Tag Archives: innkeepers

December 2, 2008 · 9:36 pm

meet and greet workshops…

does your inn or business have any meeting space?  maybe you are a group of professional women with or without dogs who are interested in a writing or publicity workshop.  If so, let me know… I want to offer small biz owners, CPA’s, lawyers, realtors and others workshops… (see info below)… and am looking for venues to hold the meetings for 10-25+ people approx… which would be great publicity for the venue (you)…   I would like to schedule meetings (four hours) perhaps Sat. afternoons in Jan., Feb, and March for starters… California venues preferably, but am open to venues in the Southwest in winter, other venues in spring/summer.  thanks !

1. PR on a Shoestring Budget
Do you have an existing business and want the world to know? But, can you afford to do PR/marketing?
Discover how public relations (PR) can assist you in growing your business, expand your bottom line and distinguish your business from the competition even on a shoestring budget. No matter what your business, PR is an organization’s most powerful marketing tool in this economy. Learn how to increase your perceived worth, and the worth of your company, in the eyes of your customers, clients and industry — all with an effective PR campaign. In this workshop, you will learn:

• The difference between Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
• How to Write Press Releases that Get Published
• How to Create an Impressive Press Kit from Scratch
• How to Develop Media Savvy (how to talk to inquiring reporters)
• PLUS, Expert Tips on Creating an Elevator Speech, Hiring a P.R. Firm, Networking for Profits and much more …

2. Power Publishing a Book: Turning Your Expertise Into Gold!

Do you have an interesting or unique life story? Are you looking for ways to increase your visibility, expand your credibility and enhance your image as an entrepreneur or businessperson?

Why not take your knowledge and turn it into a money-making book?

Maybe you’re an expert on weight loss or saving money on your taxes. Or perhaps you’ve traveled extensively through Texas and could write a traveler’s guide. Whatever your knowledge, and whatever the topic, one of the best ways to demonstrate your expertise is to write a book!

If you’ve ever dreamed about writing a book, but thought you lacked the time, tools or training to get published or the confidence to give it a try … stop making excuses! You’ve just found a workshop that will help you get started (even if you hate to write)!

In this workshop you will learn how to:

• Find a topic for your book and start writing
• Locate an agent and/or book publisher
• Write an effective query letter
• Negotiate contracts, royalties and advance payments
• Plus, book proposals, self-publishing and more …

Call or email me, thanks !

contactphone

Leave a comment

Filed under California, dog friendly, four paws up, K9 approved, press releases, publicity, publishing, travel with dog, travelwriting, women travel, women with dogs, women writers with dogs, writing

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 11, 2008 · 1:35 pm

tips for innkeepers

here are a few tips that I have compiled from inns that are doing well even in this economy and those that are not…

Do’s

* provide dog treats, dog bowls, dog beds and other doggie amenities, it is very much appreciated

* if you want pet owners to clean up dog waste, please provide plastic biodegradable bags as well as nearby waste containers…

* please provide a safe, easy access, clearly marked grassy area, fenced, if possible, where dog owners can take their dogs

* keep guests coming back by making your guests feel special with little extras, gifts and goodies for pets and pet owners

* make our stay memorable, for instance, the MacCallum House breakfast was divine and so was the unique hot tub in the private yard not to mention the private limo to the wine country that allows dogs

Sally’s breakfast at Howard Creek Ranch inn is also memorable because it is hearty, no skimpy or stingy portions, guests can eat as much as they want and the food is fresh and down home delicious

Best memorable views is a three way tie between Agate Cove Inn, Little River Inn and Greenwood Pier in Elk…

* the Stanford Inn was the first in the area to offer pet friendly lodging before it was popular and their zenlike property is memorable, as is their pet friendly dining with superb award-winning vegan cuisine

* offer amenities such as WIFI and phone so that guests who want to stay connected can and those that don’t do not have to take advantage of the service

* offer complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea and cookie…  the Sea Foam Lodge delivers piping hot muffins to each guest’s door, a breakfast to remember…  the Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park and other locations that provides guests with fresh hot baked cookies daily and complimentary wine and cheese in the afternoon

* have pet friendly and knowledgable staff available (concierge, front desk) to answer questions, arrange tours and make suggestions

* stand out, be distinct, give us something to write home and tell our friends and associates about

Don’ts

* please don’t discriminate against certain breeds and sizes of dogs

* why nickel and dime visitors to death with extra charges for phone calls, tempting treats and foods in the fridge, and charges for other amenities, if you charge $200+ a night?

* make us wait forever to get into the room and rush us out of the room in the morning

* housekeeping is important and necessary and so is landscaping but please have staff be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible, no one wants to listen to lawnmowers all afternoon. you want us to enjoy our stay, right?

