Frictionless Innkeeper Podcast

Whether you just bought a property or are looking to sell one, innkeepers should always focus on enhancing the value of their properties. Enhancing value is a critical component of any business strategy for independent lodging owners – and it is a continual process, as highlighted by Marilyn Bushnell and Chuck Anderson of Marilyn Bushnell & Associates. We are very thankful to Marilyn and Chuck for...

ThinkReservations, led by CEO Richard Aday, acquired Acorn Marketing in April 2024, and proceeded to launch its latest major offering, ThinkWeb, soon thereafter. Making a major acquisition and launching a new product around the same time required strong leadership to help ensure its success. Richard discusses the Acorn acquisition, ThinkWeb launch, and the challenges of leading the combined teams...

For state independent lodging associations to thrive, there's a need to be nimble and continually provide value to their members. The Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association recently rebranded itself as the Midwest Association of Independent Inns (MWInns) to expand its market to 13 Midwest states. MWInns also focuses more on marketing the region and offering property listings for travelers to book t...

Providing high-quality bedding and linens is a critical part of elevating the guest experience to ensure a dream-worthy stay. With a storied history in U.S.-based manufacturing since 1889, American Blossom Linens, a brand of bedding made by Thomaston Mills, is a pioneer in providing American-made bedding and linens for independent lodging. We are very thankful to Janet for sharing her insights wit...

Often overlooked, having a professionally designed interior can make your property truly stand out, reflect your brand and maximize the guest experience. Starting out as a designer of home furnishings, James Kuester of Küster Design, transitioned his business to focus on interior design for the independent lodging sector. His firm's focus is on interior branding in a way that enhances how guests i...

When it comes to elevating the guest experience, serving high-quality coffee can really make a difference. When Ann Brownell and Jeff Raybourn purchased the Cozy Cup Coffee Company in 2023, they had a vision of expanding their small batch roasted coffee beyond the walls of their coffee shop and into the innkeeping arena. They now have a customized innkeepers package that allows any property to pro...

A number of years ago, aerospace engineer Craig Steele's frustration over a malfunctioning hotel shower head led him on a journey to design a better version of a device typically taken for granted. This quest led Craig to bootstrap Samson Shower Systems, which offers high pressure, water-saving shower heads that are made from quality, aerospace-grade materials and expected to outlast most products...

From hosting expanded educational events, enhancing partnerships, advancing regional efforts to increasing membership and launching a new website, it's been a busy first year for Sarah Gazi in her role as the CEO of the Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP). The must-attend 2024 ALP Conference & Marketplace is also around the corner on March 2nd to 6th in Orlando, Florida. In addition to the...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has officially made its way into the hospitality industry with TakeUp, a recent start-up that offers a dynamic pricing platform which leverages the power of AI and machine learning to optimize room rates and increase revenue. Patty Sung, Founder and CEO at TakeUp; and Chris McPherson, Founder & CTO at TakeUp, tell us about their offering, explain how they leverage AI t...

Google Business Profile helps lodging professionals manage their business information across Google products like Search and Maps.  In addition to ensuring that potential guests can find information about their property and eventually book, lodging owners can use their account to review traffic metrics, gather customer insights, as well as view and respond to Google Reviews. Annie Buck, Education...

Independent lodging properties are ideal destinations for weddings and those that offer wedding services, regardless of size and complexity, can attest that they are an excellent source of revenue.  There is a range of options for a property to consider when deciding to offer on-site wedding services. Lela Pohlmann is a Wedding Coordinator for Hermann Hill Weddings, which offers a full range of we...

State and regional independent lodging associations play a vital role in promoting properties in their areas, as well as ensuring quality lodging standards and providing educational opportunities for members.  As former innkeepers who had successes in owning two properties, Donna and Byron Cain became Co-Executive Directors at the Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association (MBBA) about two years ago....

