Time for a Smile

Book review: Entertaining and courageous stories of the rescue of a derelict urban historic home, restored as a B&B, complete with ghosts and a hidden dungeon, plus advice for aspiring innkeepers comprise Breakfast with Tom: The Stories, Author, restorer, and innkeeper Tom Porfidio purchased a ready-to-be-razed historic mansion on the Hudson River, laboriously transforming it into the handsome Stockbridge Ramsdell House on Hudson, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the onset, the house had no windows or doors, so Tom had to nail himself in at night, then sleep on the floor. Another time, while installing sheetrock, he forgot about the hole in the floor and nearly fell through. Photographs and drawings illustrate the renovation process. The second part of the book discusses B&B issues that will interest aspiring and newly perspiring innkeepers. Copies are available for $15 including postage from Tom Porfidio, 5271 Laurel Oak Court, North Port, FL 34287.

Travel Trends

You know it's important to stay current on international travel and hospitality trends, but have little time to do so. Take five minutes now to keep up on some highlights; click through for more details:

Internet trends

PhoCusWright's Online Travel Overview: Market Size and Forecasts 2004-2006 predicts that more than one-third of all U.S. travel will be booked online by leisure and unmanaged business travel sites in 2006, up from 15 percent in 2002 and 20 percent in 2003. The report noted that the travel "industry as a whole has recovered slowly (achieving growth rates of 2-3%), while the online channel has been feasting on annual increases of more than 30%." By 2006, they predict: "online travel will comprise 33% of all travel bookings." More info

News from the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA):

"Since 1994, leisure person-trips (travel over 50 miles) have increased more than 16%; during that same time-frame business/convention travel volume fell more than 15% percent."
"TIA's Travel Price Index for May 2004 was up 5.6 percent compared to May 2003. Gasoline prices played a major role, with fuel prices up nearly 30 percent against May 2003. Lodging prices rose 5.2 percent from twelve months ago. Airfares, however, declined 1.2 percent during the same period."
"TIA's Dr. Suzanne Cook, senior vice president, Research & Technology said leisure travel would grow by 3.2 percent this summer, almost a full percentage point greater than in 2003. And business travel, in decline since 1999, is expected to rebound with a 5.7 percent increase over last summer."
According to TIA's Annual Travel Forecast: "Overall spending by domestic and international travelers is expected to grow 6 percent this year alone. Leisure travel is forecast to be up 3.5 percent. And the moribund business travel sector should make its first gains since 1999. It is expected to grow 4.6 percent."

According to a leading research firm, The Conference Board/TNS NFO, "two-thirds of consumers are using the Internet to make travel arrangements, and those who do are very satisfied. That satisfaction is somewhat tempered by study data showing that consumers are using the Internet for researching more than actually booking their travel online. Concern about the security of credit card information is the primary reason for not making arrangements online, according to the report."

"About twice as many consumers plan to use the Internet to research lodging rates/availability and airline rates/availability compared with those who plan to book online."
"Driving directions are the most researched activity, with weather/temperature and lodging next in line. Airline tickets are the number one item booked online, with lodging a very close second."
"The degree of concern expressed by women over conducting financial transactions online is greater than that expressed by men. Nearly a third of all women will not make travel arrangements over the Internet because they don't want to submit their credit card information."

U.S. consumers consider the Internet to be one of the most trusted sources for making major purchases and second only to spouses for finding referrals, according to the "Trusted Sources" Harris Interactive survey, reported the iMedia Connection: "The Internet is a more popular source for referrals than parents, close friends, colleagues, media and religious figures."

"Sixty-three percent of respondents also said that they find the Internet to be an important, very important or extremely important source of information on referrals when it comes to buying decisions. A mere 5% say that the Internet is not resourceful for information, while 86 percent of the respondents say they tend to return to Internet sites that had provided referrals and good experiences in the past."

VISA reports continuing growth in Internet shopping in Europe. Travel and tourism lead the growth, jumping 339%. Retail sales also increased with food and beverages up 242%. Books and music rose 94%.

International travel trends

An international survey by global communications agency Euro RSCG Worldwide covered emerging travel trends:

Luxury lodging: "As low-cost, no-frills mass travel spreads, so does the appeal of its opposite: high-cost, high-touch exclusivity and pampering. For some, low travel fares leave extra cash to splurge on luxury accommodations and services. Boutique hotels help restore character and distinctiveness to cities, and their growing popularity shows that travelers welcome a change from the sameness of global chains."
Retiring baby boomers: "As the first generation to have experienced mass-market travel for most of their lives, many are used to flying and have become familiar with the "usual" destinations, including France, Italy, Greece, and Florida. As baby-boomer luck would have it, their approaching retirement coincides with the consolidation of pension-stretching, low-cost flights and the release of equity from elderly relatives' properties. The downside for airlines and seniors is that advancing years inevitably increase the likelihood of health problems either en route or away from home --a reality that travel brands are going to have to start taking more seriously."
Cultural Travel: "It makes sense for towns, cities, and regions to market whatever nature and history have given them and, indeed, to create additional reasons to visit them. Many places that feel a little short on cultural appeal are trying to make up for it by creating an event to appeal to culture lovers."
Internet info: "The Internet is many people's starting point when researching major purchases, which certainly includes travel. A majority of Euro RSCG survey respondents in Germany (67%), the U.K. (63%), and the U.S. (52%) agreed that for major purchase decisions, their first stop is usually the Internet."

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Gift Certificates

Woolverton Inn, Stockton, NJ

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Inns for Sale

"We advertised our B&B in your Inns for Sale section in January, and started getting inquires a week later. In February, a couple came from Florida to visit us in Cat Spring, Texas. We made a deal, and they begin officially on April the 5th as the new owners. What you are doing really works." Sunny and John Snyder. Email us today and we'll put you on our special offer mailing list. Read more

Innkeepers Information Center

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