Bed & Breakfast Inns Industry Profile

The US bed and breakfast (B&B) industry includes about 20,000 establishments with combined annual revenue of more than $3 billion. No major companies operate in the industry. The B&B industry is highly fragmented: very few owners operate more than one establishment.

The B&B industry is a subset of the $120 billion US lodging industry. Distinctions between country inns and B&B inns aren't always clear, but typically a country inn has 10 or more rooms and operates a restaurant on premises, while B&Bs average about six rooms and serve only breakfast.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by personal disposable income. The profitability of individual establishments depends on occupancy rate and operational efficiency. Larger B&Bs may have advantages in providing a range of offerings and prices to suit a variety of traveler budgets. Small establishments can compete effectively by offering superior customer service to target markets.

B&Bs compete for overnight accommodations with other hospitality establishments such as hotels, motels, extended-stay inns, country inns, RV parks, and campgrounds.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

The major offering of B&Bs is rental of guest rooms (about 80 percent of revenue): other sources of revenue are gift shop sales, food and beverage sales, and spa services. Some B&Bs also rent their facilities for meetings or events.

B&Bs are typically private homes converted to accommodate overnight guests, primarily as a destination site or, less frequently, as an overnight stopover for travelers. Distinctive features of B&Bs may include ...