B2B Travel ~ Why a Bed and Breakfast is a Strategic Choice for your Next Business Trip

 Know Before you Go: Why a Bed and Breakfast is a Strategic Choice for your Next Business Trip

When traveling for business professionals often find themselves choosing between two extremes clinical convenience and overpriced luxury.  A third option exists that perfectly melds high end luxury and the comforts of home.  By booking your stay at the local Bed and Breakfast, your experience can be customized to your dietary preferences, be given local expertise and provide unique value that a cookie cutter hotel simply cannot replicate.  

To ensure your next trip is productive and enjoyable here are four key questions that emphasize why a Bed and Breakfast is the superior choice for a business traveler:

1. Can you accommodate my specific dietary preferences at breakfast?  

Unlike a hotel that caters to the masses with a generic continental breakfast, your innkeeper at a Bed and Breakfast will be more than happy to tailor your experience and take into consideration your allergies or preferences.  The best part will be that everything will be ready when you are,  many innkeepers will adjust serving times to allow you to make the meetings you have planned.  

2. What are  your local  “hidden gems” for client dinners or downtime?  

The concierge desk at hotel chains usually will point you to the most touristy chains, that give none of the local feel.  While the innkeeper is part of the community and will share all the local expertise of the best restaurants for business dinners and local landmarks.    Be sure to take into consideration their suggestions for the most authentic visit, and see the glass bathrooms or the larger than life sized cows in the area you will be visiting.

3. What unique history or personality does this property have? 

Many hotels are modern builds on the side of the interstate with little to no personality not to mention the sound from the road traffic.  While many Bed and Breakfasts have a rich history just waiting to be explored.  Many properties have been meticulously restored to their former beauty and provide visitors with a sense of place and calm from the otherwise high-stakes business trip. 

4. What extra are included in my stay beyond the room?  

The “nickel and dimeing” of corporate hotels is a major frustration for many business travelers.  White at many Bed and Breakfast’, they provide value-added perks such as; free high-speed Wi-Fi, free parking or complimentary refreshments.  Beyond the logistics, the cozy common area can provide space for you to catch up on emails or explore a good book.  While providing that small business vibe that feels more inviting and professional than a crowded hotel lobby.  

Regardless of the duration of your trip, your choice of accommodations dictates the productivity and well-being.   This year make the trade from a sterile hotel to a Bed and Breakfast. Discover the character and personalized service that local hospitality can make on your professional journey. 

B2B Travel ~ Fueling Success: Strategic Sleep, Nutrition and the Business Traveler

Have you ever noticed that when you travel for business, that your productivity is not the same as when at home?  This change is due to being in a different environment, and not taking steps to make sure productivity stays where it needs to be.  Increased productivity can be achieved by making a few simple changes to overall business travel. One simple change that can affect productivity is where you stay.  Poor sleep and nutrition do not just affect your waistline but also your cognitive ability, decision making and resilience. By selecting a location that takes your health into consideration you can make business travel work with you and not against you in the future. 

Business performance can increase with a few simple changes, one of those changes can be as simple as getting up and taking a walk.  Overall as a Nation, Americans are less likely to walk to their destination as they are to drive.  A simple fifteen minute walk is a powerful tool used to reduce stress and help you gather focus for the job at hand.  Our Bed and Breakfast is about ¼ mile from the downtown city center, and we highly encourage all of our guests to walk downtown.   When you travel for work it’s easier, yes, to drive to all your locations and grab food at the nearest drive thru but what is that doing to your overall health.  

My husband who travels for work significantly, made the decision to lead a healthier life while on the road.  Through dedication, discipline and the right environment he has been able to lose a significant amount of weight and be overall more healthy when away from home.  The environment where you stay, what you eat and how you move around are all key factors to leading a healthier and more productive lifestyle while on the road.  What and where he ate had the largest impact while he traveled.  

The standardized hotel breakfast often comes with hidden costs. Travelers are subject to the food that is not nutritional sound and does not lead to better focus or productivity, but can lead to a mid-morning crash.  No substitutions can be made and many of the options are not as healthy for you as the hotel wants you to think.  Why settle when you can have a meal that has been prepared fresh, with local ingredients and takes into consideration your dietary needs, such as gluten-free, vegan, or keto.  By digesting the right food at the start of your day, that will help you to keep up productivity and focus throughout.  

With a smaller guest count and open rooms, the personalized service that a Bed and Breakfast offers will not only allow you to eat healthier while on the road but also allow you better sleep.  The biggest threat to a business traveler is lack of sleep. Inconsistent bedding, increased noise of multiple visitors and lack of room control can all lead to a poor night's sleep.    The overall health and productivity of the traveler is taken into consideration at a Bed and Breakfast.  No noisy guests running up and down the halls when you are trying to sleep or complete late night work.  

A smaller, more intimate location allows you to focus on yourself and your health while on the road, just like you would at home.  Take into consideration on your next business trip where you stay and reframe it to be a strategic investment in your time and health. Search out the smaller location to have a better night's sleep and an added nutritional start with a thoughtful breakfast in the morning.  Since your travel is also your time, be sure to take the time to include your health as a decision factor when booking.

B2B Travel ~ Ditch the Corporate Grind: The Secret to Productive Business Travel

     

        The 4:30 a.m. alarm is a harsh reality of business travel.  The constant grind, time away from home and lack of focus can severely impact your productivity and bottom line.  But your accommodation choice can be the single biggest factor in turning a grueling trip into a highly successful one. 

