How to Start & Run a B&B BandBED2eBook-1 | Page 78

The date the booking is made, and method (eg email, phone)
The name of the customer
Their home number
Their home address
Their mobile number (so you can contact them on the arrival day)
Any special requests you have agreed (eg room type, or extra bed)
The price you have agreed
The deposit amount and method you have agreed
Their approximate arrival time (if known)
We put this information in the arrival day, then clearly mark the subsequent days of
each booking with the surname and day number – eg, for day two of Mrs Smith’s four-
day booking, we write “SMITH 2/4”. On the final day, we write the total booking
value, the deposit paid, and balance due.
We also keep a ring binder, divided into months, to keep the letters received from
bookers with their deposits. As soon as we receive a deposit, we mark its receipt and
the day of receipt in the book, then file the letter in the ring binder in date order (then
bank the deposit immediately, of course!).
Computerised and Online Booking Systems
In recent years, more and more software packages have become available for B&Bs,
designed for small premises and at prices a small B&B can afford. These level the
playing-field with hotels, even allowing online booking from your website and opening
up the possibility of gaining business not just from overseas from non-English speaking
countries who might not telephone you, but also from the big online agencies like
lastminute.com, Expedia.com and many others. This is a growing sales channel, and
now you can - if you want - benefit from it.
For further information, see:
eviivo’s website at www.eviivo.com: their “Frontdesk” system is the market leader for
B&Bs, guest houses and small independent hotels, and can give users access to
bookings from lastminute.com, expedia etc. – but they charge commission on all online
bookings made, including directly at your own website.
Angelfish Software (www.angelfishsoftware.co.uk) are a smaller business, focusing on
the small B&B. They provide diary or bookings management systems, and full online
booking.
Other providers include:
Guestlink (www.guestlink.co.uk)
MyUK (www.myuk.travel)
Keep Me Booked (www.keepmebooked.com)
Guestlist (www.guestlisthq.co.uk)
How to Start & Run a B&B
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