Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
65 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago -Interesting interviews with innkeepers and lodging experts, aimed to improve the challenging life of the independent innkeeper and lodging professional.
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Episodes
065: Designing Your Property to Maximize the Guest Experience with James Kuester of Küster Design
April 11, 2024 12:11 - 40 minutes - 30.9 MBOften overlooked, having a professionally designed interior can make your property truly stand out, reflect your brand and maximize the guest experience. Starting out as a designer of home furnishings, James Kuester of Küster Design, transitioned his business to focus on interior design for the independent lodging sector. His firm’s focus is on interior branding in a way that enhances how guests interact with all aspects of a property. We are very thankful to James Kuester for shari...
064: Elevate the Coffee Experience for Your Guests with Small Batch Roasting
March 14, 2024 16:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBWhen it comes to elevating the guest experience, serving high-quality coffee can really make a difference. When Ann Brownell and Jeff Raybourn purchased the Cozy Cup Coffee Company in 2023, they had a vision of expanding their small batch roasted coffee beyond the walls of their coffee shop and into the innkeeping arena. They now have a customized innkeepers package that allows any property to provide the highest quality coffee. We are very thankful to Ann and Jeff for sharing their insi...
063: Money and Water-Saving Shower Heads from an Aerospace Engineer Turned Solopreneur
February 09, 2024 15:30 - 33 minutes - 19.9 MBA number of years ago, aerospace engineer Craig Steele’s frustration over a malfunctioning hotel shower head led him on a journey to design a better version of a device typically taken for granted. This quest led Craig to bootstrap Samson Shower Systems, which offers high pressure, water-saving shower heads that are made from quality, aerospace-grade materials and expected to outlast most products on the market. His offering can provide great value to lodging properties and his story shoul...
062: 2024 ALP Conference & Marketplace Preview
January 25, 2024 01:30 - 42 minutes - 29.7 MBFrom hosting expanded educational events, enhancing partnerships, advancing regional efforts to increasing membership and launching a new website, it’s been a busy first year for Sarah Gazi in her role as the CEO of the Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP). The must-attend 2024 ALP Conference & Marketplace is also around the corner on March 2nd to 6th in Orlando, Florida. In addition to the main conference, this year’s event will offer educational opportunities for new property owner...
061: Increasing Room Revenue Through Artificial Intelligence with Patty Sung and Chris McPherson of TakeUp
January 04, 2024 02:13 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBArtificial Intelligence (AI) has officially made its way into the hospitality industry with TakeUp, a recent start-up that offers a dynamic pricing platform which leverages the power of AI and machine learning to optimize room rates and increase revenue. Patty Sung, Founder and CEO at TakeUp; and Chris McPherson, Founder & CTO at TakeUp, tell us about their offering, explain how they leverage AI to help lodging professionals, and make an excellent case for why their approach is the way of ...
060: Maximizing Bookings Through Google Business Profile
December 05, 2023 15:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBGoogle Business Profile helps lodging professionals manage their business information across Google products like Search and Maps. In addition to ensuring that potential guests can find information about their property and eventually book, lodging owners can use their account to review traffic metrics, gather customer insights, as well as view and respond to Google Reviews. Annie Buck, Education and Local Marketing Manager at Acorn Marketing, breaks down everything lodging businesses ne...
059: Increasing Revenue Through Wedding Offerings
October 25, 2023 16:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBIndependent lodging properties are ideal destinations for weddings and those that offer wedding services, regardless of size and complexity, can attest that they are an excellent source of revenue. There is a range of options for a property to consider when deciding to offer on-site wedding services. Lela Pohlmann is a Wedding Coordinator for Hermann Hill Weddings, which offers a full range of wedding services at Hermann Hill, a luxury boutique hotel in Hermann, Missouri. Hermann Hill ho...
