Charging more for a more private room

[JBloggs]

Was thinking about this whilst doing my preparatory dusting. Dust never rests, that should be engraved somewhere...
Did you get the bandb.com survey results today? What guests are looking for when they book a B&B? I don't think 'free stuff' was anywhere on the list. Free sodas, free snacks, free bottled water, flowers in the rooms, etc. I know we all think that's what sets us apart and I know guests like that stuff, but I don't think it's what gets them in the door.
What's important:

1. Private bathrooms (far and away at 93%)
2. Free breakfast (close second 88%)
3. Free TV
4. Late arrival
5. Free WiFi in room

Mini bar access, which I assume every traveler would take to mean 'paid snacks' was way down on the list. Now maybe the next banb.com survey should specifically ask about all the other free stuff to see if it is in any way important to the guest. Important enough to sway their selecting one B&B over another, or a B&B over a hotel.
It looks like, to the folks who took the survey, that although we are treating them like guests in our home (and thus providing the things we would provide to our own family members), the guests are looking at it more like a nicer place to stay and are NOT expecting all the free stuff.
So, are we using too much capital on things guests don't necesarily want or need? (Along the lines of the bar blog guy asking what gets thrown out and are your portions too large or are you too generous, which fits a lot of us.)
Sorry, this was a total highjack of your point about raising rates. But, maybe not. Maybe we could all keep rates where they are or make more money at any price point if we dialed back on the things guests don't 'need' or never use and scaled up on what they do want and are willing to pay for.
All of the free soda in the world won't get the guest in the door if what they really wanted was a free breakfast or late arrival. Something everyone can easily provide with no additional expense (as we are already doing the breakfast)..

The extra added "value" is what we want to give them to become repeats. It is in no means going to bring them to your door, it is not a selling point as such - it is what makes this an enjoyable alternative to a hotel however. Selling the second B has been a topic here so often, a free or complimentary breakfast is not enough, we need to go above and beyond. Set ourselves apart from the hotel. Like my first post mentioned, fresh flowers on the table, romantic music - they LOVED THIS - it was NOT what they encountered at Days inn grabbing a pastry and ick coffee from the foyer lobby.

 

[Innkeeper To Go]

"So, are we using too much capital on things guests don't necesarily want or need?"
I find .....yes. This year, I dropped alot of the "free" stuff that I threw in right through last year, and it has made not one iota of difference that I can see....other than cushioning the bottom line tremendously.
But, then my Inn does not have a demanding high-end demographic either..

Well I guess we have been made to believe we have to throw in all the extra goodies to compare with some others....
Maybe we should start a new novel idea........a bed and breakfast is what you get here...no more no less....How would that go over????
.

Maybe we should start a new novel idea........a bed and breakfast is what you get here...no more no less....How would that go over????

I'm not sure. Maybe it's too late? Maybe we have trained the guest to expect all the free stuff. What is irksome is listening to the hotel guest gripe about paying for all of the stuff we offer for free and then not thinking they got a good price at the B&B. So last night they paid for parking, paid for WiFi, paid for an add on breakfast, paid at the desk for a soda and candy bar ($2/each) but all the same items for free weren't enough to rate the B&B as a good value.
.

I don't think it's too late to remind guests of what a bargain they're getting at a B&B. And, IMHO, that's one area the industry has not promoted well enough. B&Bs represent an incredible value because of all the freebies. Tell them that.
Cutting back on the freebies? Well, if they're a big drain on the budget and not bringing in revenue, definitely.
But if those freebies are generally fairly inexpensive ways of making guests feel luxurious - without the luxurious price tag - then they're probably worth it.
That is, IF they're being well-promoted and well-appreciated.

 

[JBloggs]

I say do like the stores do - raise the price so you can offer the discount - and end up getting the same amt. So, raise it $10! To answer your question - yes, people would consider it an amenity, but I wouldn't put it on the website (for reasons that Morticia pointed out). If someone calls to rent and asks why this room is more than the others, just explain the "more privacy since there are no adjoining walls". Most people will think of that as a good thing. (But at the same time wonder about your other rooms).

