You Asked:
“Some of our guests spend so much time on the Internet, that others have a hard time getting a free telephone line to make a call. How are other innkeepers handling this problem?” Carol Blomquist, Chalet Lisl, Aspen, CO
Email your responses to InnkeeperNews@BedandBreakfast.com. If we publish your comments in the Innkeeper News, we'll thank you with a $25 credit in our Featured Properties Auction program!
Question for our next issue:
According to Dona Gushue of the Jefferson Inn, Ellicottville, NY, the Golden Rule for Innkeepers is: "Do not do unto others as you would like others to do unto you. Ask what the other person wants.”
Do you agree? Please share your experiences.
Email your responses to InnkeeperNews@BedandBreakfast.com. If we publish your comments, we'll thank you with a $25 credit in our Featured Properties Auction program!
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Cell phone and Internet usage has increased dramatically over the past ten years, and as usual, innkeepers react
in different ways, depending on their location, clientele, and personal preference. The responses to the above
question tended to fall into three categories:
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- Innkeepers who stress that they offer a real getaway, and offer minimal phone/Internet access. This is a
reasonable approach if you never expect to host business travelers, and your leisure travelers do not need to check
in with the office, elderly parents, and/or young children.
- Innkeepers who offer limited phone/internet access, requesting that guests minimize Internet usage, and encourage
cell phone use for voice communication. This solution is adequate and economical, and works best in areas where with
high-quality cell phone service is available to all guests. If your inn is located in an area where there’s no service
for many cell phones, guests will be frustrated. As far as dialing up to pick up email and then disconnecting, bear
in mind that this is a fairly time-consuming process for your guests, especially with a slow connection speed. Once
current email has been downloaded, one then needs to synchronize, respond, reconnect, and so on.
- Innkeepers who offer ample in-room telephone/internet access, often with high speed and/or wireless connections.
Clearly the direction of choice for innkeepers who want to attract business travelers and others who need to stay
connected when they are away from home and office.
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Gray Goose Inn, Chesterton, IN
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“Our many business travelers are constantly on the phone and/or internet, straining the capability of our phone
system. We started with eight guest rooms and two phone lines available. To meet the demand, we expanded our
system, providing our guests with ten outside lines (in addition to the inn’s own lines). We have not experienced
any
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problems since expanding service. Today's guest, whether a leisure or business traveler stays connected.
Our high tech world makes demands that would have been unthinkable as little as five years ago. Successful
innkeeping requires assessing and exceeding our guests needs.” Tim Wilk, Gray Goose Inn, Chesterton, IN
“We installed high-speed cable access to the Internet via Road Runner.
It is always on, so you do not have to dial in. Once the Internet link-up was provided to the inn, we added a
wireless router that enables guests to connect to the Internet with their laptops anywhere in the Inn. They
simply need an antenna, which we lend them, and the software to load onto their laptop. They can carry it from
room to room, or even onto the porch or veranda, without losing the hookup. It is great! The monthly access
cost is currently $79 for a commercial account (maximum of 20 users at any point). The one-time installation
cost for the wireless system would have been under $500 (one-time fee), but we needed more access points since
we have a large building with thick plaster walls. Our guests are thrilled with this service, and we are pleased
that our phone lines are not tied up. We do not charge for the access, though we do require a $100 credit card
deposit for the wireless antennae (they're expensive) that is processed only if the antenna is not returned.
Never had a problem. This even opens us up to more business travel, since those guests love the instant, fast
Internet service.” Cynthia Trowell, Cromwell Manor Historic Inn, Cornwall, NY
“At WillowCreek Inn we use a Siemens 2420 phone system. The phones in the guest rooms are wireless, and can
only be used for voice calls, not Internet hookups. We also have regular phone jacks in most of the rooms, so
guests can use those lines for Internet access.” Brian Ellis, WillowCreek Inn Luxury Bed and Breakfast, Salt
Lake City, UT
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Time to move on? Sell your property by listing it on the leading Internet site
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