Industry News
In this section we have gathered some of the most popular information sources, such as trade journals, magazines, blogs, and association websites. Industry information is always changing. For the latest news, current issues and popular opinions, try following one or more of these sources. In addition, interacting with the websites that provide this information through commenting and asking questions may also provide you with more information.
Associations
Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for your business plan. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.
Canadian Associations
Accredited BC Accommodations Association | Members are all independent B&B innkeepers of British Columbia, or hosts of self-catering accommodation. The Association is a professional Association of licensed, quality B&B innkeepers in BC, or licensed self-catering hosts, formed for education, marketing and representation purposes.
BBCanada.com | Canada's complete bed & breakfast web server. Check out the Partnered Associations link.
- InnFocus Magazine: A publication from the BC Hotel Association, available for free online. Published quarterly.
BC Hotel Association (BCHA) | The BCHA is the advocate and spokesperson for the interests of the hotel industry throughout British Columbia.
British Columbia Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Guild | Recognized by Tourism BC as the professional body for the Bed and Breakfast Industry in BC, they produce 70,000 brochures annually that are racked on most ferry routes, Tourism offices as well as selected info centers in the Northern US.
Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) | TIABC advocates for the interests of British Columbia’s $22.3 billion visitor economy (normalized year). As a not-for-profit tourism industry association, TIABC works collaboratively with its members – private sector tourism businesses, industry associations and destination marketing organizations – to ensure the best working environment for a competitive tourism industry.
International Associations
Association of Lodging Professionals | ALP is a collaborative community, solving the challenges of independent lodging property owners in a changing travel landscape. This non-profit organization provides resources for current and aspiring independent lodging professionals and vendors who provide products and services for the industry.
Bed and Breakfast Association - UK (BBA) | The Bed & Breakfast Association is the UK trade association for B&Bs and Guest Houses.
Magazines & Trade Journals
Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for business planning. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.
Hospitality Today | An online multimedia publication for owners in the hospitality industry.
Bed & Breakfast News - UK | A subscription magazine geared towards the 'hands-on' owners of B&Bs, guesthouses, and small hotels. Published monthly.
Luxury BnB Magazine | Luxury BnB Magazine is a UK online magazine with an aim to educate and inform Owners & Managers of B&Bs, Inns, Guest Houses, Boutique Hotels & Holiday Lets. Published 6 times a year.
Consultant & Other Websites
MarketWatch - Industry Analyzer | The Industries section contains current data on Dow Jones Industry Sectors. Aggregate data as well as company-specific data is available.
PriceWaterhouse Coopers Canada (PwC) | Global consultancy firm that produces reports on the state of various industries.
Firsthand | A free source of industry information. Use the Industry Profiles to research growing industries and best industries by major, and Company Rankings and Profiles to find news, company information, and industry-specific sample professions. Basic monthly membership is free and offers access to blogs, discussion forums, and job listings.
Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre | This free resource created by the Vancouver Public Library is an online and in-person resource that helps newcomers to Canada find information to get a job, explore different careers or start a business.
Blogs & Discussion Forums
Blogs
Bedandbreakfast.eu | Founded by Hanny Arens in 2009, this page sorts posts by starting a business to tips on marketing.
Bed and Breakfast Academy | This blog is run by Karen Thorne, a bed and breakfast owner with 17 years of experience, posts weekly tips on how to start, run and market a bed and breakfast as well as recipes.
Little Hotelier | This blog is from the Little Hotelier, which provides a marketing and booking system for bed and breakfasts. The blog features posts about distribution, marketing, property management, technology, and trends in the bed and breakfast world.
Podcasts
The Bed and Breakfast Academy Podcast | Hosted by Karen Thorne, a bed and breakfast owner with 17 years of experience, this podcast provides practical advice for running a bed and breakfast.
Yvonne Halling - Bed and Breakfast Coach | This podcast with Yvonne Halling teaches bed and breakfast owners the skills for the digital age, so they can make more money, with less work.
Bed, Breakfast & Business | This weekly podcast hosted by Gerry Macpherson offers tips and insights for managing and promoting a bed and breakfast.
Discussion Forums
Inspiring.com | This forum is a gathering place for aspiring and experienced bed and breakfast owners to discuss topics from starting a bed and breakfast to decor to guest management, and everything in between.
B&Bs and Inns | A private Facebook page run by Yvonne Halling with almost 3000 members. This group is for new and established owners who want to know how to start, run and grow a B&B, guest house, inn or small hotel but are overwhelmed with the online world and how to use it to their advantage.
TIP: As with all sources, news articles and blogs should be carefully evaluated. For information on how to evaluate your information, watch video tutorial Module Five: Using Information Responsibly.