I see technology in a B&B having two arenas. One is what technology is the innkeeper using. The other is what technology are the guests wanting.

Technology the innkeeper is using ranges from the "standard" to the "cutting edge". Standard technology includes the obvious telephone, often a fax machine, and then entertainment items like a CD player, radio, tape player, TV, and espresso machine. There are lots of computers used in B&Bs too. They are used for bookkeeping, correspondence, reservations, inventory control, and housekeeping assignments. I'm seeing more electronic locks being used, especially for exterior doors.

Now I'm getting close to "cutting edge" uses of technology. I see more innkeepers using their computers for email, Forums/discussion groups, surfing the web, online reservations, and websites.

But even more cutting edge are technology bits like using a laptop or palm pilot for taking reservations. electronic locks for the guestrooms, motion detectors to control temperature and lighting, and individual guestroom climate control. As technology proliferates and the prices get cheaper, B&B innkeepers are more likely to adopt some of the technology. They benefit because their guests appreciate having the options that become available to them.

What is interesting to me is what technology guests are wanting -- and whether they are finding it. Basics they are looking for include an in-room phone, TV, and CD player. Perks they are looking for include a coffee pot, refrigerator, iron (with ironing board), DVD or tape player, and in-room safe. But the bit of technology that is being resisted most by innkeepers -- for cost or principle -- is high speed Internet.

The arguement I hear innkeepers making for not offering high speed internet is that a B&B is a place of relaxation and renewal (this is the same arguement for not having phones and TVs in the rooms). The theory is that if you are "wired" then you aren't relaxing or nenewing. My response has been "people have many ways of relaxing and renewing, and innkeepers may be restricting their selection of guests by not catering to the different ways of being away". Parents may be willing to get away if they can call home to touch base with the kids; and they want to do that easily from their room. A business person traveling alone may like the company of a TV while they unwind from the day or gear up for the day. And of course, often relaxing can happen when music strains fill the air. All those forms of relaxing require technology.

One travel trend that seems to be ignored is that business people and entrepreneurs are able to get away more often, for short bursts of time, because they can stay connected via the Internet. And if they make their living, or stay connected to the office, via the Internet they want a high speed connection, not a dial-up connection. My husband and I fall into that category -- being able to travel because we can connect to the Internet with a high speed connection.

Cost is another factor in the high speed Internet connection. Cost for the innkeeper and for the guest. Especially in urban areas, high speed connections are getting easier and cheaper, so most innkeepers can afford to install a high speed line. Not only is that investment good for the guest, it's fantastic for them because they presumably are using the Internet and will benefit from the high speed connection. Individual connections to the guestrooms isn't necessary anymore either; an innkeeper can install a wireless system and let their guests use the Internet anywhere in the building. Wireless gets a bit more complex or challenging when their is more than one building, but it's not an insurmountable issue. There is no need to charge $10/day/computer using your system, not when installation is so relatively cheap and easy. I'd much rather see an innkeeper roll the costs of their amenities into the room rate rather than have extra charges for amenity. To me, that's great customer service -- provide what the guests want and let them have it for one charge.

I organize conferences for a group of people who make their living online. The first question I ask every hotel and B&B I call is whether they have a high speed Internet at a reasonable rate. If they don't have a high speed connection I move on. If the rate is exorbitant I move on. The properties that get my business are those that have high speed Internet connections in the guestrooms and meeting rooms, and those who don't charge a high fee. I have found properties that offer it free, for the price of the guestroom and meeting room, though I have to look long and hard for those properties. When I find such a property, it gets an average of 60 room nights from our booking. And if they offer catering and other food services, they earn that extra income as well. Those properties are paying for their technology investment handily.

I know my group is not alone in demanding technology as a requirement for their stay. It's business smart for B&B inns to offer a wide rang of technology. By providing it, it's there if the guest wants it and it can be ignored if the guest doesn't want it. If it's not there, many guests won't be either. Catering to the traveler who wants technology is one market niche you can easily satisfy, and benefit from yourself.

Providing technology for your guests will increase your business and improve your bottom line.

Kit

When you look for a place that is technowise , are you primarily looking at a property that is convenient to airports and other public amenities, like in an urban or suburban area, or do you go out of the way to find a secluded property that has all the amenities? Is location as important to you as your ability to stay connected?

Terry

erry, my location criteria vary with each trip, but rarely is being near an airport important to me. I generally am trying to get away, be in a great location, and have access to the local attractions or business -- depending on my reason for traveling. Each trip is different, taking me to cities, towns, rural locations, and even remote locations.

