Posted on Monday, December 23, 2024

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by AMAC, D.J. Wilson

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For last minute holiday hosting and beyond!

Getting started

Expecting guests for the holidays or in the new year? Don’t fall victim to hosting anxiety. Stop stressing by employing these one dozen inspiring tips used by B&B experts in the hosting industry.

Learn from the pros

Bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) are small lodging establishments that offer overnight stays and breakfast. They are typically run by small staff. B&Bs strive to make guests feel at home while offering excellence in service. Why not learn from these highly rated establishments? Let’s apply twelve tricks of the trade to our own home hosting experiences.

Tip one: Be joyful.

At bed & breakfasts, the hosts are happy, approachable, and helpful. In turn, this makes guests feel comfortable and at ease. Put a smile on your face and treat your guests warmly.

Tip two: Offer baked goods.

Many bed & breakfasts are known for fresh baked goods. Not only do they taste great, but they make the house smell delicious. If possible, have a warm plate of chocolate chip cookies waiting for your guests. Not a baker? Simply pick up Danish from the bakery instead.

Tip three: Let guests serve themselves.

Waiting on company hand and foot is tiresome. Encourage your guests to help themselves to a variety of beverages and light snacks that you have set out for them. Leave the coffee, tea, and kettle accessible. Kindly remind them that the cream is in the fridge. Place sugar cubes, honey, and a variety of snacks where guests can reach them.

Tip four: Offer brochures featuring area activities.

Rather than plan their time for them, let guests settle in and decide what they would like to do. Hand them brochures of visitable sites and area maps. If they invite you to join them, you may offer to show them around or politely decline and let them explore on their own. 

Tip five: Tell them what time breakfast is served.

If you lack time to be in the kitchen all morning, establish a time for breakfast. Set the table the night before and let everyone know a hot breakfast is served promptly at 9 am. Guests who oversleep and miss breakfast can enjoy cereal when they wake up.

Many bed & breakfasts deliberately plan their menu with care. They opt for breakfast dishes that are crowd-friendly such as fresh fruit and a French toast casserole or sausage egg bake. (Do ask about allergies first.) Hosts may serve their guests portioned servings or opt for buffet style. Do leave a hot pot of coffee on the table or offer refills.

Tip seven: Maintain attention to detail.

B&Bs are generally very clean with attention to detail. Always put care in your table-settings and use attractive dinnerware. Be thoughtful with your furnishings and art. Have comfortable seating areas for relaxation indoors and out.

Tip eight: Take shortcuts to make work light.

Though B&Bs typically exclude lunch or dinner service, most home hosts do arrange meals for guests. Be upfront about which meals you are serving and clarify who will be in attendance. Keep preparations simple and opt for shortcuts. For instance, make easy-to-prepare soups and sandwiches for lunch. Prepare your dinner salad in advance and use a crockpot to make beef bourguignon the easy way. Or make one-pot meals which allow for easy cleanup.

Tip nine: Stock up!

Leave a stock of soaps, shampoos, and toiletries handy – including extra toilet paper and cleaning wipes in the bathroom. This minimizes the potential for running out of supplies. Have extra towels and blankets available to guests.

Tip ten: Stock a library.

Having a library of books, to include fiction and non-fiction literature, allows guests to select their favorite materials and retreat to a comfortable space to read and relax.

Tip eleven: Offer games for entertainment.

Having a variety of fun games to play, from chess and checkers to monopoly, is not only engaging, but it also reduces the amount of time hosts must entertain guests. It promotes good times and gives visitors something enjoyable to do during evenings or periods of inclement weather. Puzzles are a great way to occupy solo guests!

Tip twelve: Create a positive mood.

Lighting candles, turning on soft jazz music, and making a toasty fire in the fireplace are great ways to rev up the ambiance and make your guests’ stay cozy and memorable.

Baker’s dozen bonus: Offer a happy hour.

Hosting a cocktail hour in the late afternoon allows guests to unwind and share stories of the day. Offer a glass of wine or beer – or choose one featured cocktail for the day. Alternatively, invite mature guests to make their own cocktail. It’s important to offer non-alcoholic beverages to everyone as well. Along with a favorite beverage, serve simple appetizers like cheese and crackers, mini pizzas, or pigs-in-the blanket. Having a happy hour can take the pressure off the timing of serving dinner, should food take longer than expected to prepare and serve.

One dozen hosting tips

Don’t fall victim to hosting anxiety. Rather, by applying tried & true savvy hosting techniques used by B&B owners, you can keep your workload light and elevate your guests’ experiences – turning hosting into the utmost easy and delightful experience!