I think Joey has a few different price points. Here guests generally want to know why one room is so much lower (and can they tolerate that one thing, whatever it is to get the lower price!)
.

I think Joey has a few different price points. Here guests generally want to know why one room is so much lower (and can they tolerate that one thing, whatever it is to get the lower price!)

Oddly enough I have never had a guest ask me why a room is more than another room. But we don't get walk in traffic.
We have discussed BED SIZE as being a determining factor in some folks minds as to price points, regardless of other amenities. Of course each room it totally different.
I want to make a poll on how many rooms everyone has that has a shared wall - and a bed on either side of the wall. None of ours do, one bed has a closet behind it in the other room. etc
Did any one post the survey? I don't have it yet. Was guest common areas on the list at all? Just wondering.

 

[JBloggs]

When I'm looking to stay at a b&b I don't think I have ever looked to see if it has adjoing walls or not.....I very rarely even look at the map of the house if there is one, I go by what the room description says, so I don't think I would pay for that amenity..

When I'm looking to stay at a b&b I don't think I have ever looked to see if it has adjoing walls or not.....I very rarely even look at the map of the house if there is one, I go by what the room description says, so I don't think I would pay for that amenity.

For me, I choose the room obv by the feel of the pix and location in the house. I am one who does do that, and most do not tell you this. But this is why photos are so important, but some rooms just do not photograph well.

 

[JBloggs]

Definitely I'd raise the price of the most popular room. And that's enough of a reason to say to guests - our most popular room.
Is that an amenity on its own? Well, only if you're willing to say it's the quietest, which does raise the issue in a guest's mind about noise in the other rooms.
So no, I'd not consider it an amenity. Just most popular, private, garden room.
BTW, sounds like they're loving those starfruit more and more these days!.

Definitely I'd raise the price of the most popular room. And that's enough of a reason to say to guests - our most popular room.
Is that an amenity on its own? Well, only if you're willing to say it's the quietest, which does raise the issue in a guest's mind about noise in the other rooms.
So no, I'd not consider it an amenity. Just most popular, private, garden room.
BTW, sounds like they're loving those starfruit more and more these days!

BTW it was not the most popular room two years ago. So just goes to show how things can change with the economy and perception.

 

[Innkeeper To Go]

Definitely I'd raise the price of the most popular room. And that's enough of a reason to say to guests - our most popular room.
Is that an amenity on its own? Well, only if you're willing to say it's the quietest, which does raise the issue in a guest's mind about noise in the other rooms.
So no, I'd not consider it an amenity. Just most popular, private, garden room.
BTW, sounds like they're loving those starfruit more and more these days!.

Definitely I'd raise the price of the most popular room. And that's enough of a reason to say to guests - our most popular room.
Is that an amenity on its own? Well, only if you're willing to say it's the quietest, which does raise the issue in a guest's mind about noise in the other rooms.
So no, I'd not consider it an amenity. Just most popular, private, garden room.
BTW, sounds like they're loving those starfruit more and more these days!

BTW it was not the most popular room two years ago. So just goes to show how things can change with the economy and perception.
.

Perception is everything. Especially in this economy.

 

[JBloggs]

"So, are we using too much capital on things guests don't necesarily want or need?"
I find .....yes. This year, I dropped alot of the "free" stuff that I threw in right through last year, and it has made not one iota of difference that I can see....other than cushioning the bottom line tremendously.
But, then my Inn does not have a demanding high-end demographic either..

Well I guess we have been made to believe we have to throw in all the extra goodies to compare with some others....
Maybe we should start a new novel idea........a bed and breakfast is what you get here...no more no less....How would that go over????
.

It's hard to tell from my perspective as I know what I offer and I know it's a minimal amount so if there's less where I stay then I wonder if I'm offering too much. And given what I know is offered by other places here (on the forum), I KNOW I don't offer too much.
I also know that prices for a lot of things are a LOT higher here. Joey can put together a beautiful floral arrangement for under $10. $10 gets me last week's flowers on discount. This week's flowers are $20 and half wilted already.
Fresh fruit is thru the roof. $4.99 for a cantaloupe? And it might be bad already. Egads.
.