* please don’t use chemicals, green, enviro safety is in, please use safe nontoxic odorless products to clean the room

Remember, if your guests have a choice between staying at a clean fresh modern motel with internet access in the room, free phone calls that serves breakfast with lots of options (eggs, cereal, muffins, bagels, english muffins, and toast)  for $50 a night or paying $100-250+ a night at your inn with no internet access, no phone and no breakfast, why do you think they would choose your inn even if they can afford to do so just because your inn is located in a popular destination, was successful in the past, is historic or?

Leave a comment

Filed under AAA, California, dog travel, four paws up, inns, K9 approved, K9 travel, pet friendly lodging

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 11, 2008 · 12:30 pm

Getting inn touch with your inner K9 … innkeepers welcome

 

 

 

If you want to promote your pet friendly inn, let me know, perhaps I can help  you… win win win… for more info, visit this page… with helpful tips…  

 

http://celiasue.hecht.googlepages.com/innkeeperswelcome

 

Here’s our new free giveaway contest for the week…sponsored by Doggytug…Kelly now has an instructional video on how to use the toys… on the product page, upper right hand, click on the photo… 

http://Doggytug.com

Dottie the traveling bikini dog panties (you do remember Dottie) says: Answer this question and win… who played Bonnie Blue Butler in Gone with the Wind?  (hint: i recently had breakfast with her)… 

 

 

 

 

if no one gets the answer to that question, then the first person who names three of the nine inns I recently wrote about (in May 2008) will win the free weekly giveaway contest…  so you’ve got two shots at winning a great goodie bag filled with wonderful doggytug toys… send us your answer before Friday, May 16, 2008… 

Doggytug toys are the tug toys that dogs love to play tug of war with…  just ask Lainie… who is Lainie you ask, check her out playing with her tug toy… from her free giveaway package… she is playing with the floatie that is for swimming with, by the way… 

http://olgathetravelingbraotherstuff.blogspot.com/

 

 

2 Comments

Filed under all you need is a dog, belly rubs, chew toy, contest, dog friendly, dog panties, dogs, dottie the traveling bikini dog panties, four paws up, free giveaway, inns, K9 approved, K9 travel, mutts, pet care, polka dots, toys and treats, tug of war, women with dogs

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

April 22, 2008 · 12:54 pm

happy tails and trails… and dog friendly wineries?

A great big right back at you thank you to Olga… check out her awesome photos of the goodie bag that she won last week for the Name the Traveling Dog Panties giveaway PLUS her fun dog playing with the DoggyTug video…

http://olgathetravelingbraotherstuff.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-tails-to-you.html

a new clue for those of you who want to enter this week’s giveaway and win… name my two cats who were brothers… and poetry is one word to search for, there are other forms, poetry is plural… the cats meow… 

Cici and I will be traveling soon… next week to Mendocino, California and then south… staying in dog friendly places…  if you know of fun places, please let us know… we are especially looking to stay in yurts, tree houses, tipis and weird, unique and unusual places that feature dark chocolate, too, and speaking of chocolate, we will be featuring some yummy chocolates again soon and if you are an innkeeper or chocolatier and want to be featured here and in other publications, please call or email me asap. 

if we get to southern Oregon any time soon, I found this… pet friendly b and b’s in southern oregon

 

http://www.lodging-world.com/petfriendlysearch.us.oregon._._.html

and can you believe it, Napa/Sonoma wineries have gone to the dawgs… more on this soon… am doing research and we hope to check these out personally…

also, did you know that there are people making dog wine, dog chocolate and dog beer?  how dry I am… hiccup…  we are NOT NOT NOT recommending that anyone give regular people beer or wine to their dogs, please don’t… it’s not good for them…

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/beer-for-dogs-next-stop-doggie-aa-230729.php

http://www.beerfordogs.com/

and dog lovers wine clubs?

http://www.hsus.org/shop/dog_lovers_wine_club.html

and wine dogs…

http://www.winedogs.com/t-about.aspx

 

and dog wine labels?

http://www.critterwines.com/Dog.asp

Cici and I are looking forward to being on the road again… well, I am… not so sure about her… once we hit the beach though, she will be a very happy camper… 

     

1 Comment

Filed under AAA, Adventure, belly rubs, dark chocolate, dog friendly, dogs, four paws up, K9 approved, K9 travel, keep pets safe, mutts, Oregon, pet care, pet friendly lodging, pet travel, sustainable travel, toys and treats, travel, travel with dog, travelwriting, wine, women travel, women with dogs, women writers with dogs, yurts

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,