How do you think the recent economic situation has affected competition?
I always heard as I grew up (assuming I am grown up now) that competition was necessary. It's the best way to keep vendors honest - in quality of product, pricing, service, etc. It's sad to me that those qualities are not self produced. Unfortunately, all too often, I've seen some pretty behind the back stabbin' kind of behavior between competitors. Thankfully, here in the Valley, that has not become "the rule".
I have had guests ask me about the competition between B & B's in the area. I usually chuckle a bit when that happens. The majority of B & B/Inn owners are most concerned that a guest have an exceptional visit at whichever B&B in town they stay at. If someone asks me if they can park their car and walk to town, I am definitely going to steer them to one of the downtown B & B's. Or if they are looking for a Victorian style Inn (which I am not), I know exactly who to send them to. Because when they experience what they have asked for, they are far more likely to use a B & B or Inn the next time they travel. And I might be that "next time they travel".
At least here in Staunton and the Central Shenandoah Valley, innkeepers and owners meet together once a month to support each other, coop some of our advertizing and brainstorm for other opportunities to improve each of our businesses. All I sense from these wonderful people is camaraderie and a group who REALLY understands the ups and downs of my life right now.
The current economic situation has definitely made business harder for everyone. I imaging we've all seen a little quicker loss of patience and that harder push for a discount. Again, it is typical human nature to react differently under pressure. We've all heard the "moral to the story" line about how it takes pressure to make a diamond too. I figure if I really want to know what I'm made of and what my staff is made of - it will show up when we're under pressure. It's a great time to get the measuring stick out and see how we rate.
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Special offers
Second night - half off
Book any Sunday - Thursday until June 10th and get the second night at 50% off the regular price.
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Stay Tuned
As you may have noticed, we've been trying some more web-based techniques with our advertisting budget this past year. It seems obvious to us that more people are planning their getaways online. Next month we'll be publishing an article on what we've done to help us be found more on the web. What's worked and what has not.
Feel free to forward this to a friend so they can read the article next month.
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