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lodging professionals often needed to find creative ways to incent guests to stay at their properties. Some owners and managers did so by developing new on-property experiences for their guests which they had never offered in the past.  Doug Bagnasco and Jim DeBlasi, the co-owners of the Devonfield Inn, were among that group of astute lodging professionals who focused...

Marty and Carmel Etzel bought the Flag House Inn in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2017, with no prior experience or even informal knowledge of running a lodging business. In less than five years, they were able to more than double their bookings and sell the property for twice the amount they paid for it. Marty discusses their journey, how they were able to accomplish this feat, and how he now parlays h...

Nothing quite entices guests to book better than high-end, professional photos of your property. Rather than relying on your mobile device for taking amateur photos, there can be a significant return to your investment if you hire a professional.  Tom Krueger is a professional commercial photographer who is focused on the independent lodging niche, and has deep expertise in making any property shi...

The Association of Lodging Professionals ( ALP ) has undergone some significant changes recently, including bringing on Sarah Gazi as its new CEO, taking over for the former Interim CEO, E. Scot Fuller-Beatty. Sarah has been in association management for more than 20 years and she envisions shaping a new direction for ALP through listening to its members and partners.  The organization has already...

Unbeknownst to many independent lodging professionals, Google Travel is playing a significant role in impacting booking by diverting potential guests from the Google Search into its online travel marketplace. Lisa Kolb, Owner and Co-Founder of Acorn Marketing, discusses everything property owners need to be aware of about Google Travel for maximizing their bookings. Acorn Marketing offers a compre...

Often the most significant business challenges can lead to true transformation. This was the case for Rita Sleys, owner and operator of the Rosemont Inn Bed & Breakfast, who found her business at a crossroads.  In 2019, she sought out help from Randy Bangs, owner of Get Heads in Beds, which led to a renovation of her property, an update to the property's website -- and a complete re-focus on her a...

Working with a travel influencer may seem like something only larger hotel brands can afford. In reality, independent lodging properties can also leverage travel influencers to increase visibility for their area and bookings for their property. Valerie Stimac, a travel blogger and founder of Valerie & Valise , works with a variety of clients and offers an incredibly insightful perspective on how l...

Enhancing direct and online bookings is paramount for any hospitality provider. Success often comes down to taking advantage of modern, digital marketing strategies.  For nearly 14 years, Q4Launch has helped property owners leverage multiple channels for driving additional revenue. Service offerings include marketing strategy development, web design, content development, search engine optimization...

It is estimated that there are more than 10 million vegans in the United States . For Michele Salisbury, Owner & Chef of Salisbury House at Bethany Beach , this presents an opportunity for differentiation – as her property offers three-course gourmet vegan breakfasts for guests. Michele discusses her new vegan-only bed and breakfast, and how other lodging professionals can better accommodate their...

In a very unusual twist in the Frictionless Innkeeper podcast series, this special episode flips things around where the spotlight is being shown on Steve Short, Founder and CEO of the Frictionless Guest App. Samantha Irwin, owner of Kaizen Business Coaching and Consulting, interviews Steve about the Frictionless Guest App origin story, Steve's love for B&Bs and why the guest experience is always...

In the lodging arena, an often overlooked and important aspect to enhancing a property's overall aesthetic is outdoor lighting.  Mike Glaeser, Field Support Consultant at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, works with many properties to develop customized outdoor lighting solutions that can transform any location. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is the number one low-voltage outdoor lighting provider in...

The B&B Team provides real estate brokerage and consulting services in the lodging arena, and has its finger on the pulse of where the industry is headed. Eben Viens, the Owner of The B&B Team, works with a wide range of property owners and prospective innkeepers, and sees many younger buyers entering the market. Taking a page from boutique hotels, these property owners are challenging the status...

Supporting the entire guest journey, rezStream offers a wide-range of critical operational and marketing tools for lodging providers – from reservation software to booking engines, websites, and digital marketing. The company partners with its lodging customers to develop customized plans, as well as offers à la carte solutions. rezStream's property management software and marketing services posit...