It's hard to tell from my perspective as I know what I offer and I know it's a minimal amount so if there's less where I stay then I wonder if I'm offering too much. And given what I know is offered by other places here (on the forum), I KNOW I don't offer too much.
I also know that prices for a lot of things are a LOT higher here. Joey can put together a beautiful floral arrangement for under $10. $10 gets me last week's flowers on discount. This week's flowers are $20 and half wilted already.
Fresh fruit is thru the roof. $4.99 for a cantaloupe? And it might be bad already. Egads.

Correct.
My angle for flowers is actually the same flowers as proflowers.com and they are always ultra fresh and last. I can get bargains on them some days more than others. The starfruit at the same market was $4.59 for one, stuffmart was 2 in a pack for $2.59. !! If I have a whole table I can stretch that starfruit to get the most bang from it. I shop wisely to get what I get, as most of you do, you know the exact price of a pack of strawberries any week of the year.
Sodas cost .10-.25 cents a piece, since not everyone drinks them, it is very inexpensive to offer those. Certain guests who only drink soda love that amenity. And if I don't make a pitcher of lemonade or iced tea for check in (ie just one or two rooms checking in) I will offer a can of soda or non carbonated drinks - lemonade,snapple, etc and glasses of ice. But that is ME, I like this sort of thing. Esp after travelling all day and 'restraining' my fluid intake, I like to replenish.
So we all do what we like, I don't want a hot cocoa, again, me, I don't want a hot cider. I do offer it for those who would like it.

You are a side tracker today.

 

[JBloggs]

"So, are we using too much capital on things guests don't necesarily want or need?"
I find .....yes. This year, I dropped alot of the "free" stuff that I threw in right through last year, and it has made not one iota of difference that I can see....other than cushioning the bottom line tremendously.
But, then my Inn does not have a demanding high-end demographic either..

Well I guess we have been made to believe we have to throw in all the extra goodies to compare with some others....
Maybe we should start a new novel idea........a bed and breakfast is what you get here...no more no less....How would that go over????
.

Maybe we should start a new novel idea........a bed and breakfast is what you get here...no more no less....How would that go over????

I'm not sure. Maybe it's too late? Maybe we have trained the guest to expect all the free stuff. What is irksome is listening to the hotel guest gripe about paying for all of the stuff we offer for free and then not thinking they got a good price at the B&B. So last night they paid for parking, paid for WiFi, paid for an add on breakfast, paid at the desk for a soda and candy bar ($2/each) but all the same items for free weren't enough to rate the B&B as a good value.
.

I don't think it's too late to remind guests of what a bargain they're getting at a B&B. And, IMHO, that's one area the industry has not promoted well enough. B&Bs represent an incredible value because of all the freebies. Tell them that.
Cutting back on the freebies? Well, if they're a big drain on the budget and not bringing in revenue, definitely.
But if those freebies are generally fairly inexpensive ways of making guests feel luxurious - without the luxurious price tag - then they're probably worth it.
That is, IF they're being well-promoted and well-appreciated.
.

I don't think it's too late to remind guests of what a bargain they're getting at a B&B. And, IMHO, that's one area the industry has not promoted well enough. B&Bs represent an incredible value because of all the freebies. Tell them that.
Cutting back on the freebies? Well, if they're a big drain on the budget and not bringing in revenue, definitely.
But if those freebies are generally fairly inexpensive ways of making guests feel luxurious - without the luxurious price tag - then they're probably worth it.
That is, IF they're being well-promoted and well-appreciated.

Hear Hear!
Example - the very fragrant LARGE bunch of miniature carnations in mahogany red - it is gorgeous in the vase on the table. It was $10 and I found it just arrived from the grower on sale for $2.99. I took the other flowers from the table and divied them up between the rooms checking in. Long lasting flowers are the only ones I will buy. So these flowers can easily go into 6 rooms and will last another week. So in the end the flowers were very reasonable "luxuries."
This is all part of innkeeping, what is reasonable and what is not. We have to determine that for our own place and price point of our B&B. Ours is not high end, but guests here on an anniversary or getaway feel like it is when they have fresh flowers in their room. I don't put a whole bouquet in any room, they can add-on that if they wish!

