ISSUE #45
JANUARY 2021
MAGAZINE
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THE MAGAZINE FOR OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF BNB’S. INNS, BOUTIQUE HOTELS & HOLIDAY LETS
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I'm sure many felt that 2020 would never end, yet here we are in 2021. The team at Luxury BnB Magazine would like to wish you the best for the year ahead, which will undoubtedly see a variety of new challenges. Some have taken advantage of the lockdowns and quiet times to start new projects. Park Farm Barn in Somerset decided to turn their 14th century barn into two self-catering cottages, and are now working on another project. Read all about renovations, families and goats (page 6).
CONTENTS || JANUARY 2020
WELCOME
Ever considered building a unique getaway experience? We spoke to the owner of The Hudnalls Hideout, a treehouse hidden away in the Wye Valley. Discover the secluded romantic retreat that people are booking months in advance and advice for business owners (page 14). Juliet Horner Editor If you have any experiences you'd like to share, please email me editor@luxurybbmag.co.uk or connect with us on social media: facebook.com/luxurybnbmag/
We are also happy to introduce Luxury BnB's brand new ebook. If you wish to set up your own hospitality business or need a refresher on the ins and outs of the business, check out Chapter 1A of our ebook! (page 26). And finally, a very happy new year to all of our readers. I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season and here's to 2021!
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IN THIS ISSUE 4 || NEWS
6 || PARK FARM BARN
24 || WINTER WARMERS
5 || KAREN'S COLUMN
14 || THE HUDNALLS HIDEOUT
26 || LBNB E-BOOK | CHAPTER 1A
Industry news and analysis from around the UK
The Art of Apology with the founder of the B and B Academy
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Read all about Hosting families, lockdown projects and goats
Discover the romantic treehouse retreat hidden in the woods
Concoctions to warm yourself and your guests this winter
The first installment of our ebook for those who are looking to set up their own hospitality business
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IN BRIEF || NEWS
EDITOR Juliet Horner editor@luxurybbmag.co.uk DESIGN & PRODUCTION Tracy Poulsom tracy@miramedia.co.uk PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Dominic Johnson dominic@miramedia.co.uk 01892 711 144 MEDIA SALES Audrey Williams 01892 671 913 audreyw@spacemarketing.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Abbey Warne abbeywarne07@gmail.com Karen Thorne karenjthorne@yahoo.co.uk No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. We regret we cannot be liable for the safe custody or return of any solicited or unsolicited material. Contributors are advised to keep copies of all materials submitted. The opinions and views expressed in Luxury BnB are not necessarily those of Miramedia. Being subject to the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines in place at the time of going to press, all data submitted by advertisers and contained in their advertising copy is accepted by Miramedia in good faith.
Luxury BnB is available on subscription. UK & Ireland £19; Overseas £98. Luxury BnB is published bi-monthly. Printed by Stephens & George Ltd
Luxury BnB Miramedia, 29-31 Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1LS www.luxurybbmag.co.uk All rights reserved © Miramedia 2020
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REVEALED: The Most Bizarre Requests and Complaints from Hotel Guests We’ve all heard the expression ‘the customer is always right’. But there’s no denying that some requests challenge this statement. All feedback should be taken with a pinch of salt and used to help improve the hotel for future guests. The Inn Collection have looked through their records to reveal some of the strangest and most amusing requests and complaints that they have received in the last few years. Questionable Complaints • One guest once complained because “it was a foggy day and they couldn’t see much of the sea from their ‘Seaview room’”. • A guest from Australia requested “the ingredient list for the Cock-a-leekie Soup, as he was worried they would be similar to what you find in a Bushtucker Trial”. • Some guests mixed up a lake view for an ocean one and complained. “They’d seen a picture of the view from one of our hotels beside the North Sea from a bedroom, then booked a ‘lake view’ room at one of our other hotels and complained that they couldn’t see the sea from their room… In the middle of the Lake District”. Hotelier Middle East’s Complaints The largest Middle East hotel provider and hospitality news portal pulled together a list of comical complaints and requests. • Hotels can only fix what they have control over—and the sea being too blue and the waves too loud is not one of them! • Another guest complained that there was no
• •
ocean view from their London hotel room. One guest mistook the gravy for soup and complaint that the soup was too thick! One guest complained that the bed was too high and requested the legs be shortened by 12 inches.