058: State/Regional Association Spotlight: Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association (MBBA)
October 04, 2023 23:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBState and regional independent lodging associations play a vital role in promoting properties in their areas, as well as ensuring quality lodging standards and providing educational opportunities for members. As former innkeepers who had successes in owning two properties, Donna and Byron Cain became Co-Executive Directors at the Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association (MBBA) about two years ago. They discuss the role of the MBBA, the importance of communicating with members, and the MBBA...
057: Creating Unique On-Property Experiences
September 25, 2023 01:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, lodging professionals often needed to find creative ways to incent guests to stay at their properties. Some owners and managers did so by developing new on-property experiences for their guests which they had never offered in the past. Doug Bagnasco and Jim DeBlasi, the co-owners of the Devonfield Inn, were among that group of astute lodging professionals who focused their energies on developing a wide-range of on-site guest experiences, by leveraging the str...
056: How We Doubled Bookings and Our Property’s Value in Five Years
August 17, 2023 22:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBMarty and Carmel Etzel bought the Flag House Inn in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2017, with no prior experience or even informal knowledge of running a lodging business. In less than five years, they were able to more than double their bookings and sell the property for twice the amount they paid for it. Marty discusses their journey, how they were able to accomplish this feat, and how he now parlays his experiences to help other lodging professionals as a consultant for Acorn Marketing. We a...
055: Why Professional Lodging Photography Matters
August 01, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBNothing quite entices guests to book better than high-end, professional photos of your property. Rather than relying on your mobile device for taking amateur photos, there can be a significant return to your investment if you hire a professional. Tom Krueger is a professional commercial photographer who is focused on the independent lodging niche, and has deep expertise in making any property shine online. We are very thankful to Tom for sharing his insights with us. You can learn more...
054: The Future of ALP with Sarah Gazi, New CEO
January 31, 2023 00:34 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBThe Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP) has undergone some significant changes recently, including bringing on Sarah Gazi as its new CEO, taking over for the former Interim CEO, E. Scot Fuller-Beatty. Sarah has been in association management for more than 20 years and she envisions shaping a new direction for ALP through listening to its members and partners. The organization has already been expanding its membership, with a stronger focus around community and collaboration. We s...
053: The Unforeseen Impact of Google Travel on Bookings
January 19, 2023 00:12 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBUnbeknownst to many independent lodging professionals, Google Travel is playing a significant role in impacting booking by diverting potential guests from the Google Search into its online travel marketplace. Lisa Kolb, Owner and Co-Founder of Acorn Marketing, discusses everything property owners need to be aware of about Google Travel for maximizing their bookings. Acorn Marketing offers a comprehensive strategy for helping property owners to re-think traditional SEO and create new rev...
052: Redesigning Your Property and Rejuvenating Your Lodging Career
December 21, 2022 22:00 - 41 minutes - 37.6 MBOften the most significant business challenges can lead to true transformation. This was the case for Rita Sleys, owner and operator of the Rosemont Inn Bed & Breakfast, who found her business at a crossroads. In 2019, she sought out help from Randy Bangs, owner of Get Heads in Beds, which led to a renovation of her property, an update to the property’s website -- and a complete re-focus on her approach to business. As a result, the property is thriving and has more than doubled its reven...
051: How Travel Influencers can Increase Bookings for your Property with Travel Blogger Valerie Stimac
October 17, 2022 00:15 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBWorking with a travel influencer may seem like something only larger hotel brands can afford. In reality, independent lodging properties can also leverage travel influencers to increase visibility for their area and bookings for their property. Valerie Stimac, a travel blogger and founder of Valerie & Valise, works with a variety of clients and offers an incredibly insightful perspective on how lodging professionals might best engage with travel influencers to benefit their property. We ...
050: Enhancing Direct and Online Bookings with Ben Ollic, Sr. Digital Marketing Specialist, and Kyle Collins, Sales Representative of Q4Launch
September 22, 2022 17:15 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBEnhancing direct and online bookings is paramount for any hospitality provider. Success often comes down to taking advantage of modern, digital marketing strategies. For nearly 14 years, Q4Launch has helped property owners leverage multiple channels for driving additional revenue. Service offerings include marketing strategy development, web design, content development, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, paid ads, email marketing, lead generation, and revenue management. We ...