 

[gillumhouse]

I say do like the stores do - raise the price so you can offer the discount - and end up getting the same amt. So, raise it $10! To answer your question - yes, people would consider it an amenity, but I wouldn't put it on the website (for reasons that Morticia pointed out). If someone calls to rent and asks why this room is more than the others, just explain the "more privacy since there are no adjoining walls". Most people will think of that as a good thing. (But at the same time wonder about your other rooms).

I think Joey has a few different price points. Here guests generally want to know why one room is so much lower (and can they tolerate that one thing, whatever it is to get the lower price!)
.

I think Joey has a few different price points. Here guests generally want to know why one room is so much lower (and can they tolerate that one thing, whatever it is to get the lower price!)

Oddly enough I have never had a guest ask me why a room is more than another room. But we don't get walk in traffic.
We have discussed BED SIZE as being a determining factor in some folks minds as to price points, regardless of other amenities. Of course each room it totally different.
I want to make a poll on how many rooms everyone has that has a shared wall - and a bed on either side of the wall. None of ours do, one bed has a closet behind it in the other room. etc
Did any one post the survey? I don't have it yet. Was guest common areas on the list at all? Just wondering.
.

No beds have ever shared a wall here. The two rooms that share a wall used to have the beds against the hall wall (bathroom for one). Now that I have rearranged Rosi's Room, the bed shares the wall with the dresser in the other room. The big room floor is the ceiling of the "studio" DH inhabits.

 

[JBloggs]

I think in the end it is a potluck we are in when we book a room at a B&B. I mean, we have more information today than ever before. Guests who call will ask me which room I would choose. Of course I would choose the most expensive. As the innkeeper I would choose the one that is easiest to clean. LOL!
Do you want a shower stall or a bath tub? Makes a huge diff to some people. If you had knee surgery a claw foot tub would be difficult for you. Some B&B websites do not even sprovide info as to what the bathroom is like. Guests are expecting this more and more. I remember 6 years ago an innmate of ours suggesting we all need bathroom pix and I thought that was foul. I soon saw her point and agree.

 

[Morticia]

I say do like the stores do - raise the price so you can offer the discount - and end up getting the same amt. So, raise it $10! To answer your question - yes, people would consider it an amenity, but I wouldn't put it on the website (for reasons that Morticia pointed out). If someone calls to rent and asks why this room is more than the others, just explain the "more privacy since there are no adjoining walls". Most people will think of that as a good thing. (But at the same time wonder about your other rooms).

I think Joey has a few different price points. Here guests generally want to know why one room is so much lower (and can they tolerate that one thing, whatever it is to get the lower price!)
.

I think Joey has a few different price points. Here guests generally want to know why one room is so much lower (and can they tolerate that one thing, whatever it is to get the lower price!)

Oddly enough I have never had a guest ask me why a room is more than another room. But we don't get walk in traffic.
We have discussed BED SIZE as being a determining factor in some folks minds as to price points, regardless of other amenities. Of course each room it totally different.
I want to make a poll on how many rooms everyone has that has a shared wall - and a bed on either side of the wall. None of ours do, one bed has a closet behind it in the other room. etc
Did any one post the survey? I don't have it yet. Was guest common areas on the list at all? Just wondering.
.

We have no rooms where the beds share a wall. It's almost like the OO thought this thru, bless him! Even tho I have rearranged rooms so they suited my tastes, the beds still don't share a wall.

 

[Morticia]

I think in the end it is a potluck we are in when we book a room at a B&B. I mean, we have more information today than ever before. Guests who call will ask me which room I would choose. Of course I would choose the most expensive. As the innkeeper I would choose the one that is easiest to clean. LOL!
Do you want a shower stall or a bath tub? Makes a huge diff to some people. If you had knee surgery a claw foot tub would be difficult for you. Some B&B websites do not even sprovide info as to what the bathroom is like. Guests are expecting this more and more. I remember 6 years ago an innmate of ours suggesting we all need bathroom pix and I thought that was foul. I soon saw her point and agree..