Too Many Complaints & Requests Hotel staff go above and beyond to provide the best overnight stay for their guests. However, for some people, their efforts appear too much. • Some guests have complained that the ice cream was too cold, the bath is too big, and the sheets are too white. • Some guests asked for a glass of water to be brought to them every hour throughout the night. Not only that, but for 15 cucumbers to be provided per day and 16 pillows for a single person. • One final complaint seems more of a compliment if anything else—with one guest complaining the waiter is too handsome! Source: The Inn Collection | inncollectiongroup.com
HOSPITALITY SECTOR LOSES MORE STAFF THAN ANY OTHER Figures from The Office for National Statistics show the hospitality industry has seen the highest increase in unemployment than any other single sector. Redundancy rates increased in every industry last year. However, findings released at the end of last year showed the number of hospitality employees made redundant in the UK increased by 58,000 to 171,000 over the last year, making up a third of redundancies across all sectors. For more information, visit Big Hospitality News or The Office for National Statistics. Source: Big Hospitality News | bighospitality.co.uk | © 2020 - William Reed Business Media Ltd
Entries for the Luxury BnB Excellence in Luxury Service Awards 2021 are now closed.
LBNB LUXURY SERVICE AWARDS 2021
Shortlisted businesses will be announced in the Febraury LBnB print magazine. The winners of each of the four categories will be announced in April 2021.
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THE ART OF APOLOGY WITH THE FOUNDER OF THE BED & BREAKFAST ACADEMY Karen Thorne has ran Hopton House B&B in Shropshire for over 16 years and the Bed and Breakfast Academy for over 14 years. Through the B&B Academy, Karen trains aspiring B&B owners in how to set up, buy, run and market their own B&Bs. Karen runs monthly online courses and has recently launched a B&B Marketing membership for existing B&B owners so she can help them to organically and authentically market their own B&Bs. w READ ONLINE & SHARE >> luxurybnbmag.co.uk/karenJan21
In over 16 years of running a B&B I’ve done an awful lot of apologising to my guests. Looking back, it’s usually been dog, plumbing or smoke alarm related. My old dog, Murphy, loved people a little too much... There was the time when I opened the door to arriving guests; an elderly man and his wife, who, within seconds of me opening the front door, was standing on our doorstep dressed in just her pants and shoes from the waist down. With Murphy at her feet, trying to untangle himself from her elasticated skirt, which he’d pulled down in his enthusiasm. And then the night when the smoke alarms were triggered in error at 2.30am and my husband had to climb a ladder to reset them, with the female guest still under the covers
peering upwards. My husband, wearing just his dressing gown. “Please tell me you put some boxer shorts on” I said, when he returned to our bedroom….silence.
THE ART OF APOLOGY|| KAREN'S COLUMN
Karen's Column
WWW.BANDBACADEMY.CO.UK
@BEDANDBREAKFASTACADEMY @KARENJTHORNE @BANDBACADEMY
I have one set of repeat guests, for whom something always goes wrong. Last time it was the toilet cistern that wouldn’t stop filling. I spent the 2 hours they were out at dinner in their bathroom, watching “How to fix a toilet” youtube videos on the ipad. I eventually solved it with a carefully placed rock from the garden. One thing I’ve learned from this is the importance of a well timed apology, appropriate compensation and a plumber on speed dial. Read Karen's full blog post online at www.bandbacademy.co.uk/blog
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IN PROFILE || HOSTING A COSY CHRISTMAS
PARK FARM
Barn
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IN PROFILE || PARK FARM BARN
Humphrey Bowles, owner of Park Farm Barn, talks family friendly, goats and lockdown projects
Park Farm Barn
Having a unique selling point (USP) is important for any business. It gives you an edge. A reason for people to book with you. It can be anything from themed rooms, the view, additional experiences or something entirely different. One such property with a great USP is Park Farm Barn, owned by Humphrey Bowles, who is also the CEO and cofounder of the AirBnB insurance company, GuardHog Technologies. Humphrey’s USP derives from a group of three kindly personalities: Harry, Barry and Larry. Who are they? Maybe their alternative names, decided by Humphrey’s daughter, might give you a clue: Twinkle Toes, Lime and Lawrence.
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IN PROFILE || PARK FARM BARN
In case you haven’t already guessed, these three are not humans. In fact, they are three very friendly goats. “We look after them ourselves and these ones are all hand reared on bottles, so they’re even friendlier than the friendliest of goats,” said Humphrey. “The goats are next door to the barn and means that families that come to stay with us essentially have a petting zoo whenever they like. “We can give them a completely new and different experience which is going to be ‘Come and have tea or breakfast with the goats’ and luckily they’re very friendly goats,” laughed Humphrey. “They love eating and everyone should get on fairly well together!” Park Farm Barn is one of the oldest barns in their neighbourhood, which has been tucked away in Bowlish, Somerset since the 14th century. “We’re just a few minutes outside of Wales and Bath is about 30 minutes away. Bristol is not too far away and the seaside is pretty close as well.
