BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates

BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates were first introduced in 2000 as a way to get more consumers to try the B&B experience, and much has expanded and improved in the six years since. Once only available by mail, gift certificates can be delivered instantly by email and are also becoming available through retailers throughout the United States. Over 3,200 U.S. properties welcome BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates, making them a very desirable gift; by comparison, consider that Marriott International, a leading hotel chain, has nearly 2,800 properties in the United States and abroad.

BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates make it possible to “Give the Gift of a Getaway”
When it comes to gift-giving, we want folks to have the option of giving a B&B experience. After all, you only need one toaster/food processor/bread machine/etc., but you can never get enough romantic getaways. E-commerce sales have increased from $25.8 billion in 2000 to $86.3 billion in 2005; joining the BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificate program gives every innkeeper a chance to participate in this no-risk approach to attracting new guests.

Gift certificates are also your way to attract a share of the $17.34 billion dollars spent on gift cards during the 2005 holiday season (National Retail Federation). According to Dan Horne, Providence College marketing professor and gift card guru, “research indicates that incremental sales result from the redemption of gift cards. In general, Professor Horne estimates an additional 40% of spending on top of the gift value, with a range among most retailers of 10% to 50%... Consumers regard gift cards as ‘found money;’ this psychological concept allows people to feel free to spend money that is not perceived as being their own…In addition, gift cards are increasingly being given as wedding presents, especially because bridal registries have made it very easy to know the price of gifts received. In this case, giving a denominated gift such as a gift card is appropriate, and the stigma is removed.” (CitiGroup: Retailing—Broadlines -- Holiday 2005: The Guide to Holiday Gift Cards)

BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates introduce first-time guests to the B&B experience
Did you know that the B&B industry represents only 3% of the total lodging revenues for U.S. properties? And the percentage of travelers who’ve stayed at bed and breakfasts is smaller still! Although most gift certificates are sold via the BedandBreakfast.com website, we’re constantly working to expand the number of B&B travelers by reaching out to new markets, from our recent Mother’s Day promotion with Nestle/Save Martstores in Northern California, to our spring and summer run in Costco warehouses, to sales incentive programs with major corporations, to special promotions with fund-raising organizations. These promotions will bring you new guests and heighten B&B awareness among millions of travelers.

To let travelers know which inns are participating in the BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificate program, we mailed a cling to participating innkeepers to display wherever appropriate – on a window or door, on a plaque in the registration area, whatever works for you. These clings have no adhesive but stick to any smooth surface. Participating members should receive them by mid-June; if not, please contact Support@BedandBreakfast.com or call 1-512-322-2710. If you are not yet participating in the program, please log in to your Home Base and click the “gift certificate” link to participate.

As we continue to expand into different markets, we know you’ll share our concern that these first-time inngoers enjoy a positive B&B experience when they use their certificates.

Please remember that BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates:

• Have no blackout dates and must be accepted at any time just like cash.
• Can be used without limits, caps or extra charges to pay for accommodations, meals, gift shop purchases, etc.

BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates being sold at Costco
The Costco promotion is one of our many initiatives to introduce the B&B experience to folks who have never stayed at a B&B or inn before. Although Costco certificates are being sold at a discount, your commission remains at 15%.

Costco has more than 25 million members; top locations serve up to 12,000 shoppers daily.

Who shops at Costco? The kind of guests you want:

• College educated (82%)
• High household income (average is over $100,000)
• Homeowners (93%)
• Baby Boomers with the time/income for travel
• Families (81% are married)

BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates are a consumer favorite
You can read what consumers have to say about BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates by clicking here. A few samples:

• Great site. Easy to use for ordering gift certificates. Try to get more B&Bs on board for gift certificate acceptance. A couple of my favorites weren't on the list.
• Fantastic!! I've bought gift certificates from you before, but they were just plain. I LOVE the new designs!!!!!
• This site was a real blessing. I had been searching for hours to find the perfect B&B for my mom as a Mother’s Day gift. When I visited each B&B website, I had to look to see if they sold their own certificates. It was a tremendous relief when I found your site. With one of your certificates, my mother can pick a relaxing getaway, choosing when and where she wants to go.
• Your website is great! Very well designed and user-friendly. I just purchased a gift certificate for a friend, but after browsing your website and seeing all the participating locations, I'm going to treat myself!
• Your website is very easy to use. We are giving a gift certificate as a present...now we hope that someone will give one to us!!!
• Wonderful site. We would love to see reviews on the website as well instead of having to go to a different place to do that.
• Site is great--very easy to navigate city to city & find B&Bs. I really like the "nearby cities" listings. One area you could improve would be to encourage more places listed to accept your gift certificates.
• Very good site, but would be better with more ability to make online reservations.
• The gift certificates are a great gift idea. I buy your gift certificates for every wedding I attend now. Wish this would've been around when my husband and I got married!!!
• This is perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. I am a big fan of your site and regularly book my stays at B&Bs with you. It is nice to know that I can now share this joy with friends simply by purchasing your gift certificates.
• We give employee awards, and the employee requested her award from this website. Very easy and quick! I will definitely remember this for the next time.
• Being able to print the certificates right away is ideal for us last-minute minute shoppers and procrastinators.
• I am a B&B owner and will probably participate in this program now that I’ve seen how it works.
• I purchased gift certificates for my parents’ 25th anniversary and just purchased them some more for Christmas. This site is great!

Not yet participating? Click here for details.

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Gift Certificates

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