innkeeping: Starting a B&B Association

[DVick1885@aol.com]

I've been a member and active volunteer of our state B&B association for
seven years. Although I wasn't around when it was established, I have 
seen it
go through some important, and very sensitive growth spurts. I recommend 
that
you contact the presidents of other B&B associations to take advantage of
their experience.

I also think you must decide if you are going to be just a cooperative
marketing group or a professional association--the first certainly 
demanding
less time and energy. If indeed, your group is interested in forming a
professional association, marketing is just one of the many issues that 
you
will be dealing with.

Other issues that take up a significant amount of time are: networking 
among
members; providing ongoing opportunities for members to voice their 
concerns;
mentoring and educating new members; representing the membership before
outside related organizations; establishing cooperative buying 
opportunities;
etc.

Probably one of the most labor intensive and sensitive responsibilities 
of a
professional association is establishing criteria and standards for
membership with regular monitoring to insure they continue to meet these
standards. After all, one piece of bad press concerning one member, and 
all
members suffer by association. There is usually a system for receiving 
guest
comments and recommendations; forwarding these comments, both good and 
bad,
to the members; and facilitating appropriate action in response to both 
guest
complaints and the innkeepers response.

Unless the group has a huge budget, most of this work will done through
volunteers and yes, meetings, meetings, meetings. Evaluation and forward
planning is essential. Associations have to be very sensitive to volunteer
burnout and encouraging all members to get involved.  In our association,
there are some members that never come to a meeting--they pay their dues 
and
as long a our directory is published, they are satisfied. Other members 
yearn
for more contact. We have inns that range in size from 2 to 26 guest 
rooms;
from very formal to  rustic ambience; and rate ranges from $55 to $290 a
night. Our association has been able to deal with these differences by
encouraging all to participate; after all each member inn--not matter what
size or shape-- gets one vote, so all have a say in how our association 
will
grow. 

The success of the B&B industry and the way that the traveler views that
industry depends on how well we as  owners maintain our professionalism 
and
integrity. I believe that state associations serve an integral role in
promoting that professionalism. 

Sorry to have gone on so long with this response; but as you can guess, I 
am
very proud of our association and believe that our membership in this 
group
is one of the best investments we have ever made.  Good luck with your new
venture; hope my response helps a little!

Debbie Vickery
Old North Durham Inn