A private bathtub in one of the rooms
Park Farm Barn's three goats with one of Humphrey's daughters
“Locally, we’ve also got Glastonbury, which surprisingly has a lot more going on than
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IN PROFILE || PARK FARM BARN
just the festival once a year. And then there’s Longleat Safari Park and so much more, so it’s all fab and family friendly around here.”
The view from the mezzanine
2020 was a quiet (and stressful) year for the hospitality industry, but Humphrey
"The goats are next door to the barn and families can have a petting zoo whenever they like" endeavoured to make the most of the lockdowns and threw himself into his hospitality projects. Humphrey said: “The first lockdown project was to renovate the barn and we actually split it into two, so we’ve got the Sheep Shack and Park Farm Barn. “And then as another lockdown project [in November], we had no one staying, so we could do fun things like dig up the driveway and we’re trying to turn the next little project, the Shepherd’s Hut, into another little apartment as well. “We’re just starting to convert a little stone shepherd cabin at the top of the hill and that’s in the field where our goats are based. “We’ve spent a lot of time and effort and love in converting the barn.” www.luxurybnbmag.co.uk
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IN PROFILE || PARK FARM BARN
Humphrey has worked hard to provide family friendly lodgings. “By having families come to stay, you’re really increasing your occupancy and that was the main reason why we decided to make ours as child friendly as possible. “We just wanted to take advantage of that market. I’ve been involved in the short-term rental business for quite a long time, so we know how great a boost to business families are.” He added: “So far our occupancy has been around 96%, which we’re pretty happy with considering the circumstances. And we think that by being family friendly and dog friendly, we open ourselves up to a bigger pool of potential guests and (hopefully) get more bookings.”
One of the three bedrooms
Park Farm Barn can sleep up to six people and has its own mezzanine level that has proved popular with the families that have come to stay.
Kitchen
Humphrey likes to encourage his guests to go out and explore the local area.
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Dining Table
Park Farm Barn's three goats with Humphrey's two daughters
“We’ve had quite a few teenagers refer to it as ‘the treehouse’ which is pretty cool. It’s like a little teenage hideout up there. And of course we have a nice, proper comfy bedroom for mum and dad as well as a nice big bedroom for when grandma and grandpa come too.” As you can see, Humphrey is no stranger to hosting families, and he says “having essentials like high chairs, nappy bins, and kids cutlery” is a must. “When we say family friendly, we mean things like, having space for people to leave their bikes, having an outdoor area for kids to run around, a trampoline to bounce on, and in our case, really friendly, calm goats to stroke.” Humphrey laughed and said: “Everyone looks for comfort, for something a bit different to what they have at home. Having a quirky property and a little stand out feature which people are going to remember is a really helpful thing to have.” He added: “People want things to be accessible, easy and uncomplicated, as well as space for the kids to hang out and be outside. We want people who come to stay to www.luxurybnbmag.co.uk
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"Everyone looks for comfort, for something a bit different. Having a quirky property and a little stand out feature is really helpful" January 2021 || Luxury BnB || 11
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IN PROFILE || PARK FARM BARN
get out and about. We want them to explore the local area. “Whether there’s a pandemic or not, people like privacy and space and if they’ve come as a family, that’s who they are looking to spend their time with. So we like setting them up so they know what they’re doing and then letting them get on with it, doing as much as they want to and giving them tools to do that easily.” Humphrey believes that all the little things they offer beyond a comfy bed helps to bring in more bookings.
One of the three bedrooms
“Everyone’s thinking of where they’re going to go and stay and if you can offer, to use Bake Off lingo, a showstopper, that’s really going to help capture attention.” Humphrey added: “At the end of the day, if you want to increase direct bookings, not only do you need to list on multiple sites, but you need to be pretty enthusiastic and flexible too, and one of the best ways of getting more bookings is to be family friendly. “Being family friendly just massively increases the pool of people who are likely to come and stay.”
Mezzanine 'tree-house' overlooking the living area Park Farm Barn
The bathroom sink
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Adrian Flux B&B insurance:
Advertorial
Bespoke and beyond expectation
If you run a B&B you will know how important it is to cater to your guest’s individual needs. At Adrian Flux we take a similar view to customer service and offer truly bespoke insurance packages to bed and breakfast business owners. In fact, Adrian Flux is one of the UK’s leading specialist home insurance brokers offering a full range of bed & breakfast business insurance options.
