028: Marilyn Bushnell and Eliot Dalton, Innkeeping Consultants and Brokers, Discuss the State of the Lodging Marketplace in the Face of COVID-19
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
Release Date: 09/16/2020
047: Why Outdoor Lighting is Important with Mike Glaeser, Field Support Consultant of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
In the lodging arena, an often overlooked and important aspect to enhancing a property’s overall aesthetic is outdoor lighting. Mike Glaeser, Field Support Consultant at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, works with many properties to develop customized outdoor lighting solutions that can transform any location. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is the number one low-voltage outdoor lighting provider in the United States. We are very thankful to Mike for sharing his insights with us. You can learn more about Outdoor Lighting Perspectives at . Our podcast is presented by the...
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046: Challenging the Status Quo with Eben Viens, Owner of The B&B Team
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
The B&B Team provides real estate brokerage and consulting services in the lodging arena, and has its finger on the pulse of where the industry is headed. Eben Viens, the Owner of The B&B Team, works with a wide range of property owners and prospective innkeepers, and sees many younger buyers entering the market. Taking a page from boutique hotels, these property owners are challenging the status quo by selling experiences and creating memories – all great ideas to implement at any property. We are very thankful to Eben for sharing his insights with us. You can learn more about The...
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045: Supporting the Entire Guest Journey with Christian Holmsen, CEO, and Jeff Hebrink, Customer Success Consultant, of rezStream
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
Supporting the entire guest journey, rezStream offers a wide-range of critical operational and marketing tools for lodging providers – from reservation software to booking engines, websites, and digital marketing. The company partners with its lodging customers to develop customized plans, as well as offers à la carte solutions. rezStream’s property management software and marketing services position properties for long-term growth both in revenue and how they operate their business. We are very thankful to Christian Holmsen and Jeff Hebrink for sharing their insights with us. You can...
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044: Unleashing the Power of a Great Guest Service Experience with Samantha Irwin, Owner of Kaizen Business Coaching and Consulting
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
In 2006, Samantha Irwin bought the in the small town of Dufur, Oregon, an 18-room property devoid of furniture which had not been open consistently since the 1940’s. Over the next ten years, the former middle school teacher built a stellar reputation for the boutique property by training her staff to provide their guests with a phenomenal service experience. Now, as the owner of , Samantha leverages her unique educational and entrepreneurial background to help small business owners train their staff to enhance the service experiences of their customers. Her high-energy,...
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043: Nathan Mayfield, Vice President of ResNexus, Discusses Their Extensive Offering
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
For Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast #43, Nathan Mayfield, Vice President of , speaks about his company’s extensive offerings for the lodging sector, how ResNexus helped property owners during the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more. ResNexus offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, which include a reservation/booking engine, property management system (PMS), website creation/hosting, digital marketing, payment processing, and a whole lot more. During the initial stages of the COVID pandemic, the company went all-out to help its customers to update their cancellation policies and has since...
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042: Mark Reichle, CEO of Select Registry, Discusses Upcoming 50th Anniversary Conference and Gala, Feb. 5-6
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
For episode #42 of the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, we speak with Mark Reichle, CEO of about his organization's 50th Anniversary Conference and Gala in Baltimore, immediately preceding the 2022 ALP Conference and Marketplace. For half of a century, Select Registry has created a network of properties that offer outstanding accommodations and one-of-a-kind experiences for lodging guests. For property owners, achieving the Select Registry “Distinguished Inn of North America” designation comes with many marketing and revenue-growth opportunities. On February 5th and 6th,...
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041: Tim Wilson, Director of Sales at bnbfinder, Discusses Platform for Direct and Commission-Free Bookings
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
In the lodging arena, it is common for Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) to charge between 15 to 20 percent on each guest booking. While this may be palatable for larger hoteliers, smaller properties can greatly benefit from a solution that provides direct and commission-free bookings. This is where bnbfinder comes into play. The company has evolved into one of the largest online B&B directories for travelers, with over 10,000 B&Bs and inns. Guests can book their stays directly through bnbfinder with properties paying no commissions, making it an ideal and cost-effective channel for...
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040: Kris Ullmer and Erik Spence of the Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP) Discuss the Upcoming 2022 ALP Conference and Marketplace
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
For lodging professionals of all kinds, the ALP Conference and Marketplace is the go-to event of the year for educational opportunities for everything from sales, finance, marketing, operations to technology, and much more. This year, ALP has expanded the aspiring innkeeper portion of the conference to three days, and all attendees have the option to attend the main conference and marketplace. In addition, the event offers a wide-range of networking opportunities and social gatherings – culminating with three hours of entertainment, fun, open bar, and a Taste of Baltimore at the nearby...
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039: Randy Bangs, Owner of Get Heads in Beds, Discusses Marketing and Branding your Property
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
Marketing is a key differentiator in the lodging industry, and the true driver to securing new guest reservations. Though having the internal resources to manage every aspect of marketing can be challenging. Get Heads in Beds is a marketing and consulting firm that fills in these gaps for lodging professionals. As the name suggests, the firm is all about helping properties to drive up overall revenue through increased bookings. Unlike traditional marketing firms, Get Heads in Beds charges nothing up front, and is only compensated when new revenue comes in the door. We are very thankful to...
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038: Jim Snediker, Co-Founder and CEO of Stock Mfg Co., Discusses Branded Workwear for Differentiating Your Offerings
Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast
Lodging professionals can differentiate their offerings by the use of branded workwear to project an ideal brand image, reinforce a consistent guest experience, and bolster overall employee morale. Jim Snedicker and his team at Stock Mfg Co. are experts at the aesthetics of clothing for the hospitality industry. Since 2012, Stock has designed and manufactured custom workwear for some of the best bars, restaurants, and hotels in the world. With roots in the fashion industry, the company offers a wide-range of stylish branded uniforms, including shirts, blazers, light jackets, aprons, and...
info_outlineThe COVID-19 pandemic is having a varied impact on innkeepers around the U.S. In rural areas, there is plenty of activity – both from increased guest bookings and the buying and selling of inns – while urban environments are being challenged.
There are also an increased number of prospective buyers looking to acquire rural properties, and start their lives as innkeepers away from larger cities. In addition, mortgage rates are ideal right now, and some smaller inns are being marketed to large families that aren’t looking to be innkeepers, but looking to live and work remotely in these properties.
For Marilyn Bushnell and Eliot Dalton, who are innkeeping consultants and brokers working with property buyers and sellers, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an interesting time. They have a real “feet on street” perspective on the state of the marketplace, which they share in this podcast.