When I'm booking conferences, the group I'm with doesn't want to travel too far from the airport (10-30 minutes ideally), they want to be somewhere that will allow them dining choices for varying their eating experiences and a place to get out and stretch their legs during breaks, as well as very comfortable lodging. They don't want to pay extra for the high speed internet either. This group's criteria almost keeps them in town, but we are open to experimenting. The challenge is finding a locaton that caters to all of our needs and is near a major airport hub. Ah, the challenges of satisfying 30 different personalities.

Hi there,

I agree with the fact that I should not dictate what people should want to do during their time at the inn. I am building, and plan to have phones, TV and CD players. I want to have internet access as well but it is going to take some research and possibly someone on the board is in the same situation -

We are 4 miles outside Charlottesville, Virginia. And while two miles down the road internet access and cable is available, I am in a "pocket" of sorts. We have 17 acres on a private road with only 2 other homes on our road and do not have any way we can connect for TV or internet access other than Direct TV. We can't even get the internet access from Dish.

I have heard that while it is expensive to install - around $500 that the Direct TV instant access works fine. I was concerned as we don't get great TV reception during strong winds and heavy rains, but have been told that will not affect the internet access other than it might take a little longer if I want to download something.

Is anyone out there on the Direct TV computer access that can give me their experience? We are only at the drywall stage so still have some time to wait to see if something else pops up soon. I've heard there is work to make the connection through our electric plugs soon but don't know how really "soon" that will be.

Thanks,

Erika
Arcady Vineyard

Erika, have you tried Dish Network/Starband? That's who we used for TV and internet for a year. Then we learned we could get wireless from the town 10 miles away, and switched. Is there a wireless provider in your town? If so, contact them to let them figure out if there's any way you can get their service.

One difference between Direct TV/Direct PC and Dish Network/Starband is the way Direct TV/Direct PC governs your bandwidth, making sure you don't take "too much". Though Dish Network/Starband has that in their users agreement, to date I've never heard of them implementing it.

Good luck! Both you and your guests will be happier when you can get high speed internet into the inn. And once it's in the inn you can either get it to your office and guestrooms through Cat5 or a wireless modem.

Hi Kit,

Yes I went online and they have a form to fill out and they respond immediately if you can get their service and I get a resounding "No" to everything in my area.

I think it will come soon as Monticello is selling a portion of their immense holdings, which are, I belive, somewhat close to us. I am hopeful that this will change things.

I run a wine tasting tour and was fortunate to have had a guest who specialized in computer service, who tells me that the Direct TV will be okay for my needs, and will help set me up for trade, but I'm hopeful that we can get something less dependant on the weather - we have Direct TV for television, and the reception is poor during storms and very windy days. If we see something coming down the road, we might be able to get away with dial up and a guest computer in the library until we can figure out what the best wireless will be for the inn.

Best regards,

Erika

With our Dish Network/Starband setup we had minimal problem with the heavy rains and snows we can get. In fact the winter we were using the Starband our area had one of the snowiest winters they'd had in years, and we had few problems with connections. I'm sure yours won't be too bad either with Direct TV.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the 21st century finds your neck of the woods soon.

While I don't have a B&B, we've had Starband internet service at home for nearly 3 years. It surely beats a very slow dialup connection (our previous alternative), but it's somewhat slower and funkier than cable or DSL. Of course, those aren't options for us at this point, and probably not for you, either. We've only had a few times when the service went down due to weather -- usually, it's a matter of going outside and sweeping the snow off the dish. Once in a rare while, heavy rain has interfered. All in all, I'm delighted to have it, but when/if cable comes through, we'll probably switch.
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Ruth Seib
Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty

Innkeepers need to pay more attention to the types of technology they have available for guests and what they charge for use of items such as WiFi and plasma, HD-TV, DVD players and such. According to recent surveys, today's guests expect to find the same types of amenities in their lodging rooms as they have at home. Most do have access to high-speed Internet, multi phone lines, and increasingly surround sound systems and plasma TVs. In some areas, such as Southern California, these amenities are offered in most upper-end hotels...those that compete with bed and breakfast inns.

In reviewing hotels for an upcoming edition of Fodor's San Diego, I found that about 60 percent of the properties..including motels... offered WiFi with no extra charge.

Bobbi Zane
Editor, Yellow Brick Road