California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns

The 2009 InnSpire Conference and Trade Show at the Hyatt Regency Monterey hosted by the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) was three days of intense educational workshops and a two-day trade show packed with attendee-exclusive discount offers. The educational workshops covered a variety of topics including: marketing, generations, legal issues, ADA, media and communications, the economy, the Internet, and International tourism.

InnSpire Conference attendees received their annual "shot of inspiration" from keynote speaker Karen McCullough who discussed the importance of having a branding strategy for all bed and breakfast inns. Several trade show exhibitors attended the session as well and were pleased to take away a powerful branding message to apply to their own businesses. McCullough's resonating concluding message was so powerful that cheers and applause from the crowd was heard all the way upstairs in the Grand Ballroom of the hotel.

Scott Crumpton of White Stone Marketing, a favorite of InnSpire attendees, gave what many long-time attendees called "his best presentation in years." Crumpton's presentation was packed with timely and useful information on Marketing Strategies in a Down Economy. Attendees received many take-aways from the workshop that they were able to bring back to the inn and implement immediately to help increase business and revenue in these trying economic times.

Vikram Singh of eVision Worldwide confirmed for the audience that you can still get one thing for free in America -- Google Analytics. Using his quick wit and vast knowledge, Singh "Demystified Google Analytics" for attendees and declared that "running a website without Google Analytics is like driving a car without a speedometer." He delved deep into the capabilities of Google Analytics' tracking capabilities and turned a majority crowd of non-Google Analytics users into its latest fans.

Stu Carty of Constant Contact, a rookie to the InnSpire Conference, provided attendees with Winning Strategies for Email Marketing. Carty enlightened the audience on the importance of assessing everything from the volume of content to reviewing how you position your From and Subject line in the email to get more opens and clicks.

A panel of experts including Lowell Daniels of the Victorian Inn, Wes Tyler of the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square, and Tom Beattie from Bedandbreakfast.com gave their first-hand advice on How to Handle Negative Online Reviews. Innkeepers received tips on how and when to respond to negative reviews. Plus they learned how to take positive feedback from guests and ensure that the message is conveyed to the general public on sites like Trip Advisor, Yelp and other review websites.

Our popular annual trade show featured many new and repeat exhibitors both featuring a variety of exciting new products. In attendance were more than 35 vendors who supply innkeepers with the products and services that are essential to running their business. Conference attendees could see, smell and touch the amenities that make their guests feel so special. Attendees had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with bankers, loan officers and realtors who work in the B&B industry.

Booking.com was a hit with their online hotel reservation system which is Europe's largest, attracting over 20 million unique visitors each month. After a very informative opening day workshop, Otter Rock Films was busy showing innkeepers how to attract today's tech-savy guests through their commerical production company, which specializes in commercials for television and web. Branching Out Pottery broke the mold by transforming inn's logos and imagery into unique products such as name tags, door hangers, key chains, keepsake magnets and much more. DEHCO Commercial was everyone's favorite during the Super Bowl Party. Their high-quality, brand name flat screen televisions practically sold themselves. With more than 50 years of electronics experience in the hospitality industry and an exceptional customer service team, many innkeepers will be offering their guests a new viewing experience.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

A special thank you to all of our InnSpire Conference sponsors for your generosity and support of both CABBI and CH&LA. InnSpire sponsors included: Lodging Property Brokers, Booking.com, Wells Fargo, Markel Insurance Company, The B&B Team, and Sonoma Bank.

Thank you to the following wineries who provided wine at the InnSpire Mixer: Bernardus Winery, Bonny Doon Vineyard, Chateau Julien Wine Estate, Hallcrest Vineyards & Organic Wineworks, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Scheid Vineyards, and Testarossa Vineyards.

Innkeeping as a Profession (IAP) Workshop

During the conference, 16 aspiring innkeepers attended a two-day workshop to learn about the industry and what it takes to run a bed and breakfast on a day-to-day basis.

“Overall this was an excellent learning experience for my wife and I," said an aspiring innkeeper attendee.  "We are one step closer to joining the Bed & Breakfast industry.”

What innkeepers, exhibitors and speakers are saying about the InnSpire Conference

“I've been coming to the CABBI conferences for years and everytime I always learn something new," said Rick Anderson of Casa Tropicana Beachfront Inn in San Clemente, California. "This year, in tough economic times, I've been able to learn what industry experts and other innkeepers are doing to sustain their businesses."

"InnSpire is a great opportunity to make friends and get good ideas," said Colorado Innkeeper and first-time InnSpire attendee Gary Mansfield. "And I'll be back next year!"

"I thought the InnSpire Conference was outstanding," said Scott Sharrow of Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa in Sacramento. "I really enjoyed all of the content. There were a lot of professional speakers. My favorite workshop was the one on Google Analytics. The speaker [Vikram Singh] was very indepth and knowledgeable. He is an outstanding resource. Being able to read his blog and send in questions, it just opens the line of communication between the expert and the innkeeper."

"InnSpire is an understatement," said Bruce Abney, owner of El Morocco Inn & Spa in Desert Hot Springs, California and first-time InnSpire attendee. "The keynote was invigorating! The best thing is the other innkeepers I met and knowing that I'm not alone. Our success as an industry is based on each other and our ability to gleam new inspiration and enthusiasm through attending an event like InnSpire."

"I like the spirit of networking that InnSpire provides," said Richard Murphy, owner of the Jenner Inn & Cottages and longtime InnSpire attendee. "I always pick up a little pearl of wisdom from the workshops and from talking to people at other properties."

"I love coming to InnSpire every year!" said Mark Carter, owner of Carter House Inns. "I've been coming to InnSpire every year since the beginning of the conference. Every year, I bring something back that more than pays for my conference registration."

"I thought the keynote speaker - Karen McCullough - was incredibly fun and informative," said Brigitte Guehr of Mirabelle Inn & Meadowlark Inn in Solvang, California. "She spoke about branding, which is extremely valuable information for all innkeepers. It was very, very inspiring!"

"InnSpire is the best conference in the industry," said Vice President of AutoClerk Ed Bear. "The educational seminars are fantastic. The conference puts exhibitors in touch with the decision makers at the inns as well as those looking to get into the business."

"I'll be back next year," said exhibitor Bob the Printer. "Even if I have to hitch hike to Napa."

"As a speaker, InnSpire is an opportunity to speak to a cozy, good group of active people," said Vikram Singh, CEO of eVision Worldwide.

"I've been coming to InnSpire for 10 years," said exhibitor and speaker Scott Crumpton of White Stone Marketing. "CABBI is a fantastic organization and I have really enjoyed being able to teach the innkeepers the latest in search engine marketing. It's wonderful to share valuable information with them as a speaker. As an exhibitor, it's not like other shows. This is a warm and friendly group. It's a great social event, but it's also great for business and for sales. This is where California innkeepers shop and they come ready to buy. This is just a fantastic conference and it has been every year that I've been here. And I'll be back next year!"