Let’s face it, business travel presents unique challenges to focus but staying in just the right location with a little local flair can make your business trip seem like you are still at home.  A smaller boutique inn or a bed and breakfast might be just what you are looking for when traveling.  A smaller number of rooms will mean less distractions, quieter rooms, invaluable local intelligence and guidance and office-like amenities for your visit.  With that in mind many Bed and Breakfast owners are eager to establish relationships with corporate travelers.

Who can get any work done with noise pollution and unnecessary distractions.  Never mind the lines for the wait at the elevator but also the noise and unnecessary distractions others will provide.  Staying at a local bed and breakfast gives you the chance to have a less distracting visit, so that the focus can be on the task at hand.  Not having to call the front desk to inquire about quiet hours.  The majority of guests who travel and stay at Bed and Breakfasts are very respectful of other guests when visiting.  Often you rarely even know if other guests are in residence until you come down for breakfast.  The fewer people, the decrease of distractions for those evenings when you need to work from your accommodations. 

The type of accommodations you receive at a Bed and Breakfast are generally geared towards your comfort.  No cookie cutter rooms and amenities but rather distinct and unique rooms that make you feel like you are at home.  These rooms are typically quieter than hotel rooms, since most Bed and Breakfast’s are located off the main drive and in a more residential location.  Which helps to reduce the amount of noise from the freeway. The accommodations at a bed and breakfast will make you want to return to visit with the innkeeper or stay in contact to make sure you have the best stay when visiting again.

The local innkeeper is your eyes and ears when in a new town or even one you have visited before.  They will always have great advice for where to dine and shop while visiting.  They will typically know of any changes that might have occurred since your last visit and help you find the best place, outside your inn, to dine and enjoy the company of any work colleagues while in for a visit.  After all, work still does come first, but having that base of knowledge is invaluable.

Since work is still the primary reason for your travels.  A Bed and Breakfast can have some office-like amenities for your stay.   An in room work station to be able to set up your laptop and leave it out when not working.  Access to good hot drinks with easy to use machines that do not take an additional degree to figure out.  Along with secure, private Wi-Fi connectivity for confidential business matters than a busy coffee shop or restaurant would typically allow.  The best part, many Bed and Breakfasts will also have a space where you could meet with clients or host a private meeting with local clients.  Most will work with guests to accommodate meetings at a discounted cost based on availability. 

Take the extra time to explore the accommodations off the beaten path.  Many local Bed and Breakfast or Boutique Inn’s will be more than happy to welcome you for your business trip.  Plan to be a regular in their city, be sure to ask for a corporate discount based on anticipated travel volume.  The consistent stays not only are a great way to build loyalty but secure better rates and personalized service tailored to your business needs. After all, we enjoy when we see repeat guests at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast and can assure our guests that unless they ask, no breakfast will be repeated.  We hope that you will look for a local Inn to support on your next travels.

B2B Travel ~ Sleep Better, Work Smarter: Why B&B’s Beat Chain Hotels

             As a business traveler you are already away from your home and family, spending time in a place that is not where you want to be. Sleep schedules are challenged and you are running on food that might not be as healthy. There is a better choice than a corporate chain hotel: the Bed and Breakfast or Boutique Inn.

A smaller, more intimate location in the form of a Bed and Breakfast can make your travel more comfortable and bring a sense of home away from home. Immediately upon entering a bed and breakfast, you feel the peace and quiet of a smaller space with fewer people. Every guest room has your comfort in mind. 

Your comfort starts with where you plan to sleep.  With a smaller room number, available for guest bookings, the chance for being disturbed is lower. Work and sleep become your priorities.  That means you can get a good night's sleep or work a little longer without having to hear people running up and down hallways. 

After a great night's sleep another defining factor is the homecooked, locally sourced breakfast.  The dining experience at an inn brings back the importance of being prepared for the day, with a healthy meal.  No bagged eggs here, but instead, a freshly cooked breakfast with farm fresh eggs and home brewed coffee.  Most hosts are even willing to work with your schedule.  Early meetings mean you can eat sooner or better yet invite your meeting to breakfast at the Inn.  After all, service and great hospitality are key to making your stay the best.  This attention to going the extra mile makes up for possible lost points from a chain hotel. 

Do not let those points keep you going back to a hotel chain. While yes they are nice and could yield some rewards, you never know if your host has connections to other establishments that have formed a network for earning stays.  Look for regional bed and breakfast organizations such as (e.g.,) Great Stays of Texas,  California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns or Vermont Lodging Association to find these rewards. Use your innkeepers knowledge in more than just the city where they are located. 

Beyond working with others, the personalized service and concierge that is offered from your innkeeper can make your stay smooth and easy.  Many locations have contactless check in, so you have quick and easy access to your room,  no matter the time of your arrival.  While also offering free parking and reliable internet connections for those after hours when you need to finish up work.  It is these comforts, superior food and focused service that are leading more business travelers to rethink their accommodations. 

At The Oaks we provide all of that and a work space in room for any before or after hours work that might need to be completed. Each room is decorated differently to make you feel welcomed and at home. We know that your time away from home and family is a challenge and want to make it the best stay away that it can be.  You can even stream your favorite shows while traveling to truly relax at the end of the day.  

Do not let the lure of the road side, freeway hotels draw you in. Break away from the path and venture to a small business and add more support to the local economy by staying at a bed and breakfast or boutique inn.  You never know, you might just find a better way to travel.