049: Accommodating Vegan Guests with Michele Salisbury, Owner & Chef of Salisbury House at Bethany Beach
August 15, 2022 20:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBIt is estimated that there are more than 10 million vegans in the United States. For Michele Salisbury, Owner & Chef of Salisbury House at Bethany Beach, this presents an opportunity for differentiation – as her property offers three-course gourmet vegan breakfasts for guests. Michele discusses her new vegan-only bed and breakfast, and how other lodging professionals can better accommodate their guests who are vegan. We are very thankful to Michele for sharing her insights with us. You can...
048: Why the Guest Experience is Always Paramount, with Steve Short, Founder and CEO of the Frictionless Guest App
July 17, 2022 21:18 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MBIn a very unusual twist in the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, this special episode flips things around where the spotlight is being shown on Steve Short, Founder and CEO of the Frictionless Guest App. Samantha Irwin, owner of Kaizen Business Coaching and Consulting, interviews Steve about the Frictionless Guest App origin story, Steve’s love for B&Bs and why the guest experience is always paramount. We are very thankful to Samantha for hosting this podcast. You can learn more a...
047: Why Outdoor Lighting is Important with Mike Glaeser, Field Support Consultant of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
June 19, 2022 19:00 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBIn the lodging arena, an often overlooked and important aspect to enhancing a property’s overall aesthetic is outdoor lighting. Mike Glaeser, Field Support Consultant at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, works with many properties to develop customized outdoor lighting solutions that can transform any location. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is the number one low-voltage outdoor lighting provider in the United States. We are very thankful to Mike for sharing his insights with us. You can ...
046: Challenging the Status Quo with Eben Viens, Owner of The B&B Team
May 16, 2022 19:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBThe B&B Team provides real estate brokerage and consulting services in the lodging arena, and has its finger on the pulse of where the industry is headed. Eben Viens, the Owner of The B&B Team, works with a wide range of property owners and prospective innkeepers, and sees many younger buyers entering the market. Taking a page from boutique hotels, these property owners are challenging the status quo by selling experiences and creating memories – all great ideas to implement at any propert...
045: Supporting the Entire Guest Journey with Christian Holmsen, CEO, and Jeff Hebrink, Customer Success Consultant, of rezStream
April 05, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBSupporting the entire guest journey, rezStream offers a wide-range of critical operational and marketing tools for lodging providers – from reservation software to booking engines, websites, and digital marketing. The company partners with its lodging customers to develop customized plans, as well as offers à la carte solutions. rezStream’s property management software and marketing services position properties for long-term growth both in revenue and how they operate their business. We ...
044: Unleashing the Power of a Great Guest Service Experience with Samantha Irwin, Owner of Kaizen Business Coaching and Consulting
March 15, 2022 23:20 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBIn 2006, Samantha Irwin bought the Historic Balch Hotel in the small town of Dufur, Oregon, an 18-room property devoid of furniture which had not been open consistently since the 1940’s. Over the next ten years, the former middle school teacher built a stellar reputation for the boutique property by training her staff to provide their guests with a phenomenal service experience. Now, as the owner of Kaizen Business Coaching and Consulting, Samantha leverages her unique educational and ent...
043: Nathan Mayfield, Vice President of ResNexus, Discusses Their Extensive Offering
February 23, 2022 14:45 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBFor Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast #43, Nathan Mayfield, Vice President of ResNexus, speaks about his company’s extensive offerings for the lodging sector, how ResNexus helped property owners during the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more. ResNexus offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, which include a reservation/booking engine, property management system (PMS), website creation/hosting, digital marketing, payment processing, and a whole lot more. During the initial stages of the COVID...
