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Category Archives: Hospitality

Lucky Find for Grandma’s Tea Room

Posted on 2014/01/08 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

We are on the road seatching out antique hops to find treasures for the Tea Room.  Being a frugal person, I took a detour to avoid tolls on the Interstate.

As luck would have it, our detour took us by a huge antique shop.  There are several vendor exhibits and there is a trove of smalls to be found.  We managed to score a nice FireKing Jadite piece along with doll house furniture and jewellery.

The moral . . . take the road less travelled and see what surprises it brings.

If you are ever in central Massachussets, check out  sturbridgeantiqueshops.com

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Customer Service on PEI

Posted on 2013/05/25 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

customer-service

For years, I have been complaining that Customer service is on the decline.  As a customer of several utility companies, I am often faced with poor customer service.  However, as a visitor to PEI, you can expect good service.  The Island knows that a good deal of its revenue comes from Tourism; therefore we try to treat our guests well.  

 

Beside the Trail B&B

At Beside the Trail Bed and Breakfast, for example, the customer comes first. The website has been designed with mobile users in mind. The price you see for the room is the price you will pay when you get here.  We also help you make the most of your PEI vacation by suggesting our favourite places to visit, to eat, and for entertainment.

Government of PEI

The PEI Government is further committed to improving customer service as part of it 2014 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference.

Sears Canada

Recently I had a customer service experience that went from one extreme to the other.  I went to Sears to purchase a riding lawnmower.  I asked the floor agent if I could get a mulching kit for “this model”.  His answer was simple: “what you see is what you get.” Not good enough for me.  (strike one) I asked to speak to another associate.  This one took me to the computer and looked up the model.  Then he got on the phone with parts.  I kept on browsing and confirmed what I already knew: their internal website had the same Q&A on the product and it said a mulching kit was available.

I go over to the phone where the representative was finishing up. He gave me a catalogue number and told me I had to place the order myself. Can you not order it with the mower? “It is against store policy.” (strike two)

So I order the mower and go home to order the part. after placing the order the agent said what shipping option would you like?  Hold on he says there is no parts warehouse on PEI so you have to pay for delivery to your door. Can you not ship it to the store? It is against store policy.” (strike three)

Because I am already committed to the other purchase, I must assume we are in a 4-strike ball game and I wait . . . a week later the part comes in.  I file that away and wait for the mower to arrive. When the mower arrives I hurry to install the mulching kit as my grass is now quite long.  It does not fit! (strike 4)

Furious, I call parts and ask about the part number for the mulching kit for my mower: “there is no mulching kit for this mower” Now I am beyond furious.  I bought this mower on the expectation of getting a mulching kit with it.  Now I have 2 useless pieces of equipment.  I call the Sears store and ask to speak to a manager. Mason (extension 401) answers the phone and listens to my story.  He said “sounds like the guys in parts don’t have the right information.  Leave it with me and I’ll get back to you shortly.” In a few minutes he phones with good news and bad news.  He found the right mulching kit int he US somewhere but it will take 2-weeks to get here. He is having it delivered to his office to save me the delivery hassles and helped me to return the other part.

All the bad customer service I experiences with 5-6 other agents was suddenly erased within an hour by one dedicated employee who believes in Service Quality.

If Calvin McDonald wonders why Sears is struggling and losing customers, he should read my story. If he is wondering how to improve customer service.  he should talk to Mason here in little Prince Edward Island.

 

 

3 Comments .
Tags: services .

HST is coming to PEI

Posted on 2013/01/10 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

the peddler needs $1.04 to collect tax

Harmonized Sales tax is coming in April.  So what does this mean for the traveller? For the next few months, we will be charging 5% federal sales tax and 10% on top of that.  So this means we are charging 15.5% tax on most purchases.  On April 1, the tax will be blended into one harmonized sales tax (HST) at a rate of 14%.  This means that for most purchases, the price will go down by 1.5%.

 

If only life were so simple.  Some goods are currently exempt from provincial sales tax.  On those, you are paying only 5% federal tax today.  Come April 1, the tax on some previously exempt items will rise to 14%. 

Confused yet? Let’s add in another wrinkle.  Some small businesses do not need to charge federal tax.  With the coming of HST, these businesses will have the option of charging the new HST or not.

Let’s take a small Bed and Breakfast as an example.  Let’s say your room rate is $100. Because they are exempt from GST, you would pay just 10% provincial tax for a total of $110. After April 1, this Bed and Breakfast decides to opt into the HST: your room will cost $114 or an increase of about 4% to you the visitor.  The other B&B that also charges $100 for their room decides not to opt into HST and your cost for a room is $100.  That is about 10% less than you were paying last year.

