(The Sierra Suite - what you see is what you get, isn't it lovely? We can even deliver breakfast to your room)
When we first opened, let's face it people were not all that internet savvy. I mean, slap up a webpage, some images and innformation and bob was your uncle (we really do have an Uncle Bob btw). Today guests expect much much more, heck my Grandmother who is nearly 87 is online! Guests expect more than just a guest room photo, but bathrooms, common areas, what is served for breakfast, grounds, etc. And I say, WHY NOT DANG IT, IT IS 2010!
I want to ask you this, if you are searching online from work, home, library, cell phone for a place to stay, should you not have as much information as possible? Would you book a room where there are no room photos? I see this is still the case in the UK where many hoteliers may or may not have one room photo that represents the whole lot and that's that, nothing else. But ya'll this is America! Here our guests expect private baths, large comfy beds, space to roam, all the extras that make a B&B a special place to stay.
So for that I want to introduce Reservation Key, it is a newer online reservation system which we use here at The Claiborne House. We love this product, as you can see I have added more room photos directly to each room listing AND the More Details button toward the top.
What can this product do that our old one could not? Well you can book more than one room at a time. Case in point: Inncredible guests here on motorcycles riding The Blue Ridge Parkway. There were 5 couples, one chap was making the arrangements for the accommodations and booked ALL FIVE ROOMS AT ONCE and got his confirmation right then and there, a done deal. No calling around, no checking here and there for what is available, can they accommodate 5 couples blah blah blah. Easy Peasy, book your room from any where at any time!
Another feature is a split booking. Case in point: Our favorite Father Thom from Philly. Each year he heads down to South Carolina where his Episcopalian Priest Conference is held and he stays with us on the way down and on the way back up. So he goes online checks the nights he wants, and once again, bada bing bada boom it is a done deal, one confirmation. In fact our program even remembers him, so on my end it gives me his information and builds on his last booking.
You may or may not realize that innkeepers love their guests, especially the ones we have here at The Claiborne House. So we want to make your planning as easy as possible, so this is why I say a great online booking system IS INDEED AN AMENITY! Planning is half the fun of any trip.
Warning from your innkeeper: If the website you are looking at does not have nice photos, online reservations, innformation...move onto the next, don't waste your time on dinosaurs. Like I always say about The Claiborne House B&B:
"THIS AIN'T YOUR GRANDMA'S HOUSE!"
"FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS STAY AT HOTELS!"
"BREAK FREE OF THE CHAIN GANG!"
VIRGINIA IS FOR B&B LOVERS
Intermediate
