Frequently Asked Questions about Inn of the Month Auctions
How much does it cost to be the Inn of the Month?
Because this is an auction, there is no set amount. A minimum bid is provided, and bids increase in increments of $10.
If my property is the Inn of the Month, will I be the first property listed on my city page? Yes, your current property listing will move to the top position on the page, and will appear in a highlighted box just under the city name.
Can I be the Inn of the Month on more than one city page?
You may only be the Inn of the Month in cities in which you have listings. If you are participating in the BedandBreakfast.com Secondary Listing program, you may participate in the Inn of the Month program in your primary listing city as well as any secondary listing cities where you have purchased a listing. You will need to place a separate bid for each city in which you are interested in being the Inn of the Month. When you log in to place your bid, you will see a separate bidding box for each of your available cities.
What are "secondary listings"?
Secondary listings allow you to list your property in a city other than where your property is physically located, which is known as your primary listing. Secondary listings are allowed for nearby cities only and are available at 50% off of the primary listing price. Secondary listings must be at the same membership level as your primary listing.
When does the bidding close?
All bidding is done online; bidding for any given month will close at 12 noon Mountain Time on the last calendar day of the previous month. As long as the bid is raised within 2 minutes of the close of the Auction by the minimum increment, the bidding will still be live until a bid is accepted and not raised within the next 2 minutes, at which time the auction will be closed and there will be a winner.
Can I add a marketing message?
Yes, the cost includes a two-line marketing message that will encourage potential guests to view your website and/or listing. You can change your marketing message at any time.
How will I know the amount of traffic I'm generating due to my Inn of the Month listing?
By logging in to your Home Base, you'll be able to view accurate traffic statistics for your Inn of the Month ad.
If I place a bid and someone outbids me, how will I know?
BedandBreakfast.com will email you whenever you are outbid by another innkeeper. If you do not wish to be sent an email every time this happens, you may select the option that prevents these email updates from being sent.
What is the sealed bidding program?
Now being tested in select cities, our Inn of the Month sealed bidding program eliminates the possibility of a lengthy bidding process. You decide what being the Inn of the Month is worth to you, and then place your bid for that amount. If you have the winning bid, you'll be notified at 12:01 PM Mountain Time on the last day of the month, and you'll see your top placement starting at 12:01 AM on the first day of the next month. Log in to your Home Base now to see if your city is included.
Here are the essential details:
- We've noted the number of visitors to your city page last month. Consider the value of these potential guests seeing your property at the top of the page, plus the click-throughs to your website and/or your BedandBreakfast.com listing.
- The amount of the winning bid from last month is provided, but may not be an accurate indication of this month's winning bid.
- In the event of duplicate bids, the winning bid will be the highest amount with the earliest time and date of receipt.
- Bids can be placed in $1 increments, beginning with a $50 minimum.
- You cannot reduce or withdraw your bid, but can increase it at any time until the auction closes.
Can I link my Inn of the Month ad to my own website?
Yes, Silver, Gold and Platinum level members can link from their Inn of the Month ad to their own website.
Can Bronze level members link their Inn of the Month ad to their own website?
Sorry, only Silver, Gold and Platinum members are able to link to their own website. We offer a 90-day risk-free money-back guarantee on the cost of your upgrade, so click here to upgrade your membership.
When is the best time to bid to be the Inn of the Month?
This is an individual decision, based on your own needs and occupancy. During slower periods, using an Inn of the Month ad to attract additional attention is an effective marketing strategy. You can also use an Inn of the Month ad to drive additional traffic to your website during the summer vacation months, by bidding only during July and August. On the other hand, if your occupancy is over 90% occupancy during the October foliage period, it would probably not be worth the investment. In short, you can bid to become the Inn of the Month for your city every month, for just selected months, or only once or twice a year.
Can I call BedandBreakfast.com to place my bid for the Inn of the Month?
No, this is a fully automated program and requires your online participation. BedandBreakfast.com will not place any bids on behalf of innkeepers for this program.
If I'm bidding throughout the month, will my credit card be charged?
No. BedandBreakfast.com will only approve your card for $1.00 to ensure the card number you have submitted is valid. Once the month's bidding cycle ends, if your bid is the highest that month, your credit card will be charged for the full, non-refundable bid amount on the first day of the month for which you have been bidding.
What happens if my membership is up for renewal the month I want to bid for Inn of the Month?
If your membership expires during the month you want to place a bid, you will need to renew your membership before you are allowed to place a bid. Click here to log in and renew your membership, or contact us at Sales@BedandBreakfast.com or 800-GO-B-AND-B (800-462-2632).
To place a bid, please log in with your password and property ID. From your Home Base, click
Inn Of The Month. From the list on the left-hand side of the screen, click
Place A Bid.