The Seven Deadly Sins of Innkeeping

The "seven deadly sins" provides a new way of looking at the way you run your B&B business. Again we can comment on the need for writing business plans for B&B innkeeping, helping focus you thougths on better customer service and solid business practices. Of the seven deadly sins, avarice may be the most insidious because it disguises bad business practices like passing innkeeping costs to guests that should be built into the room rate. Craving what other innkeepers have can lead lead you from your path, the one you outlined in you business plan. Getting rid of envy will help you focus on providing the best guest experience you can, rather than worring about what others are, or are not, doing in their bed and breakfasts. The pride and prejudice you have about your inn cause be your downfall because you don't see problems as they arise and you don't keep your eyes on the horizon for new ways of doing business.

       Several years ago my husband addressed an annual Mensa meeting, using the theme, the 7 Deadly Sins, for his speech. It was a humorous and well received talk and it planted a seed for this Innfo. As I folded my clean Seven-Sins t-shirt last week I decided it was time to write about how the Seven Sins relate to B&B innkeeping -- for both aspiring and perspiring innkeepers.

       Let me review the seven sins so your "back burner" can start making its own list of how they impact your life. Avarice, lust, envy, pride, sloth, wrath, and gluttony are the classic "Seven Sins". This month I'll discuss the first four "sins", leaving the last three for next month. I'll also introduce my husband's idea for the new eighth "sin".

       I also see avarice exhibited in some business decisions. For example, when an aspiring innkeeper is choosing their B&B broker they may not choose the one with the B&B experience. Too many times I see that decision cost the aspiring innkeeper lots of money, and often lost time because of bad purchases. Another example is when an innkeeper, in trying to decide between two website designers, goes with the cheaper one because they are local or related somehow rather than the one with the B&B expertise. I've never seen that work well for the innkeeper.

       Another innkeeper chased her lust for the business right into ownership, despite the warning signals it wasn't her best plan of action. Her purchase was reasonably priced for its condition and level of business, but after two months of innkeeping she realized she didn't want to sustain the developing business, nor did she want that lifestyle. So after just two months of ownership she put the inn back on the market. Those are expensive lessons, ones that could have been avoided if the lust hadn't been so strong as to blind these two buyers.

       I see lust in B&B innkeepers' actions by the way they compare themselves to others and strive for something they don't have. For example, I knew an innkeeper who wanted the best for his B&B inn -- antiques, jetted tubs, fireplaces, and food experiences. Admirable. The execution of his wants was less than ideal so these wonderful amenities actually ended up detracting from the guests' experiences. The jetted tubs he bought were high quality but the installation was low-budget and they looked tacky. He prepared wonderful breakfasts and snacks but served them on table linens that were stained. His lust got him part way into the dream of exquisite, just not all the way.

       At times there's only a fine line between lust and envy.

       Aspiring innkeepers demonstrate envy when they have "a champagne taste with a beer budget" and don't face the facts about their reality. If an aspiring innkeeper can't afford the B&B inn of their dreams something has to give. But often what I see is people continuing to pursue the dream, making derogatory comments about the inns that they can afford. It seems to me that you either have to find a way of seeing the potential in the B&B inn that can be afforded or finding a fortune so the dream inn can be purchased. Envy can blind us to the potential that's right in front of us.

       I have heard disparaging comments about other inns from active innkeepers like "it's too modern", "they are so authentic they aren't modern enough", "they are on a busy street", "they are too far out of town", "you have to pass a mobile home park to get to the inn", "they don't have any views", "they only serve a continental breakfast", and "they serve so much starch at their breakfast". You get the idea. I believe it's envy that makes one innkeeper critical of other innkeepers. However, envy can be a mere emotion away from pride, another "deadly sin".

       Pride interferes with maintenance when the innkeeper's attitude is caught up in the original concept, forgetting the present reality. Examples of this attitude are found in innkeepers who won't update carpet or wallpaper because it was original to the house when they bought it -- never mind that it's shabby and outdated.

       On the other hand, maybe it's sloth keeping innkeepers from maintaining their property. Learn more about that, and the other sins next month.

In Part 2, coming in the June Innfo, I'll cover the final three"Deadly Sins", plus the "new" eighth sin.