As you all know, I live in East Ortigas. I met a number of hyphenated-Filipinos there. One from London who owns two units, another from San Francisco, from the Middle East, from Tokyo and New York. Like me, they don’t live there 365 days a year. They go visit. But I’ll share to you all an exciting new kind of business na napagkwentuhan namin?- well di na to new actually, dahil this is a transplant of European Hospitality. Mas mabuti nga dahil as very hospitable people as we are, this could be adapted and refined some more sa ating mga ka-kwelahan di ba? It’s called Bed and Breakfast. And this is very timely dahil kulang na kulang na ang ating mga hotels especially if you are in Cebu, Bohol or Bicol.
Sa mga turista, it’s the comfort and hospitality of home – staying overnight “with people of the land” and enjoying a hearty breakfast – na wala yong traditional gaudiness at kaplastikan nang mga ibang tao dyan sa hotel na feeling close sa yo when you stay there. Ngayon, kelangan mo lang is a spare bedroom, a good cook gaya ni Tia Kareng and an outgoing personality where tayong mga Pinoy eh famous for. Ang challenge? Baka dagsain ka nang mga “women” na naghahanap nang “men” or vice-versa. You know what I mean? Baka you’d be known as a low class motel sex house. Kaya medyo ingat sa mga locals na bibisita sa mga guests mo.
Well, pano ang charges mo? Depende where your place is. If your house is in Cebu, check out the competition. O kaya, check out hotel rates at dun me I-base and prices mo. Wag naman yong tatapatan mo ang hotel rates ano? Wag kang mag-aambisyon masyado dahil baka wala kang makuhang kliente. Per night dapat ang charges mo. Of course, kasama na breakfast and bed.
Licenses, eto kagandahan, dahil wala yatang licenses na ni-rerequire dyan. Kaya lang, katukin mo yong Barangay Chairman – si Mang Karyo, dahil baka mamya kung ano anong mga Karyo Decrees ang mga hindi mo alam, pagbitbitin ka rin nang Fundador! But it wouldn’t hurt to know. Deretsohin mo na rin sa munisipyo.
Naturally, your “visitors” will expect a clean, neat and comfortable home. So assuming that your home meets these prerequisites, and you have a spare bedroom, simply “doll it up” a bit. Make sure it’s painted brightly, wag yong pink ha? There’s an outside window, lots of room, closet space and bureau, and perhaps a small writing desk, and a large comfortable bed, or twin beds. Ayun. Now, if you have kids, itali mo muna ang mga yon. Ekk.. Sori, ho! But you know what I mean. Pangit naman yong takbuhan nang takbuhan ang mga kids and there a lot of kalat all over the place.
Karamihan dyan sa mga foreign guests nating will expect and appreciate a “quick tour” of the interesting sights in your area. Kaya dapat me kausap ka nang taxi or limo driver. Siguro kelangan tourist guide ka nila.
Ano ang appeal nang bed and breakfast? Travelers seem to be looking for, and appreciate a quiet “home-style” place to stay. Generally, they enjoy visiting with the people off the superhighway and want to get away from the sterilized atmosphere and sameness of hotels and motels.
Gawan mo sila nang schedule. Halimbawa me sayawan sa baryo ninyo, isama mo’t gawin mong Homecoming Queen and King. Dalhin mo dun sa maisan! Kung meron kayong rice paddies at kalabaw, pag-araruhin mo! I bet you! Maloloka ang mga yan! It will be an experience that they will surely tell when they return home.
I remember my officemates in Princeton. They went on a walking tour in Italy. They stayed at a Bed and Breakfast and no one knows how to speak English because they went to the countryside. They don’t speak Italian either but they loved it so much, they are planning another walking tour in Finland.
Ngayo, most people will either write to you ahead of time, mag-I-inquire about the possibilities of staying at your home while in your town or city. This means a bit of advertising on your part. Some people will check the local telephone listings, and the newspaper advertisements when they arrive in a strange town. Gumawa ka kaya nang website. And some people will just be driving across the country, come to a town or city they think is interesting, and start driving through the residential areas looking for Bed and Breakfast Inns.
Kaya, you should have a small sign posted either in your front yard or on the front of your house. This sign needn’t be much more than about two feet wide by about ten inches deep. It need only state: BED AND BREAKFAST – Inquire Within or Call 123-4567.
For newspaper advertising, a similar listing in the personal column of your local paper, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, will be all you’ll need. But when it comes to the yellow pages of your telephone and business directories, go with a small display ad that describes in greater detail the comforts and pleasures of your services.
Be sure to list your services with all the travel agencies in your area. A brochure or a short synopsis of what you offer will most assuredly give the travel agents an idea for steering visitors your way. At the same time, listing your services in a number of national travel magazines – particularly those that cater to women – will bring customers in for you.
Listing your services with a broker usually won’t cost you anything up front, but they will expect a certain percentage – usually about 25% of the total bill. This same arrangement applies with travel agents.
Ok, so eto na, me customer ka na. You greet them as host or hostess and offer to assist them in getting situated in the room or rooms you have for them. If they’d like to take a walk/drive around your area and see the points of interest, you do that. At sa umaga, serve them a big, delicious breakfast.
Yon lang!
The complete how and why of this tremendously profitable business that’s becoming more and more popular. It’s called Bed & Breakfast, and it’s very definitely a low investment idea. And you can parlay it into a very interesting and comfortable income producing business – all from the comforts of your own home
Stumble Upon
Del.icio.us
Buzz