I couldn't fit me AND the camera IN any of my bathrooms! Those guests who ask, 'Is the shower big enough for 2,' really get me laughing. The BATHROOM is big enough for 2, IF you're really good friends.
I don't care about the bathroom as long as it has all the necessary fixtures and it's clean. Clean goes a long way in my book! Altho I am not happy with the sink in the bedroom, or any fixture in the bedroom. I want all my bathroom to be in the bathROOM, with a door that closes and locks.
Now I look at 'luxurious' bathrooms as a lot of wasted space that has to be kept clean. Amazing what cleaning for a living does to the perceptions of 'luxury'. I see those huge bathrooms on TV and wonder who cleans them!

 

[gillumhouse]

I think in the end it is a potluck we are in when we book a room at a B&B. I mean, we have more information today than ever before. Guests who call will ask me which room I would choose. Of course I would choose the most expensive. As the innkeeper I would choose the one that is easiest to clean. LOL!
Do you want a shower stall or a bath tub? Makes a huge diff to some people. If you had knee surgery a claw foot tub would be difficult for you. Some B&B websites do not even sprovide info as to what the bathroom is like. Guests are expecting this more and more. I remember 6 years ago an innmate of ours suggesting we all need bathroom pix and I thought that was foul. I soon saw her point and agree..

I couldn't fit me AND the camera IN any of my bathrooms! Those guests who ask, 'Is the shower big enough for 2,' really get me laughing. The BATHROOM is big enough for 2, IF you're really good friends.
I don't care about the bathroom as long as it has all the necessary fixtures and it's clean. Clean goes a long way in my book! Altho I am not happy with the sink in the bedroom, or any fixture in the bedroom. I want all my bathroom to be in the bathROOM, with a door that closes and locks.
Now I look at 'luxurious' bathrooms as a lot of wasted space that has to be kept clean. Amazing what cleaning for a living does to the perceptions of 'luxury'. I see those huge bathrooms on TV and wonder who cleans them!
.

I have large showers. The bathroom with the claw-foot tub also has a 48 inch shower. (the other shower is 60 inches) I had visions of having to Crisco a "large load" guest out of the shower so decided against a smaller shower. The thought gave me the heebie-jeebies!!! Also why I decided to stay with one large shared bathroom rather than 2 tiny private baths.

 

[Morticia]

This just in from my state tourism association newsletter. 'Jay' being Jay Karen and 'Rick' being Rick Wolf. Comments taken from the Innkeepers Assoc meeting a couple of weeks ago...
According to both Rick and Jay, ‘quaint’ is out and a more updated
look is increasingly what travelers, especially younger ones, are demanding.
Victorian mansions may be beautiful to look at and are definitely
built for the long haul, but please don’t make the interiors look like a
memorial to your Aunt Milly’s old house. Even be aware of your own
decorative touches. What may strike you as visually delightful and unique
may actually come across as fussy and precious to the ones who really
matter – your potential visitors.

In fact, hotels and inns are coming to a consensus, just from opposite
ends. You will have noticed that more and more hotels are downsizing
their overall footprint in order to appear to be more intimate. They, of
course, supply free wi-fi and all the other props of modern living, and
increasingly, these amenities are demanded of inns and b&bs, too, by
travelers who expect to be connected wherever they go.

Among the many fascinating research pieces that Jay supplied in
rapid succession was the fact that inns with 10 or more rooms are the
most desirable for the innkeeper’s bottom line for a number of reasons.

