| In the current economic climate, more and more | | | | breakfast trends to be favourable is the fact that |
| families are finding it harder to afford that annual | | | | many people stay in these establishments for |
| vacation. As finances become tighter, the family | | | | reasons other than vacation. It may be for a |
| vacation is one of the first luxuries that end up | | | | short stay to visit relatives for a family party or |
| being sacrificed. It is no wonder that many hotels | | | | perhaps a wedding. Bed and breakfast hotels are |
| and vacation facilities are seeing a decline in | | | | usually ideally placed in rural areas where it is |
| visitors at present and some of them are | | | | sometimes difficult to find a hotel and those in |
| struggling to continue trading. Many families are | | | | smaller towns may end up being the only option if |
| considering camping and self catering options | | | | you need to stop over for a visit. Very often, |
| when it comes to their time away and some are | | | | even a recession will not be reason enough to |
| even staying at home until the financial situation is | | | | miss out on a good family get together or |
| more stable and interest rates drop. With some | | | | wedding. |
| small companies going into closure there are many | | | | Nearly 90% of bed and breakfast hotel owners |
| people who are struggling to find employment, | | | | are resident on the property and very often the |
| especially in sectors such as construction where | | | | letting rooms are an integral part of what was |
| the instability is really being felt. So what | | | | their family home. Because of this they do not |
| alternatives are people considering when it comes | | | | have to consider some of the increasing rents |
| to their vacations? One sector which seems to be | | | | that some slightly larger establishments are |
| hanging on and riding out the economic storm is | | | | currently suffering. Many of their homes are |
| that of the smaller hotel. The bed and breakfast | | | | already paid for and they have converted some |
| trends at the moment are showing that these | | | | of the family home into bed and breakfast |
| establishments of 8 or less letting rooms seem to | | | | facilities following the departure of a grown up |
| be coping quite well. | | | | family. This being the case, they are economically |
| There are a number of reasons for their ability to | | | | more able to keep the business going even if |
| manage in this less than favourable economic | | | | times get a little hard and the bed and breakfast |
| climate. One of the main factors is their suitability | | | | trends are showing that they seem to be coping. |
| for short visits. If you are unable to afford a | | | | As small businesses which are run independently |
| whole week or fortnight package vacation, you | | | | by the owners, often you will find that they are |
| can be more flexible when booking at a bed and | | | | able to offer some incentive to encourage people |
| breakfast hotel. Short stays of only a couple of | | | | to book. It may be free breakfast or internet |
| nights are possible and this can mean not only | | | | access. There is usually something that they can |
| smaller bills, but less time taken off work... | | | | come up with which will set them apart at very |
| essential if you are self employed or do not have | | | | little cost to themselves. Another benefit which |
| any paid vacation time from the your employer. | | | | may influence the bed and breakfast trends is the |
| Bed and breakfast trends show that most people | | | | fact that, if it is owned by a couple, one of them |
| only actually stay at the establishment for two or | | | | may well have a job which will help to see them |
| three nights. | | | | through a time when their income from the bed |
| Another factor that causes the bed and | | | | and breakfast is not as good as it could be. |