So it pays to check.  When you are making your accommodation reservation, ask for the full price with tax.  That way there will be no surprises. See that the Beside the Trail Bed and Breakfast has decided to charge no tax next year.

Enjoy your PEI holiday.

 

Guy

 

 

 

2 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, vacation PEI .

Bed and Breakfast or Hotel?

Posted on 2012/09/19 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

When you travel, do you prefer to stay at a Hotel/Motel or do you prefer to stay at a  B&B/Inn?

 

Privacy in a hotel room If you are looking for privacy, luxury, or special services, a hotel may be a better choice.  You can find hotels and motels in various price ranges to suit any budget. In Prince Edward Island, the prices range from $50 to $300.

The price of Bed and Breakfasts ranges from $50 to $200.  So if I am looking for value for money or simply the lowest priced accommodations, why pick a Bed and Breakfast instead of a hotel?

Bed and Breakfast

 When you stay at a Bed and Breakfast, you are a guest in Someone’s Home. That usually means that each guest room is decorated according to your hosts’ tastes and preferences. So at a B&B, you will be getting away from the cookie cutter rooms of many hotel and motel chains.

BreakfastThe Price of the Bed and Breakfast usually includes the cost of Breakfast.  I say usually because there are some regional differences. If in doubt, check with the owners when you make your booking. Breakfast can be the highlight of your day.  If you are at a 4 or 5 star B&B, you will probably get a breakfast menu, similar to a small restaurant. At a 2 or 3 star establishment, you will often get “cook’s choice” with a  few options or substitutions. Some Bed and breakfasts will offer a continental breakfast similar to what you might find in some motels.

My most important reason for choosing a B&B is  the personal touch.  The owners will often greet you, and you will have a chance to chat with your hosts during breakfast.  Many will offer suggestions for your next day’s adventure.  They might also take a genuine interest in your previous day’s experience and offer ideas to make your next day more enjoyable.

For the most important question: Shared or Private Bath? In Canada, we have a standard star rating for B&Bs. You cannot get more than 2.5 stars unless you have a private bath.  A Bed and Breakfast might have luxurious accommodations and extensive breakfasts, but if they do not have private baths, they will not get 3 stars. So if a private bath is an issue for you, check the star rating.

You may find your Bed and Breakfast on a booking site or on a government tourism site like peiplay.com. Before making your choice, I suggest you visit the establishment’s web site.  Look for pictures of the grounds and the rooms. Look also if the web site has an “about us” or “faq” section.  Since your B&B stay amounts to a personal experience, you would like to see that the website portrays the type of atmosphere you think you will enjoy. For example, look at this “about us” page of Beside the TrailBed and Breakfast. You see pictures of the hosts and a short biography.  You also see they have pets. Looking at the sidebar, I also see rooms and rates, FAQ, and reviews. They also provide a link to their Trip Advisor reviews to show confidence in the ratings provided by their guests.

In later posts I will explore accommodations choices in greater detail. I would love to hear the reasons you might have chosen to stay (or not) at a B&B.  Happy trip planning.

Guy

 

1 Comment .
Tags: accommodations, vacation PEI .

Tourism Inspection Fees in PEI

Posted on 2012/08/04 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

 Tourism Inspection Certificate

Inspection fees are on the rise in PEI.  There has been considerable negative feedback on this:

  • We have to pay for government’s extravagances in other areas
  • We’ll have to pass the cost along to the customer
  • Government is taking money out of my pocket that I could direct to improvements
  • This is a disincentive to new operators who will go underground

I’m not ready to take sides yet.  Let’s try to have an objective look at the situation.

Currently, Tourism establishments pay a licencing fee which includes inspection.  Starting next year, the rates will increase to almost double by 2014.  This year, I paid $100 for my licence.  This includes about an hour visit from an inspector, issuing the licence, preparing the inspection reports, keeping records, and publishing the inspection reports on the Internet. Even at the reportedly low salary rates for PEI (minimum wage here is $10.00), you be the judge if this is getting your money’s worth.

Others think the inspection system is archaic and should be forgone, relying on user reviews on Twitter, Facebook, Trip Advisor, etc.  See Robert Patterson’s blog for one such opinion.  While I agree with much of what he says, those of us in the industry know that some Trip Advisor reviews are faked.  Some are written by the owners to boost their ratings, and some by the competition to lower their ratings.  Still, it is true that an official scheduled inspection only provides a sometimes rehearsed snapshot of the establishment.  While there is no perfect system, it seems that licenced establishments should be inspected by some governing authority.

Come back tomorrow for more information for tourists in PEI.

 

Guy

 

 

 

 

2 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, PEI, Travel PEI .

