Black Meetings and Tourism

May/June 2012

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK INNS AND RESORTS WELCOME TO THE "NABIR" HOOD finest amenities/luxuries entice you? Well, great news if you are interested in opening your own bed and Do breakfast and becoming an innkeeper. The annual Industry Study of Innkeeping Operations and Finance released in 2011 by PAII (Professional Association of Innkeepers International) shows that the occupancy rates, room prices and revenue continue a steady increase for the nation's bed and breakfast industry. The study shows that themedian occupancy for the B &B was up slightly in 2010 at 39%. Despite economic tough times, now might be the perfect time to get into the Bed and Breakfast business. With the foreclosure market being so volatile in the US and abroad this may be the ideal ti me to purchase that distressed home inexpensively and convert it to a cozy bed and breakfast. Or, you may want to consider purchasing an existing bed and breakfast for an owner in need of some economic relief. The number of African-American-owned bed and breakfasts are also on the rise. Prior to the Civil Rights bill passed in 1968, when most of us trav- eledwe stayed at Bed and Breakfasts along theway.When our famous jazz musicians and all folks of colormoved up and down the east coast fromthe south to places like New York, along the way they stayed at "Miss Sarah's House" or rented a room at Ms. Anna's Place. We did not call it a bed and breakfast, but that is exactly what it was!! Good times, great food and great music! Two thousand and twelve is Heritage Tourism Year in America. As Heritage tourism continues to grow, the need to teach and share our histo- ry grows with it. NABIR is an organization created to serve the needs of African-American Inns and Resorts. We here at NABIR want to find out who you are and we would love for you to share your stories with us! As an industry partner of the AAIA, African-American Innkeepers Association and the Bed and Breakfast division of NABHOOD, our mission is to develop a strong collec- tive that gives us the opportunity to increase the number of Black-owned inns and retreats across the US and abroad through networking, strategic marketing and business development support, aswell as to encourage and assist the next generation to step into the tourism industry through owner- ship. This yearwe are pleased to announce that four newworkshops for B and B owners and aspiring B and B owners conducted by our industry leaders will be a part of this year's NABHOOD Summit and Trade Show July 25th - 28th 2012. Visit www.nabhood.net for more details. Please visit our NABIR website too and become a member today – www.nabir.net . KristinKitchenOwner/Operator of SixAcresBed andBreakfastwww.six- acresbb.com. 30 Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2012: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com KRISTIN KITCHEN you find the idea of operating your own successful Bed and Breakfast or Country Inn exciting? Or better yet, does the romantic notion of running a profitable operation with the

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