Survey finds B&B’s should thrive this year
Expect an uptick in business for US bed-and-breakfasts as nearly eight out of 10 leisure travelers (79 percent) intend to stay at one at some point during the next year, Ypartnership said in its first look at the American B&B sector.
“This augers very well for the growth of this segment of the lodging industry,” Peter Yesawich, Ypartnership chairman and CEO, said in an email.
By comparison, 13 percent of American leisure travelers indicated they stayed at a B&B or inn at least once during the past year.
Why B&B’s? The reasons broke out this way:
• Private, less-crowded (64 percent);
• Better sense of local culture (56 percent);
• Personalized service (54 percent);
• Unique architecture and décor (53 percent); and
• Home-cooked food (52 percdent).
Yesawich said travelers are searching for amenities that traditional hotels and conference centers are unable to provide.
“I really don’t think there is much conventional hotels and resorts can do to ‘re-direct’ this demand as the two lodging experiences are (not) ‘substitutable,’” Yesawich wrote. “That is to say, travelers’ interest in staying in B&Bs is driven primarily by the unique nature of the guest experience, one they typically don’t find in conventional lodging.”
Amenities B&B guests expect to see during their stay, according to the study, are:
• Comfortable beds and linens (92 percent);
• Friendly staff (91 percent);
• Complimentary, fresh-made breakfast (88 percent);
• Free time to relax and unwind (87 percent); and
• Knowledgeable innkeepers (80 percent).
Yesawich said B&Bs must now focus on building market awareness for B&Bs for those seeking a more intimate experience as an alternative to conventional hotels.
“I do think interest in patronizing B&Bs will continue to grow as more travelers seek non-traditional lodging accommodations (and experiences) as alternatives to the standard ‘branded’ fare,” he said. “This is true for both demographic ends of the marketplace: matures and millennials.”
By David Wilkening
David
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