042: Mark Reichle, CEO of Select Registry, Discusses Upcoming 50th Anniversary Conference and Gala, Feb. 5-6
January 17, 2022 19:13 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBFor episode #42 of the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, we speak with Mark Reichle, CEO of Select Registry, about his organization's 50th Anniversary Conference and Gala in Baltimore, immediately preceding the 2022 ALP Conference and Marketplace. For half of a century, Select Registry has created a network of properties that offer outstanding accommodations and one-of-a-kind experiences for lodging guests. For property owners, achieving the Select Registry “Distinguished Inn of North ...
041: Tim Wilson, Director of Sales at bnbfinder, Discusses Platform for Direct and Commission-Free Bookings
January 11, 2022 00:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBIn the lodging arena, it is common for Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) to charge between 15 to 20 percent on each guest booking. While this may be palatable for larger hoteliers, smaller properties can greatly benefit from a solution that provides direct and commission-free bookings. This is where bnbfinder comes into play. The company has evolved into one of the largest online B&B directories for travelers, with over 10,000 B&Bs and inns. Guests can book their stays directly through bnbfinder...
040: Kris Ullmer and Erik Spence of the Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP) Discuss the Upcoming 2022 ALP Conference and Marketplace
December 14, 2021 00:30 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBFor lodging professionals of all kinds, the ALP Conference and Marketplace is the go-to event of the year for educational opportunities for everything from sales, finance, marketing, operations to technology, and much more. This year, ALP has expanded the aspiring innkeeper portion of the conference to three days, and all attendees have the option to attend the main conference and marketplace. In addition, the event offers a wide-range of networking opportunities and social gatherings – culm...
039: Randy Bangs, Owner of Get Heads in Beds, Discusses Marketing and Branding your Property
December 07, 2021 16:30 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBMarketing is a key differentiator in the lodging industry, and the true driver to securing new guest reservations. Though having the internal resources to manage every aspect of marketing can be challenging. Get Heads in Beds is a marketing and consulting firm that fills in these gaps for lodging professionals. As the name suggests, the firm is all about helping properties to drive up overall revenue through increased bookings. Unlike traditional marketing firms, Get Heads in Beds charges ...
038: Jim Snediker, Co-Founder and CEO of Stock Mfg Co., Discusses Branded Workwear for Differentiating Your Offerings
November 22, 2021 14:30 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBLodging professionals can differentiate their offerings by the use of branded workwear to project an ideal brand image, reinforce a consistent guest experience, and bolster overall employee morale. Jim Snedicker and his team at Stock Mfg Co. are experts at the aesthetics of clothing for the hospitality industry. Since 2012, Stock has designed and manufactured custom workwear for some of the best bars, restaurants, and hotels in the world. With roots in the fashion industry, the company off...
037: Richard Aday, Founder, CEO & Principal Engineer at ThinkReservations, Discusses the Evolution of their Offering
November 01, 2021 13:15 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBSometimes company origin stories can be the most inspirational, especially when an entrepreneur’s love for travel translates into the creation of a next-generation property management and booking system. When Richard Aday was working as a computer engineer at Amazon in 2012, he went on vacation to Puerto Rico, and on the fly, he pitched the idea of a next-generation reservation system to the hotel manager, which would ultimately become ThinkReservations. We are very thankful to Richard A...
036: Paul Wegert and Jenifer Neptune of Boutique Hotel Professionals Discuss Boutique Lodging Differentiation
October 04, 2021 21:00 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBWhen it comes to creating a truly unique boutique property, it’s vital to provide a one-of-a-kind luxury experience that is individualized, and offers local market flare for sophisticated travelers. Boutique Hotel Professionals helps boutique properties to gain this level of differentiation through its disciplined property management capabilities – which spans from experience curation to property development and management. We are very thankful to Paul Wegert and Jenifer Neptune for shar...
