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Compendiums

 

Compendiums

 

Compendiums are a very important part of our business - providing guests with much needed information to your guests in a simple and efficient way. While nothing can replace the personal touch, compendiums allow guests to read the information at their own leisure. They also may enhance the guest’s perception of the quality and range of services you offer and indicate your commitment to offering these services and facilities to your guests. All members of the BBANZ should ensure they have compendiums in their rooms.

Take a lot of time putting these together as they are the “bible” for your guests.  Guests love reading about your life and also about the surrounding district in which they are staying and it gives you both something to talk about.  A compendium can be as complex as a tablet with a desk top charger (google search online compendiums for some examples), a  hard covered folder with plastic pages or as simple as a ring-binder with good quality paper.  

Regardless of whether you decide to have a tablet or a folder of information, compendiums are a great way for you to communicate a variety of information to your guests in a simple and efficient way.

It is advisable to regularly check the contents of the compendium to ensure it is up to date, making sure it is accurate and well presented (no scribble marks, dog eared corners etc). I do mine annually.

Sing your own song; guests generally like to hear about their hosts. Consider telling them about yourselves and the journey to your B&B business. Put copies of interesting information about your achievements which could include all or some of the following: First Aid Certificate, Qualmark rating, B&B Association annual membership certificate, TIA annual membership certificate, copies of any newspaper items where you are mentioned, and any other certificates.

Simon Noble (travel writer) give an interview about writing visitor information - click here for further details.

Content Ideas

Tailor the contents of your compendium to suit your individual property; make it personal to you. The information can be displayed in an easy to read format, such as alphabetically listing points under headings. The easier the information is to find, the more likely guests are to use it.

The following is a list of generic heading suggestions for your consideration, to which you could add information particular to your property and area. Not all of these headings will be relevant for you, and likewise there may be additional facilities and services appropriate to your property that you could include.

Front Page:           Begin by telling your guests a little bit about you, the hosts

Following Pages:

Airport Details

Baggage Storage

Banking

Bed & Breakfast Association NEW ZEALAND

Beds, Blankets and Pillows

Breakfast

Business services

Check out

Chemist

Child minding facilities (eg. cot, high chair, baby bath)

Coffee / tea making facilities

Cooking and food preparation

Credit Cards

Dentist / Doctor

Dry-cleaning

DVD's / Videos

Electric Blankets (settings 1, 2, 3, safety information)

Electric Current

Emergency Evacuation procedures

                Earthquake

                Fire

Environment

Feedback

Guest Lounge

Hairdresser

Hairdryer

History of the region and / or property (you may prefer to put this on the front page)

Housekeeping

Ice

Internet Services (including instructions, charges and disclaimer)

Iron / Iron Boards

Keys

Laundry (including location, hours, laundry powder)

Loss and Damage

Lost and Found Policy

Luggage storage

Menus (for in-house and local restaurants)

Mini Bar

Noise

Parking (including visitor parking)

Payment options (eg. Credit card, Eftpos, traveller’s cheques)

Pets

Photocopying

Pick up / Drop off service

Picnic hampers

Pillows

Post Office

Property Policies

Qualmark (insert a copy of your Qualmark Rating logo)

Reception Hours

Recycling

Religious Services

Reservations

Restaurants

Return of Lost Property

Room service

Safe Deposit Facilities

Shoes in the house

Smoking policy

Snacks and Beverages

Spa / Sauna

Suitcase stands

Swimming pool (opening hours, safety information)

Taxi and transport services

Telephone

Television (including instructions)

Toiletries available / Sewing Kit

Tourist Information (including directions and traveling times to local attractions)

Towels (extra and older for activities)

Wake Up Calls

Water Heating

Any and all facilities and services should be included.

 

Purchasing Compendiums:

Some suggestions for websites to look at where you can source compendiums:

http://www.compendiums.co.nz/

http://www.menucovers.co.nz/room-compendiums.htm

http://www.gilmac.co.nz/products/product/Guest-Information-Room-Compendium

Kathryn Officer

November 2015

Compendiums

 
 
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