B&B Lets Guests Spend a Night in the Slammer
A bed and breakfast in Indiana has found a novel place to house guests – in the cells of the old county jail.
Owner Debra Ackerman opened the Old Jail Inn in Parke County after attempting to buy just the door of the disused building, but being t0ld she had to purchase the whole property.
Ackerman spent 4 months renovating the jail before opening it as a B&B last May. ‘Innmates’ can look forward to a truly unique stay, but shouldn’t expect any luxuries. They sleep in the actual cells, complete with working bars, share the original shower used by the prisoners and eat their meals from metal trays. Upstairs, what was once Murderers’ Row now houses 2 private suites.
The building is over 140 years old, and even its contents have a history. “Nothing was bought in a store brand-new. Everything was reused and re-purposed, and we’re really proud of that,” Ackerman says.
Guests have come from all round the world to stay at the Old Jail Inn, including former employees and inmates of the jail. “It’s not just staying at any bed and breakfast. It’s an experience all the way through,” says Ackerman. Even the guest book is unusual – guests write their appreciation on the walls.
Thanks to the success of the bed and breakfast, Ackerman was able to buy the property next door and turn it into the Old Jail Coffee House, and is in the process of converting the old drunk tank into a winery where she sells her very own Drunk Tank Wine.
Where’s the most unusual place you’ve stayed?
Vermont B&B Turns Away Lesbian Couple
A Vermont bed and breakfast has found itself up against a discrimination lawsuit after refusing to host the wedding of a lesbian couple.
The lawsuit against the Wildflower Inn was filed last month at Vermont’s Superior Court by the American Civil Liberties Union, on behalf of Katherine Baker and Ming-Lien Linsley.
Linsley’s mother made an initial enquiry into holding the couple’s wedding reception at the B&B in October 2010 and were told by the events manager that “unfortunately due to their [the inkeepers’] personal feelings, we do not host gay receptions at our facility.” The plaintiffs claim that this is against Vermont’s Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act, which states that public accommodations may not refuse service on the basis of sexual orientation, except for hotels with fewer than 6 rooms and religious organisations.
The couple have asked the court to declare that a violation of state law had occurred, and to issue an injunction preventing the B&B from enforcing its homophobic policy. They also asked for attorney’s fees plus nominal damages of $1. The B&B claims that they are protected by the First Amendment, although they also say that their events manager never informed them of the request. They denied having such a policy but argued that applying state law in this situation would violate their right to the free exercise of their religion, freedom from compelled speech or expression and freedom of expressive association, under Vermont’s Constitution and the First Amendment.
Jim O’Reilly, one of the inn’s owners, would not discuss the litigation while it was still active, but said that he hoped the situation would be resolved ‘quickly and fairly.’
The ACLU insisted, “It’s a very straightforward case, because there’s something in writing from the defendant refusing to serve our clients. The only defense offered by the inn is that they think the First Amendment allows it to sidestep Vermont’s law — and we don’t think that has any merit. This has been on the books for about 20 years — way before we had equal unions in Vermont. This a pretty cut-and-dried case.”
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Is Space Tourism About to Take Off?
Image from http://www.independent.co.uk
A Russian company has released ambitious plans for the world’s first space hotel, due to open in 2016.
Orbiting 350km above the Earth, the space station will sleep just seven guests, making it a true boutique hotel. But those checking-in should not expect to find luxury on board. There will be no en-suite bathrooms, nor even any showers, although there will be wet wipes.
All food will be freeze dried, there will be no smoking, no drinking and certainly no day trips. What there will be, however, are unbeatable views, and your holiday snaps will blow everyone else’s out of the water when you post them on Facebook.
At £100,000 for a weekend break, the space hotel can claim to be the most expensive hotel in the universe (that we know of); we hope breakfast is included. Flights to the hotel will be estimated to cost about £500,000, or £500,005 with speedy boarding.
Twilight Star Escaped London Riots at English Country B&B
Celebrity gossip site Hollywood Life has reported how Twilight star Kristen Stewart took refuge during the London riots at a rural English B&B, where she was staying while filming her new movie, Snow White and the Huntsman.
The website reports how Stewart was ‘roughing it’ at the bed and breakfast, which had just one bathroom per floor meaning that members of crew and cast had to share. As an international superstar, Kristen would be more used to staying at hotels like the Dorchester in London, so we wonder how she enjoyed the charm of an English country B&B ‘in the middle of nowhere’.
B&B owners – have you ever had a celebrity guest? No need to give names – just a couple of good clues will keep us satisfied!
Tourism to Britain Unaffected by Riots
At a time when the British economy needs all the help it can get, it’s no wonder the recent rioting across the country caused concern to those in the tourism industry.
However, according to TravelMole, London tour operators reported receiving just 330 cancellations in the aftermath of the riots, representing less than 0.2% of all bookings.
The European Tour Operators Association said that the violence had had ‘no worse effect on bookings than a sick dog.’ Members of the EOTA in London received over 38,000 guests this Wednesday, although the organisation did not mention whether new bookings had been affected.
The number of lost bookings during this time was actually less than usual. ‘People cancel for a myriad of reasons; the disturbances have, for now, proved as significant a factor as having a sick dog or flooding the bathroom.’
The ETOA speculated that the impact of the disorder had been lessened thanks to the relative anonymity of the locations in question; no major landmarks were affected and few tourists were exposed to the violence.
Despite this, the British Tourist Authority, VisitBritain made the decision to remove its ‘You’re invited’ advert from the BBC’s website, as it was being shown next to news footage of the riots.
Have the riots made you think twice about travelling in Britain?
