MARIETTA, Ohio – More and more visitors are taking weekend vacations to the country and they want to stay at your place – that is, your bed and breakfast. But you don’t have it ready yet.
It is always something you have wanted to do, but have never taken the time to make that dream a reality. Well, this is your chance.
Ohio State University Extension, the Marietta College Business Development Center, and the Marietta/Washington County Ohio Convention and Visitors Bureau are joining forces to sponsor a seminar on “Establishing Your Bed and Breakfast Business,” Nov. 13 -14 at Washington Electric Cooperative in Marietta.
Seminar topics. An overview of the topics during the seminar will include: B&B Food Service; Marketing Your B&B; How to Prepare a Business Plan; Sources of Assistance; B&B Hospitality; Internet Marketing for Your B&B – A Must in Today’s Marketplace; and a Roundtable of Innkeepers – the B&B Experience.
Featured speakers include Ed and Ann Smith of Ohio State Extension. They have been teaching seminars throughout the mid-Ohio valley for a number of years and have written a publication on starting a bed and breakfast.
Instructors. Other instructors for the seminar include: Eric Barrett, Washington County Ohio State Extension agent; Jackie LaBerth, innkeeper of Porter-Riggs Inn; Emerson Shimp, director of Washington County Small Business Development Center; and Kelly Dyar, director of Marietta/Washington County Ohio Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Some topics will focus on operating a country or farm bed and breakfast. Local inn owners from around the Marietta area will be on hand to share experiences and discuss the opportunities available in the bed and breakfast industry.
Tour a B&B. A portion of the first afternoon will include a tour of local B&Bs. Participants will stay in a B&B to get the experience one-on-one and to talk with the innkeepers. Other special events will take place during the two days.
The program beings at 9:30 am on Nov. 13 and concludes at noon on Nov. 14.
Registration. The registration includes one lunch, breakfast, resource materials and one night’s lodging in a bed and breakfast. The registration fee for single occupants is $90. The fee for double occupants is $140 and participants must register together.
The fee for participants interested in the program, but don’t plan to stay overnight at a bed and breakfast is $40.
Registration forms and a brochure about the workshop can be obtained by calling Eric Barrett at 740-376-7431. The preregistration deadline is Nov. 7. Participation is limited.