035: Karen Thorne, Owner of the Bed and Breakfast Academy, Discusses Training for Innkeepers
August 13, 2021 15:58 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBThe secrets to successfully running a bed and breakfast can often be elusive, especially for aspiring innkeepers. Fortunately, Karen Thorne, the owner of the UK-based Bed and Breakfast Academy, provides a wide-range of tools, trainings and courses to enhance marketing, operations, and increase overall bookings for any innkeeper. As an innkeeper for 17 years, Karen brings a wide-range of knowledge and insights that help innkeepers succeed, and she now offers online courses in today’s COVID-...
034: Darci Bartlett, President of the Non-Profit Interim Innkeepers Network, Discusses Temporary Staffing Options
May 05, 2021 22:47 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBBeing an innkeeper is a 24/7 job that can be all encompassing, where taking time off is a luxury that does not happen very often. Whether you need to attend an important event, supplement your existing staff during peak periods, or simply get away to recharge, the Interim Innkeepers Network connects innkeepers with experienced temporary staff across the United States and provides a seamless transition for a wide range of needs. This episode will certainly give innkeepers a sense of relief ...
033: Wendy Kelly, Owner of Wall Street Suites and the Agate Beach Motel, Discusses Her Unexpected Innkeeping Journey
April 26, 2021 15:33 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBIt's often the unexpected things in life that can both challenge you, and provide a path to long-term prosperity. When Wendy Kelly and her husband acquired the Agate Beach Motel in 1990, they had zero experience in hospitality, and the property required massive renovations for it to even be guest ready. Fast-forward 31 years later, and the Agate Beach Motel is now an award-winning destination by the sea. Wendy and her husband parlayed their lessons learned to also owning the Wall Street Su...
032: Emily and Matthieu Monnier, Managers of Trapper’s Rendezvous, Discuss Increase in Bookings
February 27, 2021 21:40 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBSometimes location and timing can play a major role in gaining new guest bookings. For Trapper’s Rendezvous, this was the case when managers Emily and Matthieu Monnier noticed a rise in local guests during the summer 2020 days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This unique property is comprised of six spacious cabins, and sits on five acres in the heart of the ‘Gateway to the Grand Canyon’ in the Route 66 town of Williams, Arizona. Aside from being located within driving distance from Las Vegas, Ph...
031: Christa Freeland, Manager of the Founder House Austin, Provides Insights Into the Millennial Traveler (Part Two)
February 09, 2021 23:43 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBMuch has been covered in the media about millennial travel trends, but it’s not often that you get to hear directly from an influential member of this generation. Christa Freeland is certainly on the cutting-edge of travel in her role managing the Founder House Austin’s co-working and co-living property for entrepreneurs. As a millennial herself, Christa believes that this generation is very experiential, and they are seeking authenticity in all of their travel experiences. In addition, in...
030: Wild Man Dan Tatarka and Terri Tatarka, Owners/Innkeepers of WildManDan’s Beercentric Bed and Breakfast, Discuss Their Passion for Beer and Pleasing Guests
November 24, 2020 18:19 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBIn many ways, success in life comes down to following your passions, and working hard to turn that passion into a viable livelihood. For Wild Man Dan Tatarka and his wife, Terri Tatarka, the owners/innkeepres of WildManDan’s Beercentric Bed and Breakfast, success comes from their passion for beer and being around great people. After having careers in both fiber optical engineering and hospitality, Master Brewer Wild Man Dan and Terri decided to launch a unique beercentric B&B in 2015 in th...
029: Christa Freeland, Manager of the Founder House Austin, Discusses Her Innovative Shared-Use Lodging Concept
November 04, 2020 00:37 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBKnown for its South by Southwest (SXSW) conference and festival, as well as its thriving music, food and culture scene, the city of Austin is a dream for young entrepreneurs, musicians and creatives. Though just as the COVID-19 pandemic upended the entire globe, Austin was also heavily impacted with SXSW being cancelled in early March, with travel restrictions making it difficult for people to visit this vibrant city. For the Adina Austin Bed & Breakfast, this was a challenging time, sin...