More importantly, they are the most appealing to customers, too, these
days. Intimacy is an overrated selling point more and more these days.
While it is true that modern travelers want to be pampered, they are increasingly
wary of too much hands-on attention from the innkeeper, hence
the desirability of inns with 10 or more rooms.
It was noted in the follow on paragraphs that having video of your property on your website is becoming a requirement.
Going by the numbers I have seen from this state, 10 rooms and up IS the most viable property size. Those were the B&B's/Inns that made money this year.
My one teeth-gritting moment came when I read 'free WiFi is of course provided by hotels...' Maybe these guys don't travel much

...or they don't stay where my guests do who complain about having to pay for everything at hotels.
And let's see if we can spot the conflict in stating that hotels are downsizing to appear more intimate and intimacy is an overrated selling point.

 

[Suzie Q]

No I am not going to tout it as anything other than what I do. They can look at the floor plan to see it has no bordering rooms. I am just going to raise the rate $5. I am telling you all why I am doing it, it is being booked MOST and so I wondered if that "very private" room is something people find as an amenity. That is not WHY it is being booked most, there are other reasons. In fact it is at the front of the house and people think that means street noise, and it is the contrary here..

We do charge $15 more for one room. It is a suite, and isolated compared to the other room. It is off the dining room. It shares bathroom walls and a wall with the dining room. I can cook in the kitchen all I want, without these guests hearing me. YEA!

 

[Samster]

This just in from my state tourism association newsletter. 'Jay' being Jay Karen and 'Rick' being Rick Wolf. Comments taken from the Innkeepers Assoc meeting a couple of weeks ago...
According to both Rick and Jay, ‘quaint’ is out and a more updated
look is increasingly what travelers, especially younger ones, are demanding.
Victorian mansions may be beautiful to look at and are definitely
built for the long haul, but please don’t make the interiors look like a
memorial to your Aunt Milly’s old house. Even be aware of your own
decorative touches. What may strike you as visually delightful and unique
may actually come across as fussy and precious to the ones who really
matter – your potential visitors.

In fact, hotels and inns are coming to a consensus, just from opposite
ends. You will have noticed that more and more hotels are downsizing
their overall footprint in order to appear to be more intimate. They, of
course, supply free wi-fi and all the other props of modern living, and
increasingly, these amenities are demanded of inns and b&bs, too, by
travelers who expect to be connected wherever they go.

Among the many fascinating research pieces that Jay supplied in
rapid succession was the fact that inns with 10 or more rooms are the
most desirable for the innkeeper’s bottom line for a number of reasons.

More importantly, they are the most appealing to customers, too, these
days. Intimacy is an overrated selling point more and more these days.
While it is true that modern travelers want to be pampered, they are increasingly
wary of too much hands-on attention from the innkeeper, hence
the desirability of inns with 10 or more rooms.
It was noted in the follow on paragraphs that having video of your property on your website is becoming a requirement.
Going by the numbers I have seen from this state, 10 rooms and up IS the most viable property size. Those were the B&B's/Inns that made money this year.
My one teeth-gritting moment came when I read 'free WiFi is of course provided by hotels...' Maybe these guys don't travel much

...or they don't stay where my guests do who complain about having to pay for everything at hotels.
And let's see if we can spot the conflict in stating that hotels are downsizing to appear more intimate and intimacy is an overrated selling point..

I have never stayed at a nice hotel that offered FREE WiFi. There was always a charge and a pretty hefty one. Now, I've stayed at a few more economical "Interstate" hotels and they've had either free WiFi or high speed Internet.
Back to Joey Bloggs...I definitely would charge more more a more private room. A lot of people nowadays want to disconnect from the stress & constant input in their daily lives. A nice retreat is the perfect balm for them.

 

[user 26]

i agree with suellen
the most popular rooms command the highest rates. i have found that there are many factors that go into a room being the post popular. in fact, that's what i had on my website 'our most popular room' and it was.
i wouldn't mention 'private' because i have heard a concern from friends and relatives who are not b&b go'ers who worry that they will be heard by other guests or that other guests will hear them. sometimes that does happen. i did not have all kinds of soundproofing. i tried with furniture placement and rugs and fabric on walls, etc.
you don't want others who aren't getting the most expensive room (maybe they would take it but don't because it's not available) to be wondering about their own privacy. hope that makes sense.