Cultured Views

So, you want to run a hotel/B&B?…

Posted under Culture by Wendy on May 18th, 2007 9:01 am

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These days it seems the ‘thing’ to do for many Brit’s is to move to France and run a B&B. So much so that it has almost become a catchphrase. Go to any of the several French property exhibitions on offer around the UK and you will see literally thousands of British people looking hopefully at the real estate on offer. If you listen closely enough to the property agent ask…”And what do you hope to do in France?”, you will hear many replies of…”Well, we thought we’d like to run a B&B”.
OK, serious business people aside, the average Brit sees his new life in France doing bed and breakfast. Well, all you do is buy a place with a few extra rooms, do them up, advertise, then wait for the guests to roll in.

THEN…when the guests start rolling in, your new life will consist of making up their beds and serving them breakfast before waving them off in their car. A nice, simple life. (An evil laugh echoes in the background).

Then, there are the smaller number of us who decide that to buy a hotel would be a brilliant idea. (The evil laughter gets reeeaallly loud here). Because, in many cases, the joke will be on ‘you’!.

For those of you who wish to buy either a) a hotel, or b) a B&B…here are some of the ways in which your life will be enhanced…

Social life: What social life?, especially during the summer.

Financially: Brilliant, if you manage 70-100% occupancy, 10 months of the year, AND provided you have lots of savings put aside to see you through the winter months. AND, provided you won’t be expecting any financial assistance from your French bank after your purchase…because they do not provide any.

An easy life working from home as your own boss: HA!. I repeat, HA!! (the second ‘ha’ is for those who have bought a hotel).

Meeting new people from lots of different places: This is one of the positive sides, however, once you get used to certain nationalities and their ‘ways’ your life and business will run so much smoother. In most cases…

There is one saying that applies to no other business more than the hospitality trade…’you can please most of the people some of the time, and some of the people most of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time’.

Yes, I have taken some liberty with that saying, but ALL in this trade, my trade, would no doubt agree.

Tomorrow…your guests and their habits and ways.

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