Zesty PEI

Posted on 2011/05/26 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

Do you like your food with a little bit of Zest?

Spicy Food

  • At St James Gate you can get Curried Chicken or a rack of lamb with zesty cranberry.
  • If you want zesty recipes, Cory at Zesty Cook is always willing to help.
  • At the Claddagh Oyster House you can get Spicy Beef Dumplings.
  • At Gabriels Ristorante Bar and Grill, look for Thai Shrimp in a spicy wine sauce or PEI mussels in a spicy tomato sauce.
  • And at Grandma’s Tea Room, look for scones or maybe biscuits with hot pepper jelly.

Gotta run, sun is shing and the weeds are calling me.

See you tomorrow

Granny ~oo~

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Tags: restaurants .

Hotels in PEI

Posted on 2011/05/08 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

hotel

Prince Edward Island has a few hotels.  However, the distinction between hotels, motels and inns is sometimes blurred.  The Holman Grand Hotel, still under construction, will be the newest addition this year.  The other major Hotels in the downtown core are the Delta and the Rodd Charlottetown.  The latter is part of a family of accommodations in PEI.  For a comprehensive list of hotels and motels, consult the list of 85 on the tourism website.

Hotel and Motel

The difference between a hotel and a motel is usually the drive up. Motel comes from Motor Hotel which means you can usually drive up to your room. Many motels are two stories but seldom more.  Some motels have banquet and entertainment facilities but not usually as elaborate as you would find in a hotel.  The other major difference is valet and room service that you usually only find in a hotel.  Hotel rooms open to an interior corridor whereas ground floor rooms in motels lead directly outside.  On the second floor there may be direct access via a balcony but sometimes you use an interior corridor to reach the parking area.

Whatever your preference, you have plenty from which to choose.  Read the listings, check the websites, and make your reservations.

Granny ~oo~

3 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, Visitor's Guide .

Eating out on PEI

Posted on 2011/05/04 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

restaurant

There are many places to eat in PEI.  You will find many fine restaurants in Charlottetown and Summerside year round. There is also a good selection outside the major centres.  As the summer season approaches you will find several more in rural areas opening up to welcome the tourists.

 

list

On the tourism website, you can get a list of restaurants in PEI.  Walk and Sea Charlottetown also has a list of eateries.  Food CA has a subscription type list.

Reviews

I hesitate to give a review because food is very subjective. However, there are several websites where you can find restaurant reviews.  Try Lunch Online, Restaurant PEI, or Hi Henry . . . the latter has lists, reviews and even some menus.

The Tourism website has lists for food festivals, the fall flavours, lobster and authentic PEI experiences – most of these include a food element.

Tune in tomorrow for Foxes

Granny ~oo~

 

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Tags: restaurants, vacation PEI, Visitor's Guide .

Accommodations in PEI

Posted on 2011/05/01 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

motel

If you are coming to Prince Edward Island, you have plenty of choices for accommodations. However, you have to remember that the Island is very seasonal and that some accommodations are only open in the summertime. Here is sampling of the number of establishments open:

  • January 122
  • March 124
  • May  273
  • June 557
  • July  640
  • September 631
  • October 421

So as you can see, the warmer the weather gets, the more accommodations are available.  In July and August there are 11,000 rooms available per day, dwindling to 2,000 in the winter. Whether you think that is a big or small number, I still strongly recommend reservations for a summer stay.  If you happen to come during one of our major events, availability may be limited.

Busy Time

For example, this summer Will and Kate will be here July 3-4. This comes on the heels of the week long Canada day celebration.  In addition, the yearly Cavendish Country Music Festival runs from July 7 to 10.  So the beginning of July is guaranteed to be busy.

Types of accommodations

You have plenty of accommodation styles to explore: Inns, B&B, Cottages, Hotels, and Motels.  In Eastern PEI, called “Points East Coastal Drive”, there are about 2,000 rooms per day.  In Western PEI, called “North Cape Coastal Drive” there are about 1500.  The greatest concentration of rooms is in the Cavendish area (5,000),  and in Charlottetown (2,000).

Centrally located

However, the Island is small.  If you are driving, you can stay near the centre of the Island (between Kensington and Charlottetown). From there, any point on the Island is less than a 2 hour drive.  If you are like me, you don’t like packing and unpacking every day so plan a central destination.

Search online

The government website has an online accommodation search. However, if you are planning to stay centrally, it is only easy to search for accommodations located in Charlottetown. If you are planning on staying West of Charlottetown, you need to check both the Red Sands Shore (south of Route 2) and the Green Gables Shore (North of Route 2) areas.  Then consult the map to see if the location is central enough for you.