You work hard to give your guests a peaceful night’s sleep, we work hard to give you similar peace of mind with our versatile, comprehensive and very economical B&B insurance cover which includes all the features you need and expect from a high quality policy including: • Domestic assistance helpline • Discounts for alarms and security locks
Whether your B&B is a palacial city penthouse, a magnificent mansion, or a quaint country cottage, Adrian Flux will tailor your insurance cover to match your B&B business and it’s very unique needs.
• Discount when you take combined buildings and contents cover
Our specialist insurance policies can help to cover you against emergencies in your home and business, all without the expensive premiums you would normally expect from such complete cover.
Because our insurance cover is bespoke to you and your individual circumstances, you won’t find our policies or premiums on price comparison sites.
We also provide both buildings and contents insurance for people thinking of renting their home or spare room out on AirBnB, whether on a long or short-term basis. B&Bs are, by their very nature, non-standard insurance risks so all our policies are designed for people just like you and our staff will work hard to understand your needs and make sure you get the exact cover you need. Every insurance quote receives the attention of a specialist and each risk will be individually calculated by our expert staff.
• "Old for new" replacement cover as standard • Options for accidental damage cover
To find out more about our B&B insurance or AirBnB home insurance, call Adrian Flux on 0800 085 5000 — eight out ten customers could get a cheaper deal over the phone. Alternatively request a call back at a time that suits you (9am to 7pm Monday to Friday & 9am to 4pm Saturday). Adrian Flux is an independently owned insurance broker established in 1976 and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
adrianflux.co.uk | 0800 085 5000 Trustpilot rating checked on November 17th 2020
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Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
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IN PROFILE || HOSTING A COSY CHRISTMAS
THE
Hudnalls Hideout
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IN PROFILE || HUDNALLS HIDEOUT
Discover this romantic treehouse retreat hidden away in the stunning Wye Valley Hidden within two acres of private woodland, the UK’s first A-frame treehouse lies surrounded by wildlife. Nestled in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Hudnalls Hideout cannot be seen from the neighbouring hillsides, valley or flower meadows. This romantic, adults only retreat was designed to fit it’s woodland location and was built to fit a natural opening between two lovely oak trees. “There’s really romantic little paths running through the woods,” said Sarah. Sarah Orchard, owner of The Hudnalls Hideout, has spent five years creating the perfect hidden retreat with her husband. “We wanted to build something that was very different to what was already out there in the marketplace,” Sarah explained. The hidden hideout has a mezzanine bedroom in the A-frame at the front of the treehouse, at which point you’re about seven metres away from the ground. “You really are up in the tree canopy,” said Sarah. “The bed is on the floor, looking out through the floor to ceiling window in the A-frame, so you literally lie in bed with the trees swaying around you.” Laughing, she added: “One of the cheapest things we did was put a bird feeder up in the apex of the A-frame, which was my husband’s idea so I can’t take credit for it!
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IN PROFILE || THE HUDNALLS HIDEOUT Hammock, Credit: @morel&co
"It all lights up at night and it looks beautiful" “We’ve had guests saying they didn’t want to get up. They just wanted to lie in bed all day watching the birds. We get all sorts of birds here; woodpeckers, owls, hawks. There are so many. “It’s a very nurturing experience, in terms of being that close to the trees and wildlife that surrounds you. You can hear the birdsong when you’re in bed and we have a velux window on the other side of the A-frame that you can open for fresh air and listen to the trees rustling.” Downstairs, there’s a fully equipped kitchen for guests to use, as well as a dishwasher to make their stay that little bit easier. “We’ve got lots of little mod-cons, raw copper pipework, a lovely hexagonal wall and lots of little quirky stylish bits. “The door of the wetroom opens out onto the deck and there’s a copper bathtub on the 16 || Luxury BnB || January 2021
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deck for ‘alfresco bathing’,” said Sarah. “It all lights up at night and it looks beautiful in the evening. All twinkly.” The cosy glow from the lights is reflected within the treehouse itself when guests use the floating fire. “There’s a lounge with a bio-ethanol fire that’s suspended from the ceiling to make it a really cosy and romantic space in the evenings,” said Sarah. Not only do guests also have access to an outdoor firepit, but they can even purchase additional experiences for the duration of their stay such as massages and private chefs. To help fund their treehouse project, Sarah and her husband successfully applied for the European Rural Development Programme that was aimed at businesses offering year-round www.luxurybnbmag.co.uk
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IN PROFILE || THE HUDNALLS HIDEOUT
accommodation as well as helping the rural economy. “It’s a bit like a planning application. We had to submit business plans showing that we met their objectives to create employment and help the rural economy. It added time to the project but the money enabled us to build something even more special because we had a bit of extra funding to support us.” But despite the extra funding, creating this cosy retreat wasn’t an easy task for Sarah and her husband. “It actually took us two and a half years to find the location,” she said. “We left all our friends behind and moved nearly 130 miles away to an area where we didn’t know anyone.”