Peeping Tom B&B Owner Receives Jail Sentence
Last month we reported the case of the B&B owner who was found using peepholes to watch his guests having sex.
This week, the owner, Paul Williams, has been found guilty of charges of voyeurism and observing a private act for his own sexual gratification, and has been sentenced to 18 weeks in jail.
Williams was caught when a 16-year-old student staying at the bed and breakfast noticed that a safety poster on the wall was moving. Upon investigating, her boyfriend discovered a small hole providing a direct view of the bed, and when he opened the door, he saw the B&B owner in a dressing gown moving off down the corridor.
The trial took place at Scarborough Magistrates Court, where magistrate Kate Warnock-Smith told Williams that his offences were more severe because of the age of some of the victims and because of the position of trust he held as a hotelier.
10 Things Guests Might Hate About You
BnB Edition have come up with the 10 pet hates of guests staying at a bed and breakfast – do you have any to add to the list?
- No toiletries – complimentary toiletries are one of the little luxuries of staying away from home, and many guests may not think to bring their own.
- Limited loo roll – this one’s simple – running out of loo roll at an inopportune moment will not be part of anyone’s ‘great stay’, so make sure your guests have plenty.
- Not enough milk for tea or coffee – skimping on anything will not make a good impression – ensure your guests have what they need to relax and feel at home.
- No bath mat or fresh towels – again, towels are something people expect to be provided, and not having a bath mat is just dangerous!
- No box of tissues in the room – a small detail but it makes a nice touch if your guests don’t have to blow their noses on loo roll!
- Reminders of the previous occupants – hairs are the most frequent and probably the least offensive reminder you could come across, but they’re still enough to put most people off!
- Rooms for four actually sleep three – that double sofa bed may technically be able to sleep two, but are the things you want your customers to take away with them from their stay with you discomfort and disappointment?
- Over-advertising – this is pretty straightforward – if you don’t have it, don’t sell it. Don’t say your rooms are spacious if guests have to climb over the bed to get to the door. Say ‘cosy’.
- Stale breakfast – staying away from home should be a treat – good or bad, breakfast is one of the things guests will remember.
- Bad cereals – children don’t like cornflakes, so make sure they have plenty of choice in the mornings. If the kids are happy, the parents are happy.
B&B owner, 102, celebrates 50 years in business.
Image from Portland Press Herald
Centenarian Irene Bennett from York, Maine, still runs the B&B she opened with her husband in 1961.
A story in the Portland Press Herald tells how Irene was working as a waitress in Concord, New Hampshire, when she overheard a conversation about a B&B for sale in York.
She bought the place with her husband and they started renting out the seven guest rooms. Later, they were able to expand their business by purchasing two adjacent cottages.
Dawn Hackett, who now helps to run the B&B, says that Irene was like a surrogate mother to girls who stayed there during the summer while working at local restaurants. ‘She told them when to go out and what time to be in,’ Hackett said.
Irene’s daughter said that the guesthouse has helped keep her mother young. ‘She could get close to people and know them, feel as though they were part of her family.’ Even after her husband died, Irene kept going and only asked for assistance after turning 95.
A good year for bookings but guests still spending less
Despite a largely positive year for the hospitality industry, UK hoteliers and B&B owners have noticed signs that consumers are spending less.
According to a survey of over 500 property owners, most participants reported being ‘quite’ or ‘very’ satisfied with bookings from May to July of this year.
However, as many as 40% reported that customers are spending more cautiously, and VisitEngland, the England Tourist Board, are urging accommodation providers to work together to boost tourism.
The report also stated that 28% of respondents noted that the length of stay has decreased, although 69% said they’d had the same amount of or more bookings this summer compared to last year.
VisitEngland’s chief executive James Berresford said, “The year has started well and confidence is strong for the summer – however we know that the general public are increasingly worried about their finances and this will inevitably have an effect on the overall success of the sector this year.”
“VisitEngland is working hard to promote domestic tourism, and it’s vital that the industry continues to pull together to encourage and inspire domestic visitors to holiday at home, whilst ensuring they receive the best possible customer service and excellent value for money.”
Almost 60% reported an increase in the number of last-minute bookings, a trend which is likely to continue as consumers tighten their belts. Smaller businesses are not performing as well as larger businesses, possibly due to the use of the internet for online bookings and discounts.
How are you making sure you can have a holiday this year without breaking the bank?
Scrambled Eggs and Blow-Up Dolls – Life in a B&B
Ever wondered what it’s like to run a B&B? Or just wanted to know a bit more about your hosts? Meet Pat and Monica Finn, owners of Dublin bed and breakfast Egans House, who have been welcoming guests to their home for over a decade…
What is your favourite thing about Dublin?
My favourite thing about Dublin is its friendly atmosphere. The feedback from guests is that people are very warm and helpful generally, especially when they seek information regarding places they wish to visit.
Dublin has a variety of unique visitor attractions. The most popular I believe is Dublin Zoo, then the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery.
Which breakfast item served at Egans House is most popular with your guests?
I would have to say our scrambled egg – it is a firm favourite with guests.
What compliment do you most frequently receive from guests?
The very friendly service and relaxed atmosphere they experience when they stay here.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever found left in a bedroom?
That is tricky – a homemade hanging noose and, on another occasion, a blow-up doll!
What’s your favourite thing about running a B&B?
Each day brings something new and challenging to deal with. It amazes me that no matter how long you are in the business (for us it is our 11th year), I find I am constantly learning new things. There is a high diversity of people with different needs and expectations and you constantly have to find ways to meet them. The highlight is when they do come back again and again and they tell us they feel they are at home.
Do you own a B&B and have a story you’d like to share with us? Send us an email or get in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter.
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