028: Marilyn Bushnell and Eliot Dalton, Innkeeping Consultants and Brokers, Discuss the State of the Lodging Marketplace in the Face of COVID-19
September 16, 2020 20:57 - 44 minutes - 40.3 MBThe COVID-19 pandemic is having a varied impact on innkeepers around the U.S. In rural areas, there is plenty of activity – both from increased guest bookings and the buying and selling of inns – while urban environments are being challenged. There are also an increased number of prospective buyers looking to acquire rural properties, and start their lives as innkeepers away from larger cities. In addition, mortgage rates are ideal right now, and some smaller inns are being marketed to lar...
027: Jim Meade, Owner/Innkeeper of Bear Lodges and Author of “No Cooked Breakfast” Discusses his Non-Traditional Approach to Innkeeping
July 24, 2020 21:21 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBIn the innkeeping world, it’s often assumed that things need to be done in a certain way. From serving breakfast to continually socializing with guests, these are all great things to do – though this may not be the ideal path for all property owners. For Jim Meade, the owner and operator of Bear Lodges, which is comprised of Bear Mountain Lodge, Bear Meadows Lodge, and 131 Main Street – three non-traditional B&Bs in the mountains of northern Pennsylvania – he chose to do things his own way...
026: Teresa Luttrell, Enliven B&B Innkeeper and the “Queen of Hygiene”, Provides Amazing Suggestions for Truly Effective Cleaning in the Post-COVID-19 World
June 10, 2020 15:16 - 45 minutes - 42 MBWith various U.S. states launching new COVID-19 guidelines for businesses to re-open, many innkeepers are developing strategies for opening their properties for the summer season. Providing guests with the utmost confidence that their properties are clean, disinfected and safe is paramount for innkeepers. And, traditional cleaning strategies are just not enough in these challenging times. As a pioneer in owning a chemical- and fragrance-free inn, Teresa Luttrell, the owner of Enliven Bed ...
025: Brian Ontiveros-Kersch with Bed Bug Advisor Discusses Bed Bug Mitigation for Innkeepers
May 26, 2020 17:52 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBWhile many people don’t often think about bed bugs, they can be a tremendous nuisance for independent hotels and inns. And unfortunately, they are on the rise, with a logical reason for their exponential growth over the years. Between 1941 and 1982, the U.S. government launched a campaign to spray pesticides like DDT to manage mosquito populations to drive down the spread of West Nile Virus. This campaign also helped to eradicate the U.S. bed bug population. Unfortunately though, DDT had...
024: Kent Schnepp, CEO of Odysys, on the Top 3 Marketing Topics that Innkeepers should Focus on NOW as COVID-19 Winds Down
April 29, 2020 17:30 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBAs the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown continues, innkeepers are presented with a rare opportunity to use this down time to enhance their marketing efforts to help expand awareness and drive future bookings. In this podcast, Kent Schnepp, CEO of Odysys, provides deep-dive insights into how innkeepers can develop marketing strategies to ramp up their businesses as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down. Odysys offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) marketing and technology platform that helps innkeeper...
023: Teresa Luttrell, Owner/Innkeeper of Enliven Bed and Breakfast, Discusses Her Healthy, Chemical-Free Inn
April 08, 2020 17:30 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBFounded in 2009 by Teresa Luttrell, Enliven Bed and Breakfast offers accommodations that are ideal for guests who are sensitive to chemical-laden cleaning and fragrance products. The idea for the B&B came about from Teresa’s decades-long challenges with Lyme disease, when she decided to create a refuge for medical travelers coming to the Seattle area for their respective treatments. The property offers highly filtered air and water, is annually tested for mold, and offers organic, non-GMO,...