Bird Feeder, Credit: @itsjonnykeeley
Outdoor Bathtub, Credit: @ImagingEssence
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Laughing, Sarah said: “We actually found the house on BBC's Escape to the Country TV show. We took part in the show and they helped us find this place which was amazing. It was house number three and as soon as we saw it, we knew it was the right place for us. “The location was perfect for the treehouse so we made an offer while we were filming the show and it got accepted. So we bought the house and ended up moving here.” Sarah and her husband spent nine months getting to know their neighbours and the local community before they started planning anything. “It’s really important to get to know your neighbours and for them to understand what you’re trying to do,” said Sarah. “There can often be a lot of resistance when you move to a new area and start building things. It wasn’t about moving here and taking advantage of the locality and building something to try and make lots of money. “We got to know them and they all got to know us and then we started planning. It was May 2019 when we started building
A-Frame, Credit: @itsjonnykeeley
Outdoor Bath, Credit: @morel&co
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“And then five weeks later we had to close because of a global pandemic!” Sighing, Sarah added: “It was devastating, but you know, it’s just one of those things.” Sarah only opened bookings 19 days before The Hudnalls Hideout was due to open because they didn’t have the photos. “We took 50 bookings in 19 days when I opened the marketing and online booking and started pushing,” said Sarah.
IN PROFILE || THE HUDNALLS HIDEOUT
the treehouse and we opened on the 14th February 2020.
“We literally didn’t have the photographs. We had to wait for it to be furnished and finished enough to take photos and it looked beautiful. “Even though there was quite a bit of mud we still got beautiful photos. We had been building through the winter months and I think it was one of the wettest winters in years. We were trying to make it as beautiful as possible after building a 100 tonne structure in the middle of the woods where there was no road access. “But the land healed and now you wouldn't even know that we had to dig trenches for services and get heavy vehicles and all these materials down there. It’s completely healed and it looks beautiful.”
5 TOP TIPS 1. Invest in your website
After closing for the duration of the first lockdown that began in March 2020, The Hudnalls Hideout reopened on 4th July until they had to close again in November for the second national lockdown.
2. Have a marketing plan 3. Hold regular team meetings 4. Listen to your guests and their feedback
“We literally had back to back bookings from 4th July until we had to close again,” said Sarah.
5. Create business partnerships
“But we reopened in early December and since then we’ve been fully booked, up until June 2021. We’ve had a lot of people cancel because they’re uncertain and want to wait to know what’s going on.”
Pizza Oven, Credit: @itsjonnykeeley www.luxurybbmag.co.uk
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Laughing, Sarah added: “But other circumstances change too. We had one couple coming to stay who are now expecting a baby and by the time they come to stay they’ll have a baby so they won’t be able to come and stay because it’s a couples only space.” January 2021 || Luxury BnB || 19
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IN PROFILE || HOSTING A COSY CHRISTMAS Credit: @itsjonnykeeley
"People are waiting for maybe, six months, to come and stay in the treehouse"
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But despite the ever-changing circumstances due to the pandemic or otherwise, The Hudnalls Hideout is very popular. “We’ve had quite a lot of media coverage,” explained Sarah. “We’re so busy at the moment and people are waiting for maybe six months to come and stay in the treehouse. “We get quite a lot of people coming for special occasions like proposals, honeymoons, big birthdays, anniversaries and special celebrations. People tend to book a long way in advance because they know it’s their birthday or something like that, so we can’t really accommodate people who want a last minute getaway.” Sarah’s Advice
Credit: @LizSeabrook for MADE.COM
After spending five years working to get The Hudnalls Hideout up and running, followed by a global pandemic, Sarah has a lot of advice to pass on to others in the hospitality industry. “Invest in your website,” said Sarah. “I really think that people don’t spend enough time, money and energy creating websites to help sell the experience. I think that’s really important. And you own the website. “A lot of the time, people are on social media, but the thing is, you don’t own Facebook or Instagram and it’s becoming harder to reach the people you want to reach and you have to pay for that. So i think it’s really important to invest in your own ‘shop window’, which is your website.” She added: “Don’t get too sidetracked and spend all your time on social media. Spend some time and energy and money on creating great content, videos, tours, and great photography for your website so that people can find you.” Sarah also said she’s found that a lot of people working in this industry work with their partners. “It’s quite a learning curve working with your other half in your business,” she said. “My husband and I have started doing regular ops meetings on a Tuesday. It sounds so grown up but, if you were working in an office www.luxurybnbmag.co.uk
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you’d have regular, weekly team meetings. “I think if you’re working in a micro business or the hospitality and tourism business, you tend to forget these things because you’re too busy just doing the doing.” She added: “Maybe you don’t have many employees so you skip the meetings, but having a structured team meeting where you go through an agenda is really helpful.” Sarah continues, saying it’s so important to “listen to your guests”. “Guest feedback is so important. It’s the highlight of my day when a guest leaves and we can read the guestbook and find out if they enjoyed their stay and what their feedback is. Finding out what we can learn about what was most valued, which helps when I do our marketing because I look at the things guests get a buzz out of and make sure I feature it in social content, like the bird feeder. “It also helps when we talk about what we’re going to enhance the business with next year and just encouraging guests to leave reviews because that’s the best form of marketing, and the cheapest form!” She added: “It’s all about constantly learning and trying to be more efficient at what we do.”
