Welcome to The Hotel Inspector

Welcome to The Hotel Inspector

A Good Night’s Sleep

At your service to answer all your queries about running a gite or B&B in France.

One of the attractions of a life in France is more for less. You suddenly have a larger than average spread or indeed an out building or two, ripe for conversion. You also have the means to make a bit extra or go all-out and make it a complex for holidaymakers, sounds very simple doesn’t it?

Build it and they will come? Of course, ah but maybe not! Is it that easy? Do you know what you are doing? Are you wasting your money?

In this new series, we will endeavour to lighten the load and offer you tips and real-time advice on how to make it pay or when to walk away! We will cover all areas. Nothing is off limits - finances, marketing, cleaning, maintenance, interiors, exteriors, social media and how to make your business sing!

Today, we chat about beds and answer a ‘help me’ question about a gite that isn’t getting bookings.

That is all the average holidaymaker wants, right? Right. So, how do you make that happen, I mean, we are all built differently aren’t we? Here are our tips for ensuring your guests get all the shuteye they need:

1. Buy big strong frames. Your guests can be, height-wise between 5’2 or 6’7 and weigh anything from 50 kg upwards! 2. Avoid footboards if you can, as tall people will struggle. 3. Think very carefully before buying an upholstered head-board. Think about body fluids and cleaning! 4. Buy as big as you can. Depending on your market, Americans, Canadians and Australians like big beds. 5. Buy hotel-quality mattresses in medium to firm. People with back and neck issues, which is half the population over 45, will not thank you for a very soft bed! 6. To make sure your mattress lasts, you can buy a firm mattress and add a topper to soften the blow. 7. Make sure you buy hypoallergenic bedding. Always use white bedding which looks clean or grey, there is no in between. Do buy your quilt one size bigger than needed. This makes sure everyone gets a bit of the quilt.

Buy several pillows as some people like feather or foam and its nice to have a choice. 8. Always use mattress protectors and pillow protectors but don’t use latex or water-proof ones. 9. Regularly vacuum and air your mattresses. Watch out for bed bugs!

Why white bedding? Depends on if you are going to use a laundry service or not, but it is easier to spot damage and stains. White bedding looks fresh and clean. I personally don’t think coloured bedding looks clean enough or photographs well enough, unless you are purposely making the bedroom part of a theme. Also, coloured bedding is more likely to be not to everyone’s taste. Instead, add colour with throws and pillows which you can change to suit the season. Do make sure you launder cushions and throws regularly. Next time, we will look at the rest of the bedroom.

Change your bed linen to white. You can add colour with changeable throws and cushions. Your cushions are flat. Replace the inners. The tv looks like it belongs in a museum. You don’t need a tv but you do need good Wi-Fi, as most families carry laptops or tablets with them.

Honestly, I’m not a fan of sofas covered with blankets. What are you hiding? Leave a basket of blankets for your guests, and dog blankets if dog-friendly. Your house your rules, but most decent families will cover the sofa if pets are sofa-surfers. Have some extra covers made for your sofa to make sure you can deal with accidental spills.

Your kitchen is solid but old. You could get a decorator in to spray-paint it and you could add modern handles.

Q. My gite isn’t renting, why?

A. Hi, I’ve had a look at the photos and can immediately see some of the improvements you can make:

You have simply too much brown or orange furniture. Most of it has seen better days. Why don’t you upgrade some of it? Some may need replacing and some you can give a paint makeover. I don’t recommend second hand mattresses or sofas but you can buy some incredible pieces of furniture second-hand to help with costs.

Most people will eat at the table if you make it inviting and comfortable. Make sure you leave drink and place-mats out. Leave some games out for families.

Service your appliances regularly. Run cleaners through the washing machine and dishwasher.

Your mattresses look lumpy. One thing you should never skimp on is a mattress, always opt for medium/firm but keep a softer topper just in case. Make sure you have a few different pillows in a cupboard and offer a pillow menu. Do make sure you use mattress and pillow protectors but not plastic please!

Why don’t your walls have any art work on them? Beg, borrow, make it yourself or go shop at the local brocante. Your gite has zero personality at the moment.

Your pool area is fabulous but there is no s ummer colour in your garden and the deck furniture is cheap and plastic. Consider making an outdoor kitchen. Remember, most people spend a lot of time outdoors, make it welcoming and friendly. Clean your gite within an inch of its life! Make sure you air the place between guests.

Leave a welcome tray, fact sheets and any other pertinent info but don’t make tourist leaflets a big feature.

Do make sure you have installed smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as well as a fire hose. Test everything, even how long the hot water lasts!

A welcome tray is a nice to have but I do think the basics of coffee pods, dishwasher tablets etc are key to offering your clients a real getaway, there’s nothing worse than arriving in France on a Sunday afternoon and there’s nothing open. Work the costs into your business plan, buy bulk and buy smart.

Once you are satisfied with the condition, look and feel of your gite, get some professional photographs taken. Do a trial run with friends. Look at what extras you can offer and charge for. Finally, make sure your website and booking system is up to scratch. Your website should be easy to navigate and offer lots of local information from where to visit to how to phone the emergency services. Also, don’t forget to crunch the numbers to make sure you will make a profit.

Remember, the first thing people want on arrival is the Wi-Fi code!

“The four most important words in the English language are, ‘What do you think?’ Listen to your people and learn.” J.W. “Bill” MarriottThe Hotel Inspector

Make sure you have a maintenance plan and ensure you touch up paint as you go. Your gite should look homely, welcoming but bright, airy and clean, not shabby and in need of an update.

My advice to all gite owners is, please do spend a couple of nights in your own gite to make sure it works! Live as you would in your own home and you’ll soon have it running perfectly!

Tips for choosing a mattress - The Hotel Company

Think back to your best night’s sleep. Plump pillows, white bed linen, and an incredibly

comfy mattress. The chances are that your perfect night’s sleep was in a luxury hotel bed. Ultimate comfort doesn’t have to be a treat reserved only for hotel stays. Use our easy guide on how to replicate a luscious hotel bed experience at home. They’re our top tips for enjoying blissful slumber, night after night.

Find the perfect bed base

Build the foundations of your dream bed with the right bed base. Look for superior materials and skilled workmanship. Our divan bases are handcrafted from solid wood and the finest upholstery. They’re built to industry standard and are made to last. You can even add all-important storage with a choice of two or four drawers. We provide a selection of sumptuous fabrics in a wide range of opulent colours. Your new bed will be expertly tailor-made to blend seamlessly into your home.

Sink into your dream mattress

There are so many options that it can seem daunting when choosing the best hotel mattresses. Our collection of premium mattresses are favourites of many London and luxury boutique hotels. You can expect only the best materials. Selecting a mattress with multiple layers of quality fillings, such as wool, cashmere and pocketed springs, will ensure your optimum comfort.

Pile on the pillows

Accessorising your bed with the best pillows, duvet and toppers is the key to creating an indulgent and relaxing sleeping environment. Create your own pillow menu with our choice of bedding accessories. Our hotel-grade selection includes a variety of fillings; duck and goose feather down, Tencel and innovative recycled plastics. Mix and match your pillow sizes to recreate that exclusive 5-star feel.

http://www.thehotelbedcompany.com