Bill's Beneficial Blog

Does anyone really read the millions of blogs out there? Or are they really just a ploy to entice Google for a bit more ranking or space? Every other ad agency blog is going to be all about how great they are, why they are the smartest and other clearly self promoting stuff.

So we decided to just write about what interests us. Our only hope is that - every now and then - you find a nugget that is a slight value for you. We hope. If you want to get these rantings in your inbox every so often, Signup to get emails. Here goes.


Oh Canada - Lodging Newsletter June 30, 2023

By Wm, May
Published: 06/30/23 Topics: Education, Hotels, Housekeeping, Inns, Lodging Newsletter, Reputation, Vacation Comments: 0

Oh Canada

"Management by wandering around" explains a style of business administration which involves managers wandering around, in an unstructured manner, through the workplace to check with employees, equipment, or on the status of ongoing work.

There may be no other industry as appropriate for MBWA than travel and lodging.

Great managers must keep their fingers on every aspect of every dang little thing. Nothing can be taken for granted, everything must be inspected, schedules must be maintained and, no matter how diligent a company, some guests will want more than they pay for.

But you'll only know that if you talk to guests, staff, vendors, competitors and even the government. All this in hopes that changes can be detected to find opportunities or to avoid problems in the future.

That idea can be stretched to walking around other businesses too, so for a few weeks we have been wandering around British Columbia and Alberta, staying at or visiting great lodges, speaking to staff, and just watching their world go around.

It has been said that Canada and the US are countries born of common ancestors, separated by a common language. The differences in lodging management are subtle but noticeable.

Businesses cooperate together to promote their destination in ways that can seem lacking elsewhere. Employees seemed authorized to make good decisions.

This letter isn't to say that Canada has everything figured out. Turning on the television shows some of the same political skullduggery that exists in every country. People just don't agree on everything.

As we departed one lodge we saw the attractive young manager, who had taken time to talk on several occasions, walking around the property, policing the area, straightening things up.

Walking around Canada provides new insights we can use to make our business better every day.

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The pace of change is accelerating. Here are some changes we noticed in Canada, specifically in the stunning mountain towns of Banff and Jasper.

TEXTILES: Each property had daily housekeeping an "option." Some said, "Call us if you want maid service or just towels." Or here is a $5 coupon for each day you don't ask for housekeeping.

COUPONS: The coupons were to their in-house restaurant. They save far more in cleaning labor than the cost of the food, probably $20.00 or more. And guests lined up early to cash in.

STAFFING: Half of the lodging and restaurant employees who served us were young Aussies. Companies recruit in Australia for seasonal staff. Young folks love the travel and come back year after year.

COSTS: Staffing in this way is not cheap, as employers pay for food and housing. At the incredible Columbia Ice Fields (www.BanffJasperCollection), where you can ride onto the glacier on giant wheeled vehicles, over 250 staff room in what they laughingly refer to as "The Ice Palace", but looks more like a very old college dorm stuffed with people.

WELCOME BOOKS: None of these pricey places had an in-house welcome book - but they all had gorgeous printed materials about all the other things they were anxious to sell you - boat trips, gondola rides, museum walks and, of course, their restaurants.

CUSTOMERS: Canada has a fast growing immigrant population and the diversity of travelers is everywhere. Many languages, styles of dress and behaviors. Some cultures travel in big family groups, while others dominate the ever present tour busses.

GENUINE: Every business wants every staff member to exude friendliness. Although there are dozens of restaurants in Banff alone, from fast food to fancy food, employees provide quick service without seeming to be hurried. This is management honoring their people.

HONOR CODE: Most businesses had famed "Codes of Honor" proclaiming how well they would treat you and including how well you must treat fellow customers and staff. We bumped into them in fancy hotels, low-cost restaurants, in bike shops, in museums and even in Starbucks.

GUEST TERMS: Having started as vacation rental owners, we have always felt that a clear set of terms was essential to foster good guest behavior. We have wondered if we ask too much, but then we seldom have a problem guest. Perhaps, we should call them the "Codes of Honor."

STRESS: Banff sees 4 million visitors a year and the small business core is alive with visitors. Jasper welcomes 2.5 million per year. Together this is a non-stop stream of inquisitive travelers who could overload a system, but there is little stress because both towns admit that tourism is what pays the bills. (And pays them well.)

In U.S. locations, there are always curmudgeons who want visitor income but would prefer that people stay away. American cities and counties who are chasing vacation rentals out of town are myopic.

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Author: Wm, May, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0960 – 06/30/23

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

Be Nice to People on Your Way Up

By Wm. May
Published: 01/09/20 Topics: Advertising, Business, Communications, Reputation Comments: 0

My father and Maya Angelou didn't know each other but they thought very much alike. It took a very large business client to make me put the dots together and realize a fundamental rule. Read more

Happiness - Lodging Newsletter September 30th 2018

By Wm. May
Published: 12/23/18 Topics: Education, Employment, Lodging Newsletter, People, Reputation Comments: 0

Don’t you just love positive people? How about people who always have a smile on their face?

There are people who rise to every occasion, no matter the obstacles. They are indeed a rare group. However, there is an even more unusual set of people: those who take on all challenges, who work hard dealing with difficult people yet still manage a genuine grin regardless of the circumstances.