Breakfast Table on the Deck, Credit: @morel&co
Outdoor Bath, Credit: @ImagingEssence
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IN PROFILE || THE HUDNALLS HIDEOUT
URLs hudnallshideout.co.uk
"Don't think that you can do it all yourself" Sarah also spoke about the importance of having partnerships with other businesses. “We’d struggle to do this without business partners. It helps when people come in and do the cleaning because it takes a lot of time. Don’t think that you can do it all yourself. “People look at the cost and think it’s too expensive, but having a professional laundry company and a professional cleaning company do a much better job than we would do and it’s one less thing to worry about. “They are very much a part of our team and I treat them as such. I treat them really well because they’re vital to our business and we couldn’t do it without them,” said Sarah. “Finding great partners to work with really makes business easier.” www.luxurybnbmag.co.uk
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Outdoor Bath, Credit: @HudnallsHideout December 2020 || Luxury BnB || 23
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FEATURE || WINTER WARMERS
WINTER Put your premium spirits to good use this winter with spirit infused winter warmers! We've suggested some great concotions below to help you and your guests warm up after escaping the winter winds outside.
Warmers TRADITIONAL HOT TODDY 50ml whisky 3tsp honey 1 cinnamon stick, snapped in two 1 lemon, half juiced, half sliced 2 cloves
DEAD RABBIT IRISH COFFEE A double shot of white rum 15g plain chocolate 50ml strong espresso coffee 3 tsp caster sugar
• Whisk the whisky and honey together and split between two heatproof glasses. • Add half of the cinnamon stick to each, then top up with 200ml of boiling water. • Add a splash of lemon juice to each, then taste and add more to your preference. • Finish each with a slice of lemon studded with a clove, and serve immediately.
• Heat up white rum, dark chocolate, espresso coffee and sugar, stirring until the mixture boils. • Allow it to cool for two to three minutes. • Garnish with a scatter of chilli flakes.
HOT COUGH AND COLD REMEDY HOT GIN PUNCH Whisky (good quality) Hot Water Honey Ginger Lemon Juice
1 litre gin 1 litre port Juice of three lemons 3 slices of pineapple Segments of one orange 50ml honey 6 cloves 2 tbsp ground nutmeg 2 tbsp ground cinnamon 3 tbsp brown sugar • Mix together gin and port with lemon juice, pineapple chunks, orange slices, honey, cloves, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon and brown sugar. • Simmer on low heat in a saucepan for about 20 minutes. Pour a glass and relax.
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• Mix whisky, water and lemon juice • Microwave for 1 minute until hot • Stir in honey and ginger for that extra kick • This hot toddy for your cold will soothe your throat in no time. Perfect as a bedtime drink to help you get some sleep THE PENICILLIN 1 tbsp ginger (ideally freshly grated) A large shot of premium Scotch whisky 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp honey A (washed) hand-ful of ice • Put the ginger, whisky, lemon juice, honey and ice into a cocktail shaker. • Shake vigorously and fine-strain into a glass. Truly a wonder drug. www.luxurybnbmag.co.uk
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FEATURE || WINTER WARMERS
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LBNB E-BOOK || CHAPTER 1A
GETTING STARTED IN HOLIDAY RENTALS
Chapter 1a
For each issue in 2021, we will be serialising a section of our Luxury BnB E-Book for those looking to set up their own hospitality business.