Use Google Maps

You can also use Google Maps for your search. At a certain zoom level, you will see businesses appear directly on the map. Form there you can explore the visitor’s guide or the company website to get more information. Look at this map and work your way “down” towards downtown Charlottetown for an example.

Order guides and maps

Looking online is good but you should also have a paper visitors guide with you.  You can pick one up as you arrive on the Island (Ferry, Airport or Bridge).  You can also order maps and guides online form the department of tourism . . . please allow a few weeks for delivery

 

2 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, Visitor's Guide .

Inns and Bed and Breakfasts

Posted on 2011/04/12 by Guy Posted in Hospitality .

Inn, Bed and Breakfast (B&B), or Tourist Home, Homestay Home?  What’s the difference?

Inn

An INN is usually a “business” with 10 or more rooms, a common area and a dining room.  It is common but not expected that you can get meals all day in an Inn – you should check if you are planning to have more than breakfast at the Inn.  So what is the difference between an Inn and a Motel?  A Motel is usually run by a manager and employees and an Inn is usually run by the owner and employees.  So you are more likely to get a personal experience at an Inn.

There are 15 Inns in PEI that range in price from $100 to $300 per night.

bed and breakfast

A Bed and Breakfast is a private home where one or more bedrooms have been converted for guest use.  B&B are also called Tourist Homes or Homestays.  Usually, a B&B will have 1 to 4 guest rooms but I have seen as many as 7.  A Bed and Breakfast is usually run by Mom and Pop – the owners.  Except for the 5-star establishments (see below), they do not usually have front desk staff, porters, chefs, and elaborate menus.   Often, the bedrooms are on the second floor and, particularly in a “heritage” home, it could be a bit tricky to haul your large suitcase upstairs.

The nice thing about a B&B is the feeling that you are a guest in the host’s home.  You will probably feel at ease talking about your holiday and by all means feel free to ask your hosts for advice or recommended attractions.  B&B operators usually like to get to know their guests.  Some feel they cannot get to know you in one night, so it is common to see a minimum 2-3 night stay.  If you are driving, remember that PEI is small.  If you pick accommodations centrally located (say between Kensington and Charlottetown), you could spend your entire stay at the same place without doing a lot of extra driving.

Breakfast

The name Bed and Breakfast implies Breakfast is included but you should check if that is a hot breakfast, continental, full breakfast, etc. Unlike an Inn, breakfast is usually cook’s choice and the only menu variation is likely to be for food sensitivities.  It is best to advise your host ahead of time.  Rest assured that you can usually count on a good hearty meal.

Amenities

Amenities vary greatly in B&B’s.  There are usually one or more sitting rooms also referred to as common areas where you might find a TV, books, movies, board games, etc.  With the internet gaining popularity, you will find the majority have high speed Internet.  From what I have seen, it is not obvious if this means a computer for guest use or that they have wireless.  Something else to check.

Bathrooms

One of the biggest concerns about staying at a B&B is a shared bath.  Even if you have a private bath, it may be outside the room.  Read the room descriptions for clues and if not clear, get the necessary clarifications prior to making a booking.

Star Rating

Shop by the stars!  In Canada, an organization called Canada Select inspects accommodations and awards stars.  The more stars the better you say?  Perhaps so, but the more stars the more the price!  Don’t be fooled by the relationship between stars and price.  A 4 star B&B in  a rural area may be less expensive than a 3 star B&B in the city – It has to do with property values, taxes, etc.  If you check Canada Select, they say that you get better amenities including private bath at the 3 star level.  I know for a fact that a B&B cannot get a 3-star rating unless it has a private bath, but it is possible for an accommodation to have a private bath and still have only a 2.5 star rating.  The budget minded should look at 2, 2.5 and 3 star B&B.  If you expect luxury and special services, go for the 4 and 5 star B&B.

Cancellation Policy

I mentioned that B&B typically have 1 to 4 guest rooms.  Particularly in Prince Edward Island where the HIGH tourist season is about 10 weeks, losing out on a room rental can mean a significant loss of yearly income.  Read the fine print and ask if it is not specified.  Cancellation policies can fall in many categories:

  • 2-day notice
  • non refundable administrative fee even with several day’s notice
  • one full night’s fee
  • the entire cost of the stay unless rooms can be re-rented
  • the entire cost non-refundable

This summer, there are 154 bed and breakfast listed on the government website.  The online vacancy listing makes it easier to find vacancy for your planned stay.  You can also refine by amenities, location, stars or price.

I hope you come visit PEI this year.  I also hope this information on accommodations has been useful.  If you have experiences with B&B, Inns, Motels, etc., I’d love to hear about them.

Tomorrow, “Just crafts”

Granny ~00~

2 Comments .
Tags: accommodations, vacation PEI .
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