We are truly lucky to have an entire staff of people just like that.

We are in the business of making guests and property owners happy. The only way to do that is to never lose our tempers, never hide from responsibility, to empathize with others, to go the extra mile and - most importantly - to smile every day as appreciation for all we have and all we do.

Therefore, this month the update message is special. Go ahead and sing the tune on the next page. You'll be amazed at how happy it makes you (us too)!

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Today's world is full of negativity, aspersions, and personal attacks. This is nothing new. There have always been negative people but there has also always been some people, a smaller number, who always manage to remain positive.

We strive to be the latter.

We must admit we have no secret methods, no genius insights and can not presume to tell others what do to. Instead, we spend every day striving to be kind and courteous and upbeat.

A good place to start is here. Just sing it out loud. Feel free to dance a little too.

If you're positive and you like it, be kind today (kind today)

If you're positive and you like it, be kind today (kind today)

If you’re positive and you like it, your smile will greatly show it

If you're positive and you like it, be kind today (kind today)

If you're positive and you like it, laugh and grin (laugh and grin)

If you're positive and you like it, laugh and grin (laugh and grin)

If you’re positive and you like it, your smile will greatly show it

If you're positive and you like it, laugh and grin (laugh and grin)

If you're positive and you like it, it comes around (comes round)

If you're positive and you like it, it comes around (comes round)

If you’re positive and you like it, your smile will greatly show it

If you're positive and you like it, it comes around (comes round)

If you're positive and you like it, admit all three (kind today, laugh and grin, comes round)

If you're positive and you like it, admit all three (kind today, laugh and grin, comes round)

If you’re positive and you like it, your smile will greatly show it

If you're positive and you like it, admit all three (kind today, laugh and grin, comes round)

- - - - -

It is theorized that the song "If You're Happy" originated from the tune "Molodejnaya", a song from the 1938 Soviet musical film Volga-Volga. Though it was copyrighted by Joseph Guilherme Raposo, best known for his work on the children's television series Sesame Street.

How can we not smile knowing things like this?

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Author: Wm. May, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0626 – 12/23/18

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

Oprah is an Alien And Other Internet Facts

By William May
Published: 01/04/16 Topics: People, Reputation Comments: 0

Randy Jones from San Antonio lives with 1,000 cats all named Wilbur. Cindy Rigmore from Alberta has lived her entire life on a diet of egg shells and whiskey, and is 91 years old. There is a man in Sherwood Forest who calls himself Robin Hood, but lives in a mobile home. It is true if it is on the Internet. Read more

Everyting In Kindergarten - Lodging Newsletter October 1st, 2009

By William May
Published: 10/01/09 Topics: Education, Kindness, Lodging Newsletter, Reputation Comments: 0

I stumbled onto an Internet posting the other day that told me it has been twenty years since Robert Fulgham wrote "Everything I Really Need to Know I Learned in kindergarten."

That is stunning really because it does, as they say, seem like yesterday. Of course I've read some of his other books and now that I've visited his website (RobertFulgrham.com)RobertFulgrham.com I see there are others I will have to savor. So should you.

After 22 years as a Unitarian Minister in the Pacific Northwest, Fulgham publisher that first book and has never looked back. His view of the world is pretty simple or so it seems. As the world accelerates and technology dominates Fulgham would remind us of the basic, appropriate and mature.

Although his mature might strike some as youngish or maybe even immature, the stories and ideas he illustrates so well are the basic foundation on which we as humans should strive.

So what would all of this have to do with the somewhat non-universal industry of vacation rentals? Well plenty as it seems. Or maybe I should say it has to do with every business, every career and certainly every calling.

The kindergarten book reminds us all the foster those concepts which are universal in every culture. Things like:

- Don't lie. Always tell the truth.
- Don't hit.
- Treat your parents well
- Pick up after yourself.
- Say Please and Thank You.

To me it seems like Fulgham’s message might be summed up in the phrase "treat everyone well" or at least try.

I am not sure I have always accomplished that goal but I know I ham always aware of it and have always tried. I also know that isn't easy when conflict exists in the world, as it inevitably does. Nor is it easy when others might try to bring you down to their level. An acquaintance who becomes distraught, a customer who is unreasonable or even governmental bureaucrats who steal more and more freedom from Americans.

It would be easy to despise such people but in the end, we have to remember to treat them well also. If even that respect will not be reciprocal.

VACATION RENTALS & LODGING

So is there anything practical in this blog? Yes I assure you there is. Here are a set of rules for how we conduct our business in hopes that guests, owners and vendors will treat us likewise.

- Be Clear. In advertising, contracts, phone calls, emails.

- Be fair. It can be difficult to understand unreasonable request, but we gotta keep trying.

- Be Quick. Get back to people. Take care of problems as fast as possible.

- Be Happy. No job is easy and half the job is simply deciding to go about it with joy.

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Author: William May – Manager, Vortex VIP
Blog #: 0116 – 10/01/09

Sponsor: Vortex VIP – – VortexVIP.com

DETAILS: We work to keep this information up to date, but details do change from time to time based on circumstances, often on short notice, and sometimes beyond our control. To verify any answer or other information you may need, please call or email us anytime. Allow a reasonable amount of time for response. Only legitimate inquiries will be answered.