022: John Smallwood, Founder and CEO of ExpressRez, Discusses His New Specialized Reservation Service for Innkeepers
March 04, 2020 17:30 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBFor many innkeepers, it can be challenging to balance day-to-day operations and be available to take all reservation calls from prospective guests. Missed calls can translate into lost revenue to competing lodging options. John Smallwood founded ExpressRez to address this very issue – to serve as an outsourced call center for Inns and B&Bs by handling all reservations and guest inquiries. When a call is received, an ExpressRez reservation specialist answers with the B&B’s unique greeting, ...
021: Monique Greenwood, Owner/Innkeeper of Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns and Star of Oprah Winfrey Network’s “Checked Inn” Reality TV Show (Part 2)
February 04, 2020 17:30 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBAs we noted in Part 1 of our previous podcast interview, Monique Greenwood is a highly regarded innkeeper who developed the Akwaaba empire of five properties, and has parlayed this experience into an OWN TV reality show called “Checked Inn.” While most of us will never know what it’s like to have a reality TV show based on our work lives, Monique had this unique privilege with her Checked Inn TV show. Though this may seem glamorous on the surface, it actually required long hours of video s...
020: Monique Greenwood, Owner/Innkeeper of Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns and Star of Oprah Winfrey Network’s “Checked Inn” Reality TV Show (Part 1)
November 26, 2019 17:30 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBIt’s not often that we find an innkeeper who has built a reputation to the level that attracted the attention of Oprah Winfrey. Monique Greenwood is a highly regarded innkeeper who developed the Akwaaba empire of five properties, and has parlayed this experience into an OWN TV reality show called “Checked Inn.” Prior to reaching these heights of innkeeping success, Monique started her career in journalism and achieved her dream of being the editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine. In 1995, she...
019: Monica Edwards, Successful Innkeeper and Director of the African American Association of Innkeepers International
October 30, 2019 17:30 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBMonica Edwards began her career as an innkeeper somewhat unexpectedly in 1997, when she and her husband opened the Morehead Manor Bed & Breakfast in Durham, North Carolina. Almost immediately, she chose to become involved with associations dedicated to helping the B&B industry and has continued to be a significant contributor to that cause ever since. Monica continues to run Morehead Manor, while now also devoting her time to the African American Association of Innkeepers International (AA...
018: Linda Hayes, Renowned Innkeeping Consultant, Discusses Creative Investor/Innkeeper Start-Ups, Opening New Boutique/Upscale Properties, and Hiring GMs
September 18, 2019 14:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBWhen people think of innkeepers, an image often comes to mind of a couple leaving the grind of the big city to own, operate and live at their property. While this is often the case, there has recently been a rise of investors/innkeepers that are purchasing and renovating unique properties, some of whom don’t live on-site or manage the day-to-day work. For individuals taking this path, many don’t come from hospitality backgrounds, and need the right guidance for helping them make sound deci...
017: Megan Smith, Renowned Innkeeping Consultant, Discusses How to Increase Revenues and Improve Operations
August 22, 2019 15:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBRemaining competitive in the innkeeping arena is no small challenge, especially in the face of multiple accommodation offerings, and Airbnb growing in popularity. However, now is actually a great time for innkeepers to adapt to the changing tourism landscape by pursuing new revenue streams. For example, rather than swimming against the tide of short-term rentals, innkeeping consultant Megan Smith suggests that many innkeepers consider embracing this change by putting some of their rooms on...
016: Rob Fulton, CEO of AIHP, Discusses the 2019 State of B&Bs Report and the Future of Independent Hospitality
July 15, 2019 21:00 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBThe Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP) is a nonprofit organization that represents, supports, educates, and advocates for independent hospitality professionals to enhance their personal satisfaction and business success. Founded in 2015, AIHP has seen phenomenal growth over the last four years with Rob Fulton as its CEO and continues to gain traction as a key voice for independent lodging. Last year, the organization issued its in-depth “B&B’s UNBOUND – The State o...