Minnesota B&B Blog » MBBA

National Website Announces B&Bs New Green Progarm

bct — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:38:55 +0000

Reporting for, Green Lodging News, Glenn Hasek, states that Minnesota Bed and Breakfasts Associations recently launch Green Journey is, ” at least the second green lodging certification program in the United States for B&Bs. Oregon also has a program. The committee putting together Green Journey looked at Oregon’s program as well as Wisconsin’s Travel Green Wisconsin program.” You may see the entire article at Green Lodging.

Innkeeper Conference in Minneapolis sprouts Green Journey and Encouragement to Bed & Breakfast industry

bct — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:36:43 +0000

Minneapolis -The Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Association annual conference was held this past weekend in Minneapolis (April 18-20). The event attended by Bed and Breakfast owners throughout Minnesota. Barbara Young, from Grand Marais’s Poplar Creek Guesthouse B & B and the Association’s President chaired the conference. Highlighting the conference was speakers from as far away as New Jersey (Jay Karen CEO from Professional Association of Innkeepers International), Washington (Jeff Logan Vice President from Inside Out Solutions) and Texas (Sara Shusta from bedandbreakfast.com) and as close as St Paul (John Edman director of Explore Minnesota Tourism).

According to Young, “The overall message of the gathering was that occupancy is improving and will continue to improve for the B & B industry and methods of social marketing (twitter, Face book, blogs etc.) are necessary to keep ahead of the curve. The trend is that in a sluggish economy vacationing close to home is popular, practical and safe. This certainly points to B & B opportunities.”

The conference featured workshops promoting packaging with trails and birding; methods of adding value to inn’s offerings and diversification of small business. Additional workshop leaders included a pastry chef; a photography business owner; a health department expert; an energy resource consultant; a marketing guru and a bird guide.

Green Journey the Association’s new green self-certification program was “kicked-off” at the conference. This unique program – the first Green Lodging certification program in Minnesota - awards from one up to five green leaves for varying degrees of sustainability for member owners of B&Bs. Innkeepers will be encouraged to keep making green improvements to their property in practical ways to improve their rating.

The venue Crowne Plaza in Brooklyn Center was in fact chosen partially based on its green initiatives. According to Pam Thorsen, the Association’s director, “We were impressed with their recycling, their energy savings and their willingness to work with us in not serving bottled water for example.”

Many of the vendors at the event also were offering practical “green” solutions to innkeeper’s needs.”

According to Young, “This was of one of our finest conferences. Through our workshops and vendors, we gained even more knowledge on improving and promoting our businesses and how we as innkeepers can better work together to improve all our businesses. In addition, I think I can speak for all who attended this year’s conference, we certainly had a great time.”

The Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Association is a non-profit organization whose aim is promoting the state’s Quality Assured member inns as well as offering support, networking and education for innkeepers. Organized in 1985 with 12 members, the Association now has 115 members The Association sponsors a conference annually, webinars at least monthly and is planning regional workshops promoting Green Journey, other Association programs and to discuss members needs. A guidebook is available online to download or by mail from www.minnesotabb.org.

Count down to BIG Innspiration in the Mini-Apple

Pam Thorsen — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:00:26 +0000

Innkeepers will be gathering at the MBBA annual conference and annual meeting April 18-20 at the Crown Plaza in Brooklyn Park. Highlights this year include Jay Karen as keynote from Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII).Also exciting will be the kickoff of the organization’s Green Journey. Classes range from The Art of the Tart to Social Networking made Simple and The Power of Reviews. As always great food and this year’s entertainment is innkeeper talent Kevin Knox from Nicolin Mansion and his band. As one innkeeper says, “there is quite simply no better value for my marketing dollar than the annual MBBA conference.” Vendors expected include Deneen Pottery, bedandbreakfast.com, Inside Out Solutions, Rustic Ridge Hospitality, My Pillow, Out of The Box Dates, Gilcrest & Soames, Comphy Sheets, and Nordic Ware and more.

The beauty of Duluth and the Cutest Puppy Contest – a must see!

agthomsonhouse — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:01:13 +0000

For all of us that live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or the northern region of the country, we know that winter not only feels long, but often is depending upon when that “last Spring storm” hits us. But what we all know from being able to live and work in this beautiful part of the country is that if you don’t embrace it, you will be miserable. That sentiment is one of our favorite things about Duluth and being able to live in, love, and be the caretakers of the A G Thomson House Bed and Breakfast. Year round, the city of Duluth offers so much to visitors and residents alike; from the extraordinary beauty of “our” Lake Superior to the shopping, dining, theaters, symphony, etc. There truly is no shortage of things to see and do up here; whether it’s dining at one of our many fine restaurants and cafes, or outside on one of our extraordinary nordic ski trails, or downhill on the slopes of Spirit Mountain! Not only are we Innkeepers and “concierge’s” for this great Lake Superior city, we are proud residents who love it here and are eager to share it with you!

And one of the great annual events during this beautiful season is coming up this weekend, January 29th. Events for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon begin this Friday, January 29th and runs to February 4th. One of the favorite and most popular events is the Cutest Puppy Contest on Saturday, January 30th. This is so adorable and a must see to help kick off the 27th Annual Event! So consider “embracing” what the beauty of this season, Duluth, and the A G Thomson House have to offer you on your next trip to Duluth! See you soon!!!

The Paul Bunyan Bike Trail Update

embracingpines — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:04:34 +0000

Sand, Sand, more Sand..................on the Paul Bunyan Trail

: Looking toward the bridge over the Kabekona River on the Paul Bunyan Bike Trail.

More sand on the Paul Bunyan Trail getting ready to be paved

The Paul Bunyan Bike Trail is yet another step closer to the long awaited completion. These pictures were taken on the trail about 500 feet from Embracing Pines Bed & Breakfast near Walker, MN. When completed the trail will cross the Heartland Trail so you will be able to ride for 4 different directions without moving your vehicle when you start at Embracing Pines! Watch for updates as they are available.

New Officers and Board to Direct State B&B Associaiton

bct — Sun, 03 May 2009 12:42:09 +0000

At Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Association (MBBA) annual meeting held in Duluth Barbara Young, Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B innkeeper was elected the Association’s new President. Joining Young on the Association’s Board of Directors were Shannon McKeeth, Bingham Hall from New Ulm as Vice President, Chuck Dougherty from Stillwater as Treasure, and Mary Grover from Soglimt B&B in Duluth as Secretary. Filling out the Board were innkeepers from Auf Deutschtrasse in New Ulm, Mathew Burrows 1890 Inn and the Olcott House in Duluth, the Summit Inn in Center City, the Pillar Inn in Cold Springs, Cedar Rose in Alexandria and the Candlelight Inn in Redwing. Outgoing President Suzanne Tweten will remain on the Board as past President. Pam Thorsen from Hasting’s Classic Rosewood Inn and Spa serves as the organization’s Executive Director.

This year’s Annual Meeting entitled “Its Inn to be Green” spotlighted developing green sustainable Inns. The meeting featured seminars offering green programs from “Using Renewable Energy,” “What B&B’s are doing to be Green,” to “worm composting.” Meanwhile venders were hawking green and other use innkeeper produces throughout the two-day meeting. Other seminar topics included marketing, table setting, and more provided useful information. One new program unveiled at the meeting was a State promoted farm and forest stays where guests would be able to visit and stay at working farms and forested woodlots.

According to Young, “Duluth provide a great venue for this year’s annual meeting, the seminars were outstanding and the many venders in attendances offered us many useful products. But most importantly we had a wonderful time!”

The MBBA represents some one hundred and twenty B&B and Historic Inns from throughout Minnesota.