Newsletter issue 1

Government statistics show that in 2007 15.23 million households, 63% of the total and a 7% increase since last year, now have internet access. The way that the nation looks for holiday, travel, accommodation and leisure facilities has changed. The World Wide Web has now become the place to satisfy these needs.

Our industry - serviced accommodation - is fragmented into many small and not-so-small units around the country. Some of us have felt a sense of isolation. This is changing because the internet also brings improved methods of communication. Here is information about two such methods.

The Newsletter

Before the arrival of the Internet a newsletter was largely a one-way communication from the writer to the reader. Now, however, it can be two-way because it's very easy to fire off a response by email to the author or the editor.

Subsequent editions of this newsletter will feature an article by an author with something to say to members of the industry. The articles will normally be informative in nature and calculated to be of practical use to the recipients in the day-to-day running of our business.

Contributions are invited from members of the industry who feel that they have something to share with colleagues. Articles will be invited from those outside the industry who have information and advice to give e.g. accounting, marketing, tourism, taxation, hygiene, fire, health and safety specialists and experts etc.

The Forum

The Forum is not only two-way it is many-way. It allows thousands of people to talk to one another. The Forum is a message board exclusively for providers of serviced accommodation – hotels, inns, guest houses, B&Bs, self-catering accommodation, restaurants with rooms etc. It has already been operating for a few months and without much publicity has attracted close to 200 members already.

Anything and everything is open for discussion, both serious and fun. The subject generating most discussion is the new fire regulations. Here is a list of the 12 most popular by number of times viewed:

Fire Safety Inspection	1746
Scams	740
Breakfast timings	546
Taking reservations/bookings	505
PAT testing	472
Accreditation	469
Insurance	377
Cancellation & no-show policies	373
Planning and analysing internet marketing	307
Room charges	299
Stain removal Tips	210
Computer (software) protection	107

We look forward to your contribution on the various topics.

The next issue (no 2) of the newsletter will be about what to do with the stuff guests forget to take with them when checking out.

If you are not already a member of the forum and would like to join, please register here.

Note: For the convenience of users, this newsletter follows the same linking structure as the website which offers the above-mentioned services.