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By Abbey Warne and Dominic Johnson
• If you are looking to set up your own rental property but are not sure how to get started then look no further, because we have got you covered with our brand new ebook, which will provide you with everything you need to know to get started! This chapter (1a) will introduce you to the different types of holiday rental properties, outcomes and objectives that you may need to consider, how to choose the right location, the different types and sizes of properties available, the skills required and any legal implications which may arise.
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TYPES OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES There are a variety of different rental properties on the market that may spark your interest, and this section will give an outline of what each property offers in terms of services, facilities, sizes and rooms. This will help you to decide which one suits you and your guests the most. The different types of properties available: BED AND BREAKFAST (B&B) • A relatively small lodging establishment offering overnight accommodation and 26 || Luxury BnB || January 2021
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breakfast. It is often a private home which typically has between 4 and 11 rooms, with 6 being the average. Guests will pay for the room and breakfast the following morning.
HOTEL • An establishment providing accommodation, meals and other services for travellers and guests. • They vary in size, but are larger than B&Bs. • Can often have conference/meeting rooms for hire, restaurants and entertainment services. GUEST HOUSE • A private house offering accommodation to paying guests. • The owner usually lives in a completely separate area within the property. • It can be an ‘annex’ or another, smaller house on the grounds of the owner's private home. INN • A pub that also offers accommodation. • Provides food, drink, and accommodation. • Usually has a pub and restaurant, licensed bar. HOLIDAY COTTAGE/LET • Private renting. • The owners live off-site. • Have the whole property to yourself.
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It can be quite tricky when deciding on a particular location and how flexible you want to be with this, so this section outlines a few brief points to consider, in order to help you pick out that perfect spot which your guests will no doubt love. • • •
You might have a particular area in mind or a vague county. You might need to tweak the location or pick a property that is more marketable. Have a look around and check there is a rental market to see what works and what doesn’t.
Locations may include: • • •
A rural destination such as somewhere in the countryside By the seaside, near a beach and other attractions A particular tourist hotspot or people travelling on business - you can charge more if you are closer rather than further away.
What are your desires, outcomes and objectives? This section will provide you with an insight into the different desires / outcomes and objectives you should consider when it comes to rental properties in a Q&A format, and will introduce you to the difference between Holiday Rentals and Single Longer Term Lets.
LBNB E-BOOK || CHAPTER 1A
DO YOU HAVE A LOCATION IN MIND AND HOW FLEXIBLE ARE YOU WITH THIS?
Questions: Holiday rental vs single tenant? “A friend of mine wants to get into holiday rental in Devon - 3 hours drive from her home. Due to her current commitments she has purchased a property and has started a long term rental. The aim is to move to holiday rental in a few years when she has more time.” You would have put your heart and soul into this property and how do you feel about letting strangers into your house / bed week on week?
Helpful URL:
“One of the downsides of holiday rental I’m afraid is that people do mess up your house.”
www.hermesthemes.com/how-to-start-run-bed-breakfast
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Consider how available to guests you want it to be
HOLIDAY RENTALS vs. SINGLE LONGER TERM LETS HOLIDAY RENTAL • You do get to use the house when not rented out • Higher yields but generally irregular • Less control over who the guests are and how they behave. • Must be fully furnished and equipped • Management of the property is generally more • Some tax incentives - you can claim tax relief against any loans (repayment part only). • Can be shut down due to a pandemic! • Higher start up costs and possible ramp to get to revenue
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SINGLE LONGER TERM LET • • • • • •
No access to the house, it’s someone's home Single regular payment. More control: credit checks, interview and references Can rent out unfurnished Less work to manage the property You are generally more connected to a tenant and their problems. • Since lead times are longer, you can generally market whilst renovating and so will start receiving revenue at an earlier stage.
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LBNB E-BOOK || CHAPTER 1A
What type/size of property are you looking for?
Front End and Back End Skills
Thinking about the type and size of property is an important part of the process when you are looking to run your own, so this section will outline the different kinds of properties and their key features.
There are various skills required when running your own rental property, but fear not, because this section will cover the different skills you need and how you can achieve them in a few simple ways. These include ‘front-end’ and ‘back-end’ skills which will be covered in this section.
