amenities for innkeepers

10 Supplies No Bed and Breakfast Should Be Without

Log cabin bed and breakfast

If you visit Farmington, New Mexico, you can stay at Kokopelli’s Cave Bed and Breakfast, with rooms that are 70 feet underground.

The Red Caboose Getaway in Sequim, Washington lets you stay in one of six unique luxury train cars and experience the magic of an old-fashioned railway journey.

And at the Out ‘n’ About Treehouse Treesort in Oregon, guests live like the Swiss Family Robinson, in rooms built in treetops towering above the earth.

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How to Prepare Your Bed and Breakfast for Holiday Guests

Dinner table preparations for Thanksgiving with greeting

We all know Thanksgiving is a busy travel time, but this year’s Thanksgiving might be the busiest ever.

The federal Transportation Security Administration says it expects to screen nearly 3 million people a day in the stretch between November 16 and November 25. That’s to say nothing of all the people who will travel by car this holiday and that can translate to a busy time for your bed and breakfast. It might be a stressful few weeks, but it’s also an ideal time to impress your guests and keep them coming back.

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Which Hotel Amenities Matter Most to Guests?

Luxury hotel room

The next time you’re visiting New York, check into the Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Guests in this suite can enjoy a 360-degree view of the Manhattan skyline, and sleep in a king-sized bed that features a 22-karat gold bedspread.

Of course, this all assumes you have $50,000 to spend for a single night’s stay.

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Luxury Hotel Bathrobes: Make Sure Your Guests Can Relax

woman in hotel relaxing in luxury bathrobe

At the Corinthia Hotel in London, they have relaxation down to a science.

We mean that literally. According to the Huffington Post, the hotel joined forces with neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart to create a program to help busy travelers reduce stress using many of the aspects of traditional relaxation therapy such as yoga and meditation.

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How to Make the Perfect Bed

Whether you’re running a three-room bed and breakfast from your quaint seaside cottage or a bustling 50-room boutique hotel in a trendy urban locale, making the perfect bed is one of your most important tasks.

Large hotels understand the importance most travelers place on getting a good night’s rest in a comfortable and luxurious bed, so much so that hotel chains have spent millions of dollars in recent years in what industry insiders have dubbed “the bed wars”.

Thanks to research conducted by large hotel chains, one thing we do know is that by and large, guests tend to associate white bedding as being the most comfortable, luxurious and calming. Do remember, though, that such a simple color palette need not be boring. You can really let your creativity shine by mixing up multiple layers and textures, and by accessorizing with tasteful pops of color.

Here, we’ll show you not only how to protect one of your most important investments — your mattresses — but also how to make your bed in the manner that will be most appealing to your guests.

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Join InnStyle and Sealy Mattress Company at the PAII Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show

With the new year just around the corner, are you ready to start it off on a high note?

All of us here at InnStyle are busy preparing to attend the PAII Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show, which will be held at the Hilton Riverside Hotel in New Orleans, La., from January 5 – 8, 2015.

So, Why Should You Attend this Conference?

Not only does the conference showcase current industry trends and best practices — it also gives you the opportunity to build new relationships with vendors and other innkeepers alike. Come join us in the Big Easy for special events, mixers, and a wide breadth of educational sessions from aspiring to master innkeepers.

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Protect Your Mattresses Using Encasements and Luggage Racks

All this month, InnStyle is having a sale on both Sealy and Stearns & Foster mattresses. The mattresses we offer from these well-known manufacturers of hospitality mattresses are of the very highest quality.

I mention this as our prices on these mattresses are always excellent … and with the November sale, they’re even better!

When selling a mattress, we always recommend purchasing mattress and box spring encasements (preferably with protection against bed-bugs).

Along with the encasements — which should be zippered and should fully encase your mattress and box spring — we advise our customers to protect their mattresses by purchasing and using luggage racks in each guest room.

Placing luggage racks in each guest room is important for any number of reasons. For starters, they protect your mattress, bedspread, coverlet or duvet against regular wear and tear. They also protect the bed itself from any dirt, grease or bedbugs that guests may have unknowingly picked up during their travels.

We offer an especially wide range of different luggage rack styles on our website.

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Which Amenities are Most Important?

We have been asked by many Innkeepers which amenities are most important to have available for their guests.

Below is a list of basic items which most guests would expect to have in their guest room.

Soap at the sink and in the shower
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body Wash (optional) some people prefer to soap
Hair Dryer
Robes
Slippers
WiFi availability (free is preferred-if not in room-available in a common area)

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InnStyle Representative to Attend 2013 Innkeeping Leadership Week

The Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII), the group dedicated to the education, information, networking, advocacy, business opportunities and research relating to the innkeeping industry, will be hosting “Innkeeping Leadership Week” on
April 15 – 18, 2013, in Charleston, South Carolina.

PAII provides continuing education programs in many formats, the largest being the annual Innkeeping Conference & Tradeshow, where experienced innkeepers are challenged and new innkeepers brought up to speed at events featuring dozens of workshops, nationally known experts, and the industry’s largest trade show.

But learning extends far beyond the annual conference and include such opportunities as interactive Webinars; weekly and monthly e-newsletters; Innkeeping Quarterly (IQ) (the industry’s only magazine exclusively serving the needs of the professional innkeeping community); and a variety of areas on the Website (http://www.innkeeping.org/) most notably the Online Forums, which bring an invaluable interactive exchange that benefits both posters and readers alike.

2013 Innkeeping Leadership Week is another of the many and varied learning opportunities for innkeepers. The agenda of this event includes:

Monday, April 15th: 9:00am – 5:00pm – Key Leaders Retreat and Innkeeping Leadership Banquet – “Getting B&B Associations on the Right Track” – Workshop Facilitated by Bob Harris, 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Cocktail Hour, 7:00pm – 8:30pm - Innkeeping Leadership Banquet.
Tuesday April 16th: 9:00am – 5:00pm – Advisory Council Meeting (includes PAII board members), 6:30pm – Advisory Council and PAII Board Dinner
Wednesday April 17th: 9:00am – 12:00 pm – Advisory Council Meeting, 12:00pm – 5:00pm – PAII Board of Directors Meeting, 7:00pm+ – PAII Board Dinner
Thursday April 18th: 9:00am – 12:00pm - PAII Board of Directors Meeting

For information or to register visit http://www.innkeeping.org/event/leaders or contact Michele McVay at Michele@paii.org.

As part of the Advisory Council, InnStyle will be attending this event. InnStyle has been the source for innkeeper supplies and linens at wholesale pricing since 1952. Offering a wide variety of inn supplies including sheets, towels, blankets and much more.

Contact InnStyle for your fine linens and Personal Service at Wholesale Pricing. Or call 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Stain Removal Hints

Check all linens for stain and pre-treat them before laundering
Patience and time are require when working on stains. There is NO immediate solution
Test all bleaches in an inconspicuous area to avoid damaging colored items
Do not use chlorine bleach on wool or silk – it will dissolve both fabrics
Do not use vinegar on acetate material – it will soften and dissolve acetate
Oily based stains like salad dressing, sauces, etc. should be treated with a solvent prior to laundering. Laundering even without drying may set these types of stains
Use solvents such as Carbona, mineral spirits or other dry cleaning fluids in a well ventilated area. Try to avoid excessive inhalation of the fumes from the solvents
Avoid drying items in the dryer with heat unless stains have been removed

Facial Wipes - Prevent Stains
For information on products to help prevent stains or properly cleaning stains, contact your Personal Shopper at InnStyle or call toll free 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Save your linens from cosmetics with our facial wipes! 13″x13″ 100% cotton facial wipes are sure to please your guests while preventing staining!