Economy Travel
A nearby Bed and Breakfast is a splendid getaway opportunity. The number of newlyweds choosing bed & breakfasts for their honeymoon is on the rise. Perhaps it's the high cost of gas that's forcing couples to consider celebrating their love closer to home or maybe it's simply that the word is out that B&Bs are travel's best kept secret!
Whatever the reason, new trends are emerging. The average age of the B&B guest is decreasing and with it, increased requests for WiFi access for the Blackberry, unlike their parents who preferred to escape from a cell phone and laptop.
In a recent discussion with Jack North, President of the Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia (BBAV - http://www.innvirginia.com/), we learned a growing number of the younger guests are letting innkeepers know about their diet restrictions, that they are lactose and/or glutton intolerant, for example.
"The younger generation also has a wider variety of meal requests - from vegetarian or vegan - to low fat, representing a diet-conscious group, versus the older generations. Innkeepers have to expand their menu's to satisfy them," North says.
"Young adults are discovering the benefits, ambiance and joys of staying at B&B's - but they clearly have different needs/demands than do the older guests," North reports. "Innkeepers who can cater to both groups are doing well. The younger folks are also the ones who want the single price 'packages', more so than the older generations."
Jack North states that while the beginning of the year was slow at his Mayhurst Inn (http://www.mayhurstinn.com/), Orange, Virginia, May and July set ten year records and April and June were near records.
But perhaps most surprising is the trend toward spur-of-the-moment reservations, often scheduling time off or a weekend excursion within ten days of the dates desired. More of Mayhurst's guests are looking for all-inclusive packages because they don't have time to plan out a vacation or weekend. "We are definitely seeing more guests who are traveling close to home and who are taking shorter vacations, reflecting both rising gas prices and the overall economic picture."
Gene Camfield