Promoting the Industry

Our goal is to generate great publicity for BedandBreakfast.com members specifically, and for the B&B industry as a whole. In this issue we cover:

Upcoming Publicity for BedandBreakfast.com members
Ask the Pros

Let’s Hear It from Innkeepers

Recent Media Coverage

Current and Upcoming Publicity: March and April
BedandBreakfast.com sent the following press releases in February; scroll down to read about the great media pick-up these releases generated:
For "Spring Breakation," Hit The Slopes: B&Bs Ready for Spring Break with Ski, Sleigh and Snow Play Packages

We’re presently working on the following press releases for distribution in March and April:

Green Getaways and Eco Escapes: If you haven’t already listed your Green Getaway or Eco Escape, please post it on BedandBreakfast.com’s Specials section, under the category with that name. The press release will be a compilation of the best specials posted.

The Top 10 Green B&Bs: This release will be an Editor’s Pick, based upon information sent to Marti Mayne at Marti@BedandBreakfast.com. If you have not sent information about how your B&B has gone green or ideas for green cleaning and home maintenance tips, please do so by March 9.

Tanks a Lot: We’re beginning to get media requests for the annual BedandBreakfast.com Tanks a Lot promotion. Gas prices have just spiked, and automobile travel is on the rise, so Tanks a Lot offers will continue to be popular with both B&B goers and the media. If your free gas special has expired, post a new one for the spring and summer travel seasons! BedandBreakfast.com continues to have a direct link from the home page to the Gas Specials, making your offer even more visible to potential guests and the media. Last year, more than 200 gas offers were posted on BedandBreakfast.com, making it a popular story for the media; let’s top it for 2007! Please be sure to post your Tanks a Lot offer under Free Gas Promotion in BedandBreakfast.com’s Specials section.


Silver-level members and above may post specials; simply log in with your Property ID and password. Select Specials from the table in your Home Base. Enter appropriate offers for Free Gas Promotion and spring packages. Bronze member? Please click here to upgrade.

Important Reminder: While we include as many members as possible in BedandBreakfast.com press releases, limited space makes it impossible to include everyone, although site specials are always included. Offers that include a small discount or are too restrictive will not pique the media’s attention. Please remember to be as creative as possible when designing your specials and packages. Take some time to review other specials on the site, and see which ones appeal to you. Like the media, the editors at BedandBreakfast.com are drawn to creative offers.
      

Ask the Pros: How can I track whether the media uses my story?
A: The best way to track media coverage is free and easy. Google News Alerts, a free service from the search engine giant, allows you to track when your B&B appears in a story placed on the Internet. Simply go to http://www.google.com/alerts and type in the name of your property under Search Terms. While you’re there, why not track the kind of coverage your competition is getting too? Type in the name(s) of the B&Bs near you, and you’ll not only track the coverage your neighbors get, but also follow the media who are covering B&Bs. Be sure whenever possible to grab the names of reporters and other media covering B&Bs in your area, then stay in touch with them with news from your B&B.

As a publicist for the B&B industry, I track all articles with the words inns, B&Bs, bed and breakfasts, country inns and more. This allows me to see what kinds of B&B stories are interesting to the media and who is covering them.

Let’s Hear It from Innkeepers and the Media
Media Quote of the Month: “Thanks so much Marti for the girlfriend's getaways information. We are promoting this heavily so keep us tuned with new girlfriend getaways. Keep up the good work.” – Kriss Hammond, editor, Jetsetters Magazine

Innkeeper Quote of the Month: "Wow! Great work getting all that exposure for BedandBreakfast.com and all of your members! Once again, you've demonstrated what an excellent partner BedandBreakfast.com is for all of us. Keep up the leadership and the great work!" – Pat Shotlander, Petite Auberge Les Bons Matins, San Francisco, CA

Recent BedandBreakfast.com Media Coverage
Love was in the air throughout February, and romantic inns, in addition to “Un-Valentine’s Day” celebrations for singles, were on the minds of the media. Frommers.com recognized that not everyone is the lovin’ type. After receiving BedandBreakfast.com’s advice for the lovelorn, they mentioned the best place to celebrate being single is Laurel Hill B&B, and the best place to drown one’s sorrows is the 1811 House. Other coverage for BedandBreakfast.com’s story about Valentine’s Day for singles and the lovelorn came from The Boston Globe, Travellady.com and the Hartford Courant.

The Capital Times in Madison, WI, mentioned BedandBreakfast.com’s Best Undiscovered Inns and recognized the White Lace Inn for inclusion on the list. Travelpost said “So you’re a chump, forgot Valentine’s Day and need a quick (but meaningful, of course) gift for the travel addict you love more than life itself. Gift certificates can lack feeling, but they can also be just the right thing, if you know where to look. May I humbly suggest…an instant online BedandBreakfast.com gift certificate good for lodging at 3,200+ places ... ”

News about BedandBreakfast.com members with ties to the Underground Railroad has been a popular travel story for media recognizing February as Black History Month. To date, stories have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Newsday and The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY).

Sandy Soule was interviewed about BedandBreakfast.com’s list of B&Bs with ties to the Underground RR for a story circulated by the Associated Press on Black History Month. The story, which specifically mentioned Christopher’s B&B in Bellevue, KY, appeared throughout the country, including the Seattle Post Intelligencer, the Orange County Register and Arizona’s AZ Central.

BedandBreakfast.com’s Spring Breakation release was picked up in full by American Chronicle.

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