Bedford Landings Bed, Breakfast and Hangars was selected through a consumer survey as the Best Place to Stay Overnight at Smith Mountain Lake! Thanks to our friends and guests who voted for us!

Secondly, Bedford Landings Air Tours was voted as among the “hidden jewels” in the category for activities and things to do at Smith Mountain Lake. We are honored for these kind mentions. We hope that others who have not experienced Bedford Landings will find out WHY we were voted into these categories.

We do get out some!
As Innkeepers, we are involved with many community activities including the Regional Chamber of Commerce. We are also involved with our professional associations. As members of the Bedford Area B & B and Unique Lodging Association, we talk about tourism in Bedford and surrounding areas. This year, we contributed to shaping an ordinance to govern short-term lodging. First crafted to be somewhat punitive to our industry, we were able to give input to avoid some issues and include others.

The Virginia B & B Association is called Stay VA
Their website is actually a great place to start when searching for a Bed and Breakfast in Virginia. There are also recipes on the site. There is a professional meeting annually and regional meetings. Bedford Landings contributes to hosting “aspiring Innkeepers” who are considering opening a business by visiting with them, hosting them in site, allowing job shadowing and a general “ear” when they first start out.

Then there is the International Association. Referred to as PAII, the Professional Association of Innkeepers has an annual conference and trade show. We have attended their conference and trade show. It is quite informative in following industry trends, marketing and how to use social media to drive business. After the most recent conference, they released this information. It may be useful to others so I thought would share it.

• Boomers: 99% travel for leisure, are most likely (of all age groups) to stay at B&Bs.
• Gen X: have the greatest spending power now.
• Millennials: want ‘out of the car’, with life/activities after 6 pm w/in walking distance.
• Women make 80% of all spending decisions and 70% of travel spending decisions.
• Marketing will get people to you ONCE; your product & ‘you’ bring them back.
• 74% of traveler’s choices are impacted by the quality of the website.
  
• 100 words or fewer are recommended for each page of a website.
• 5 times as many people read a headline than read the body copy.
• Top 3 type lists with descriptions / commentary are more helpful than long lists of ‘what to do / where to go’ with links (which of course take people off of your website).
• The average Airbnb booking is $148 / night; the average hotel booking is $119 / night.
• If we all market alike – with an exterior photo of our inn, for example – we force the consumer to choose among properties by other criteria such as price & location.

So, If you read this list, you will understand why I started with the Headline I did! Enjoy the rest of your day!

As a follow-up to the last blog, Jack got the steps leading from the front porch to the chicken yard completed!  So convenient!

We had a really relaxing and lazy Christmas and are ready to host you to ring in the New Year! You will get a free bottle of fine champagne in your room if you reserve. Two rooms left!

And guess who got a new camera for Christmas!  So excited to learn all of the interesting things it can do!  Here are some of my holiday subjects just for fun!

 

 

Here’s to 2018!!  Happy holidays!!

We have a new artist in the house!  We welcome Rita Carroll.  Rita is an active member of Art Visions. We have been very fortunate to have access to the talent at Art Visions!  This month’s artist, Rita has always loved art but didn’t seriously pick up a paint brush until her husband gifted her with a set of oils.  Today she prefers watercolors but still paints with oils as well.  Rita has been recognized by her peers in art shows for more than a decade earning judges choice and first place ribbons in shows from Smith Mountain Lake to Bath County. Stop by to see Rita’s art or contact her through her website.

Winter Projects

Generally in the winter months we do a bit of home repair.  My to-do list continues and Jack grumbles a bit as he works down the list as opposed to spending every waking minute in the hangar working on his RV-10 airplane building project.  I must say, however that his airplane project is coming along!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the house project list, he is currently working on cutting out the end of the railing on the front porch so we can access the chickens easier.

These little cluckers have to be locked up in their coop each night to stay safe and warm and then let out each morning; essentially sunset and sunrise are their preferences!  This opening will put us somewhat closer to the coop, especially on chilly mornings!  More to come on this project!

Treeless

We don’t have a Christmas tree yet but we have hung our stockings and gotten the pup groomed for the holidays!  This coming weekend, we will get the tree and hopefully start to trim it between two performances of our Christmas Cantata – A Christmas Rose” we will sing at Bethlehem United Methodist Church.

I recently gave a program to another group about eggs.
I thought I would reproduce it for the Bedford Landings blog.  But why not just link to it? For your reading pleasure- information bout cooking, cleaning and use of eggs.

The Egg-citing Egg by Karen DeBord of Bedford landings Bed & Breakfast and Jodee Jeans, of Ippys Restaurant in Rocky Mount, VA

It was an exciting weekend at Bedford Landings B & B.  After Karen arrived back from a quick trip with her BFF to Charleston, SC, we had a full house.  Jack had checked in a wonderful young couple on Thursday and we discovered that by Friday they had exciting news to share!  They visited the Smith Mountain Lake State Park and came back engaged!  They spent most of the day sharing the news with family and friends!

Another couple arrived late at night having driven about 300 miles in one piece wind blocking jumpsuits.  She was frozen and in need of a restroom quickly!  They thawed out in the jetted tub in the Fourth Room with the gas logs blazing!

Then they had to don the suits all over again to leave!  That’s when I snapped the photo!  Come again Harley lovers!

Jack has given several flights over the lake with Bedford Landings Air Tours for those who enjoy leaf peeping!  But, it looks like Thanksgiving will bring a little cooler weather and it is time to fill the bird feeders and hunker down for the winter!  Remember we are here for your get aways and enjoyment complete with glowing candles, warm fires, hot coffee, and good company!