This is so good!

You may or may not of heard of a little publication called Westworld. It is produced by AMA, has a large curculation and highlights all kinds of travel.  A few months ago ( last fall actually) I was contacted by a travel writer and asked if I would be willing to host her for an evening while she checked out our area. I thought what the hell, what could I possible be out. So she came , ended up staying 2 nights, we had fun and I talked up the area.  Got a copy of her lovely book "Road Trips" as a parting gift and life went on.


Last week I was getting ready to go out the door to the Trade Show and I got a phone call from a lady in Ontario. She wanted to know all about the area etc.ect.ect. So I told her what I could in about 10 mins or so. Then she said that she had read about us in Westworld. Things didn't really click but ok. Off to the show I went and while I was flambeing I had a local tell me all about this article and how we were mentioned in it. It finally hit me what this was all about. That travel writers article had come out.  Since that time ( only a week) I have had 5 different calls regarding it. 


Its's a great article and we are even mentioned in it. Take a look History Echoes in the Crowsnest Pass 


          

Why Travel?

One day a few weeks ago was asked by one of my staff why we always want to go places, in essence why travel? I've been thinking about this while I've been planning my next trip. I've come up with a number of reasons, some valid some not so much. They are broken down into two categories: work related and personal. On the work related side, things like gaining new ideas, menu items and seeing how others do things are at the top of the list. Guests have commented on notions we have brought back from elsewhere. For instance after my trip to England I started making a few things that we had there; curried dishes and bangers and mash. I went out and bought several new mirrors for my guest rooms and did up personalized welcome packages after staying in a B&B in Victoria and seeing how they were used there. That type of thing, nothing earth shattering just little touches. Another thing that happens when we have been somewhere, we tend to critique our own operations and compare them to those we visit more objectively. We find things we do well and things we can do better. This is probably the most helpful of the bunch.


After being somewhere I think it is easier to gage what your customers are looking for. I say this with some reservation as it could be just that you are more aware of what you are looking for and push that on to your customers. If you follow the train of thought that we all own places, we as customers would like to go to then it stands to reason that with a fresh travel experience in our minds we should be able to guess what our customers want. Does that make sense? Well it does to me so my question is to you what do you get out of travel? What have you brought back with you that was useful?

Places I've been: Victoria BC

Recently we went on a road trip. You know get in your car and drive, half the fun is getting there type trip. This particular trip took us to the BC coast. It had been a long time since neither Mark or I had been that direction, our passports had expired and the new ones had not come yet, so off we went.

We left just after serving a banquet (around 10 pm) and drove as far as Creston the first night. We checked into what Mark calls a Bluebird. You know the type; a little strip motel with nothing but a bed, hopefully decent, and a bathroom. Now you would think that these should be cheep right? Well this one cost me $94.00 including tax (holy crap they got a lot of tax in BC) and it was certainly nothing to write home about. Next morning up and out the door we went ready to really start our adventure. The drive was picturesque and the day was lovely. Around lunch time we decided to go with one of our favourite meals on the road: salami, cheese, bread etc. eaten in the car or as a picnic. here cam the first discovery of the trip; a bread called a sharing loaf. It's a round loaf with scores cut in the top so you can pull out a piece. The texture and flavour where great and if I ever find a recipe I will include it.

Now every road trip needs a theme. Our last one was antiques (but that is another whole story) Somewhere along highway 3 the theme came to us: wine. We were on the BC wine route so stopping at wineries was the answer. Our first stop brought us to a winery called   CRowsnest Vineyards how could we pass it up. They had several lovely vintages including one with a label with Crowsnest prominently featured. We bought some and theme was started. On we drove.


We arrived at the BC ferry terminal in Delta just in time - to wait for the next ferry. How in the world these people tolerate all this ferry line waiting I'll never know. Our trip took us to Nanaimo and another low end motel (although it was slightly cheaper and in a better state) but it was 11 pm and we would be off again in the morning.

Day two brought a slow drive down the island highway (now I've been from start to finish on the trans Canada highway) stopping at several vineyards along the way. . Cherry Point Vineyards produces a very likeable white blend called Coastel White that I discovered I can get in Sparwood. We stopped at Merridale Cidery for a sample and lunch. I had a great lamb burger and really enjoyed the tour of the vineyard (?) . 
  
Next it was on to our main accommodations in Victoria. Here I had broken one of the rules of a road trip and made a reservation. The Proir house was a lovely mansion style B&B ( we thought we should actually stay in a few more B&Bs seeing as we own one) with a welcoming hostess and a gorgeous space. From here we explored Victoria ,attending the Royal BC museums’ exhibit from the British Museum, taking in sights and restaurants. The museum trip was good but in some ways disappointing, mostly I think cause I spent 2 whole days in the real thing last year. The best find of the 2 days was a small tapas bar in down town Victoria which I can not remember the name of but it is on a little side street right by the Bay mall. Way good food.

Next it was back in ferry line ups to go to Mayne Island to meet up with family (my uncle lives there) Mayne island is a lovely place all be it slightly introverted. Here I found my dream operation,The  Oceanwood  . Now if I only had a million of so dollars.

Because I stayed another day with relatives the drive back was quick and uneventful. All in all a great trip.



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Travellers Choose Sleep over Sex

A Great Night`s Sleep Trumps Great Sex according to Westin'S Sleep study  

This study was released in August 2009 and tells Us something we should already know: what beds we put in our accommodation rooms are of the upmost concern. Should we all run out and upgrade our beds? Is bedding just as important as the bed it's on?


In my opinion yes if our beds are not at least mid grade they should be upgraded and yes the bedding is just as important. Much of the hospitality industry is about perceptions and feelings and if you can make a good impression with how the room looks (hence the bedding upgrade) and feels you are more than half way to giving the guest what he or she wants: To leave your place feeling good great.