and post-opening marketing plan.
12:15 - 1:30pm
Lunch with Saturday Panel Speakers
1:45 - 2:45pm
The Tax Consequences of Inn Ownership: A SurveyRight from the start, a prospective innkeeper is confronted with a myriad of decisions that can have long range and substantial tax implications: how to hold title; what type of entity to use (corporation, partnership, proprietorship, etc.); and how to allocate the assets of the inn. These choices can make a big difference at startup, during operations, and as you plan an exit strategy. We will discuss hot button IRS topics as well as a wide range of tax issues that you can take home with you to discuss with your tax professional to see how it impacts your particular tax situation.
2:45 - 3:45pm
Money & FinancingFinancing the inn of your dreams is the challenge. You have gone through the process of finding a viable inn and now all you need is the money! Financing options are varied: Conventional Bank financing, SBA financing and Seller financing. Learn what is required of you and the property you are planning to purchase.
3:45 - 4:00pm
Break
4:00 - 4:30pm
Question & Answers with Broker, CPA and Financial Advisors
4:30 - 5:30pm
Reception with Speakers and Innkeepers
Sunday - January 28, 2007
8:00 - 8:15am
Continental Breakfast and Networking Time
8:15 - 10:00am
Running Your InnWhat does it take to get organized? Stephanie will share her secrets on what supplies and services you will need to prepare for opening day. Then, with all that in place, it's time to run your inn. You will learn all about scheduling staff, staying legal (food codes, ABC license, liability issues, etc.), menu planning, forms and procedures and more!
Stephanie McCaffrey, McCaffrey House
10:00 - 10:15am
Break
10:15am - 12:00pm
Marketing Your Bed & Breakfast InnBuying or building a great property is the first step. Now, how do prospective guests find you? This fun and informative session will include business development opportunities through the internet as well as more traditional marketing. Discover secrets to your immediate success and learn how to avoid the costly, time-wasting mistakes made by innkeepers over the years. Online marketing, website development and search engine optimization will be covered as well as samples of effective website design. In additional, conventional marketing techniques such as print advertising, brochures, seasonal packages and specials play a critical role in your marketing plan.
12:15 - 12:30pm
Questions and Answers with Stephanie and Bill
12:30 - 2:00pm
Annual CABBI Membership Meeting & Lunch
2:15 - 3:00pm
Total Media MarketingIn order to make your business successful, you must be creative and market your inn on many different levels. You want to let as many potential guests as possible know about your inn, and since people search out information in many different ways, it's important to utilize all media that are available. Learn how directories, press releases and newspaper coverage can widen your exposure to the traveling public.
3:15 - 4:30pm
Developing Your B&B Marketing PlanThis session is designed to assist the potential B&B owner on how to develop an actionable marketing plan for a future property. You will learn to develop a market planning model as well as the thinking process needed to transform your property into a market-driven business designed to increase revenues.
Carl Ribaudo, Strategic Marketing Group/Corporate Events
4:30 - 7:30pm
InnSpire 2007 Innkeepers Conference & Trade Show ReceptionVisit with innkeepers and shop with a wide variety of exhibitors at the InnSpire Opening Reception. This reception will include tasty appetizers and wine pouring sponsored by Matanzas Creek Winery.
Then for innkeepers who already own a bed and breakfast--or aspiring innkeepers....
Sunday - January 28, 2007
9:00am - 6:00pm
Innkeeper's Registration
11:30am - 12:15pm
New Member / First-time Attendee Orientation
12:30 - 2:00pm
Annual Membership Town Hall & Lunch
2:15 - 3:15pm
Concurrent Workshops
Build a Better Website, Part I
Small Property Idea Fair
3:30 - 4:30pm
Concurrent Workshops
Build a Better Website, Part II
Create Your Own Marketing Plan
4:30 - 7:30pm
Trade Show Opening Reception with ExhibitorsCyber Café Open
Monday - January 29, 2007
8:00 - 9:00am
Concurrent Workshops
Healthy and Easy Breakfasts
Website Revenue Tracking & Conversion Rates
Use Your Inn as a Special Events Venue
9:00 - 10:30am
Exhibit Hall Opens - Coffee with Vendors
10:45 - 11:45am
Keynote Address, Caroline Beteta, Executive DirectorCalifornia Travel and Tourism CommissionMarketing California as a Premier Travel Destination
12:00 - 2:00pm
Buffet Lunch and Shopping Time with Exhibitors
2:15 - 3:15pm
Concurrent Workshops
Create Elegant Centerpieces
How to Build an Online Relationship
Tool Time From A-Z
3:30 - 4:30pm
Exhibitor Teatime, Innkeeper Shopping, Vendor Drawing
4:45 - 5:45pm
Concurrent Workshops
Introduction to Wine, Sponsored by Cambria Winery(class limited to 35)
Technology on the Cutting Edge
Niche Marketing & Value-Added Packages
7:30 - 11:00pm
Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration Dinner Party and Silent Auction
Tuesday - January 30, 2007
8:00am - 12:00pm
InnTouch One-On-One Appointments
9:00 - 10:00am
Concurrent Workshops
Protect Your Investment, Part I
Yield Management 101
Attract Travel Writers to Boost Your Inn's Visibility
10:15 - 11:15am
Concurrent Workshops
Protect Your Investment, Part II
Repeat Guest Marketing
Provide Internet Access For Your Guests
11:30am - 12:45pm
Lunch & Special Guest Speaker, Patricia Griffin, President & Founder,Green Hotels AssociationSave Money, Save the Environment - Think Green!
1:00 - 2:15pm
General Session, Jim Abrams, President & CEOCalifornia Hotel & Lodging AssociationRights & Responsibilities of Innkeepers
2:30 - 4:00pm
Guest Management Software Training / User Groups
On December 3rd will be the 29th Annual Christmas Parade in old Hangtown, just steps from our bed and breakfast inn. This big parade takes place rain or shine and starts at the Mountain Democrat parking lot on upper Broadway in Placerville and continues down Main Street. Begins at 1:00 p.m. Broadway and Historic Main Street, Placerville. Free to the public.
December 10th will bring the Christmas in Coloma event, an annual old-fashioned Christmas, with period crafts, strolling musicians, historic trade demonstrations, 19th century children's games, and wreath making. A visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus is a colorful highlight of the day. Vendors offer hand-crafts aswell as a variety of foods. Snow is guaranteed! 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, 8 miles north on Highway 49 from Placerville in Coloma. The admittance fee is only $7.00 per vehicle, everything else is free (except $3.00 cost of photo with Santa). Children can visit Santa for free without a photo. http://www.marshallgold.org/ For more information contact: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, call the events line (530) 295-2162
December 10th will bring the Christmas in Coloma event, an annual old-fashioned Christmas, with period crafts, strolling musicians, historic trade demonstrations, 19th century children's games, and wreath making. A visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus is a colorful highlight of the day. Vendors offer hand-crafts aswell as a variety of foods. Snow is guaranteed! 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, 8 miles north on Highway 49 from Placerville in Coloma. The admittance fee is only $7.00 per vehicle, everything else is free (except $3.00 cost of photo with Santa). Children can visit Santa for free without a photo. http://www.marshallgold.org/ For more information contact: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, call the events line (530) 295-2162
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
With the bed and breakfast inns tour just a week away, we are finishing the touches on our inn to delight tour-goers and guests. Downtown Placerville lit the tree at the Court House last night, so the town is ready for the holidays too!
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