No Subject

[owner-innkeeping]

Jo Ann:
Sender: owner-innkeeping@innsite.com
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: innkeeping@innsite.com

I have read and analyzed your responses to the myriad of concerns from a
variety of innkeepers and as a whole it would appear your stand is in
defense of AAA and its current rating system.
What puzzles me is why an organization with a membership of - "37million"
would not want to listen to voices from its membership as to what they are
looking for in lodging facilities.  Do you think for a moment the
preponderance of its membership cares or even knows  the number of rooms 
at
a facility?  Do you think the majority of people would choose not to stay 
at
a facility that has only two rooms, versus four rooms?  We have found the
majority of travelers are looking for a quite, relaxing, yes, unique 
lodging
experience.  I think AAA is shortsighted and as a result shortchanging 
their
audience by not offering to its membership the smaller lodging facilities
(under 4 units).  As one of the writers pointed out, the smaller 
facilities
offer much more in personalized service than what you could expect at 
other,
larger facilities.
While I'm sure major strides have been made over the past several years 
with
AAA and the B &B  industry, it is not happening at the rate and 
consistency
of  our times.  Remember, it is the traveler we must focus on - his/her
needs.  I question this 100-year old organizations objectives and 
certainly,
standards by which they judge.  Contrary to what you said, I feel AAA 
should
offer a variety of facilities to accommodate "everyone's" needs.

Marian
Marian Thrasher  - http://www/nwlink.com/~holihedg
Holly Hedge House Bed & Breakfast - 226-2555

[Moderator: Yup, I can see why you might feel that way; however, I am 
only really responding to the input/output that comes through AAA. I 
don't defend their lack of 2-room property acceptance. I just know that 
we lost the battle when they presented the numbers. And, yes, actually, I 
feel the traveller knows quite well how many rooms a facility has when 
they choose it. Whether it be 2 rooms or 12. I guess that AAA thinks it 
does focus on the traveller (37 million of them). I am just putting 
information into the "pot" to provide some additional data. I think each 
innkeeper/owner has to do what feels right for h/her.
jo ann]