The different types of rental properties available (information from Roofstock and Mashvisor): LUXURY HOMES • These homes are aimed at more high-end renters. • Include new, up-to-date appliances and technologies. • Expensive to invest in. • They tend to have less frequent guests due to higher prices. HOLIDAY HOMES • In locations which attract frequent visitors such as the seaside or countryside. • Can be seasonal. • Can be seen on websites such as Airbnb. CONDOMINIUMS AND COOPERATIVES • Run by a ‘Home Owners Association.’ • Privately owned. • Part of larger complex - apartments, villas etc. • Consider HOA fees you will have to pay. Helpful URLs:
Don’t forget that running a holiday let is like running any other type of business! The steps you should take to meet the skills required: • • •
You need to know you can cover all the bases. Take a look at your team and match up the skills you have with what you’ll need. Then make a list of what you have now, would be willing to learn and what you’ll need to buy in.
Examples of front-end and back-end skills:
BACK END SKILLS
FRONT END SKILLS
• • • • •
• • • • •
Maintenance Marketing Accounting Website Design Social Media
Interior Design Garden Design Meet and Greet Cooking Cleaning
learn.roofstock.com/blog/types-of-rental-properties mashvisor.com/blog/types-of-rental-properties-investing
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS (PARKING PERMITS, EXTENSIONS, BUILDING WORK) (LEGAL EXPERT) There are legal implications to consider when you want to run your own rental property, so you can make sure that you don’t run into any troubles down the line. • •
There are less likely to be issues if there are other holiday let properties nearby. Very local so a good source of this information is the local holiday let agencies.
SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 1A This brings chapter 1a of our e-book to a close, and we hope this has given you a better idea of the type of property you are looking for, the location, the skills that owning it may require, as well as any legal implications involved. Make sure that you keep a look out for the next part of the ebook (chapter 1b) which will introduce you to more complicated stuff, but don’t worry, we will guide you through it step-by-step. The sections in chapter 1b include insurance advice, tax implications and more, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for our next issue, because you don’t want to miss out.
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LBNB E-BOOK || CHAPTER 1A
G UE ST HOUSE IN SURA NC E PROTECT YOUR B&B, GUEST HOUSE OR SMALL HOTEL FROM UNEXPECTED LOSSES.
COMPREHENSIVE COVERS & TERMS AVAILABLE ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ • • •
Running a B&B or guest house is hard work and ringing around for days on end getting insurance quotes can be hassle and stress you don’t really need. Hodgson Insurance Services are an independent family run insurance broker based in Bude, Cornwall. We have been insuring guest houses all over the UK for over 40 years and understand the needs and insurance requirements of the modern-day B&B owner. You won’t ever be dealing with a call centre, you will always be speaking with the same 4 or 5 trained staff members. Every business is different, some offer a full breakfast, others allow guests access to cooking facilities. Some provide an element of holiday letting, maybe use of a hot tub, some employ staff. We take time to understand how you run your business, as independent brokers we don’t just use one insurer, we have access to a number of specialist guest house insurance schemes and will search the market to find the best match for your business, so you don’t have to.
Buildings & Contents Business Interruption Cover Public & Employers Liability Business Legal Expenses Cover Low Excess For Claims. FULL Theft & Accidental Damage By Guests. NO Security Conditions
We don’t just sell on price, we make sure the covers are adequate for your needs. All guest house schemes have different terms, some require security on doors & windows, some don’t, some include full Theft By Guests and some only offer theft cover by forcible or violent entry. What excess do you have to pay in the event of a claim? All policies vary!! A burst pipe causes water damages to rooms which you can’t now rent for 6 months, will the policy compensate you for lost business?? An insurance broker should always fully explain the main conditions of a policy to ensure it meets your requirements. As general insurance brokers we don’t just do guest house insurance, although hospitality is a large part of our operation and we can look at quotes for holiday homes, restaurants, public houses etc, we also insure many landlords, shopkeepers and private motor vehicles. For more information or advice on your insurance needs please contact our brokerage.
‘WE ARE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE WHO SEARCH A PANEL OF TOP INSURANCE SCHEMES TO FIND YOU THE BEST DEAL’
01 288 353999 GUE STHOUSEIN SURA NC E.C O.UK Chapter House, Burn View, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8BZ.
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Where versatility, usability and individuality count
The new X10
Coffee pleasure – freshly ground, not capsuled Customised coffee via 4.3" colour display thanks to One-Touch function for 31 programmable specialities Professional Aroma Grinder for ideal grinding results over the entire service life One-Touch Lungo function for delicious, aromatic barista specialities
Ideal areas of use: breakfast rooms, pub bars, restaurants, small bistros, private clubs and function areas. Recommended maximum daily output: 80 cups
JURA – If you love coffee
JURA Products Ltd., Vivary Mill, Vivary Way, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 9NW, Tel: 01282 868266, Fax: 01282 863411, sales@uk.jura.com, uk.jura.com
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