Seasonal marketing can be very effective for B&B owners and innkeepers during the holidays. If you’ve been an innkeeper for a while, you know that the months of October through December can be incredibly busy—yet profitable.
Here are some secrets to make your bed and breakfast the go-to destination for holiday travelers. Let’s dive into these seasonal marketing suggestions that could make this holiday season your most successful yet!
Seasonal Marketing with Holiday Decorations
Display high-quality, tasteful decorations to liven up your B&B, such as the following.
Baskets
- October: Baskets filled with small hay bales or fall fruits.
- November: Wicker baskets filled with faux apples and corn.
- December: Filled with Christmas baubles, Hanukkah gelt, or Kwanzaa fruits.
Bedside Tables
- October: Place small, battery-operated LED pumpkin lights on bedside tables during October.
- November: A small cornucopia filled with tiny faux pumpkins, pinecones, and leaves.
- December: Consider a small, elegant ornament with your B&B’s name and the year, which guests can take home as a keepsake.
Bowls
- October: Glass bowls with candy corn or decorative gourds.
- November: Filled with pinecones and acorns.
- December: Filled with holiday ornaments or dreidels.
Centerpieces
- October: Pumpkin-filled cornucopias.
- November: Vases filled with fresh fall blooms and surrounded by tealights.
- December: Logs with tealights, a menorah, or Kwanzaa corn displays.
Coffee Mugs
- October: Mugs featuring skeletons, witches, or fall quotes.
- November: Mugs with Thanksgiving quotes or images.
- December: Mugs with Santa, dreidels, or Kwanzaa candles.
Festive Displays
- October: Corn stalks and scarecrows near the entrance.
- November: Cornucopias and pilgrim figurines.
- December: Nativity sets, menorahs, or Kwanzaa kinaras.
Front Door Appeal
- October: Hang a handmade autumn wreath.
- November: Create a corner display of seasonal produce like pumpkins, gourds, and cornstalks. If possible, use produce from local markets to add an authentic Southern touch.
- December: A sophisticated Christmas garland on the front door to welcome guests.
Hand Towels
- October: Black and orange towels with pumpkin or ghost embroidery.
- November: Towels embroidered with turkeys or “Give Thanks.”
- December: Christmas tree, menorah, or Kwanzaa kinara embroidery.
Holiday Trees
- October: Miniature trees with orange lights and Halloween ornaments.
- November: Thankful Trees, where guests can add “leaves” of gratitude.
- December: Christmas trees, Hanukkah bush, or a unity tree for Kwanzaa.
Indoor Ladders
- October: Wooden ladders with faux cobwebs and spiders.
- November: Adorn with autumn garlands and “thankful” bunting.
- December: Draped with holiday-specific garlands.
Mason Jars
- October: Filled with orange LED fairy lights.
- November: Turned into tealight holders with autumn leaf cutouts.
- December: Filled with candy canes or made into snow globes.
Outdoor Spaces
- October: Add some sparkle to your garden or patio with string lights.
- November: Thanksgiving or fall-themed garden flags, lantern posts, and planters.
- December: A decorated outdoor Christmas tree.
Plates
- October: Holiday-themed plates that say, “Trick or Treat” or “Happy Halloween.”
- November: Plates with turkey or autumn leaf motifs.
- December: Plates featuring Christmas trees, menorahs, or African patterns for Kwanzaa.
Potted Plants
- October: Potted mums or marigolds.
- November: Small potted herbs like rosemary or thyme.
- December: Potted poinsettias or Christmas cacti.
Themed Linens
- October: Halloween themed hand towels with jack-o-lanterns and black cats.
- November: Maple leaves, turkeys, or cornucopia hand towels.
- December: Hand towels with holiday motifs.
Tiered Trays
- October: Filled with small pumpkins, acorns, and cinnamon sticks.
- November: Mini pumpkins, turkey figurines, and harvest fruits.
- December: Seasonal cookies, ornaments, and holiday-specific decor.
Welcome Mats
- October: “Trick or Treat” or “Happy Fall, Y’all.”
- November: “Give Thanks” or “Welcome, Harvest.”
- December: “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” or “Joyous Kwanzaa.”
Wreaths
- October: Grapevine wreaths with faux cobwebs, spiders, or autumn leaves.
- November: Wreaths made of wheat stalks or corn husks.
- December: Evergreen wreaths with bows or Hanukkah wreaths with blue and white ornaments.
Feel free to mix and match these ideas based on decor style preferences, the guests you entertain, and local traditions. With the right decorations and seasonal marketing, you’ll help your guests get into the holiday spirit the moment they walk through the door!
Seasonal Marketing with Holiday Menu Items
Update your food and beverage offerings to include seasonal flavors. Incorporate seasonal local produce from your own garden or from local farmer’s markets.
October (Halloween)
- Breakfast: Pumpkin Pancakes with Pecan Syrup: Spice up your morning pancakes with pumpkin puree and serve with a rich pecan-infused syrup.
- Breakfast: Spooky Sausage & Grits: Classic Southern grits get a Halloween twist, with sausage pieces cut in the shape of ghosts or bats.
- Breakfast: Apple Cider Doughnuts: A nod to apple-picking season, these doughnuts could be offered with a small pot of cinnamon cream for dipping.
- Breakfast: Boo-Berry Muffins: Classic blueberry muffins featuring a “boo” made from a slice of banana and two blueberry “eyes.”
- Dessert: Witch’s Brew Cobbler: A mixture of autumn fruits like apples and blackberries topped with a crumble and baked to perfection.
- Dessert: Pumpkin Bread Pudding: A Southern twist on a classic dessert, using cubes of day-old biscuits soaked in a pumpkin-spice custard.
November (Thanksgiving)
- Breakfast: Sweet Potato Waffles: A Southern staple, these waffles can be served with a dollop of whipped cinnamon butter.
- Breakfast: Turkey & Cranberry Breakfast Burrito: Utilize Thanksgiving flavors by wrapping turkey and cranberry sauce in a warm tortilla.
- Breakfast: Cornbread & Sausage Breakfast Casserole: Cornbread forms the base for this hearty casserole featuring sausage and eggs.
- Breakfast: Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats: Offer a trendy and convenient breakfast item infused with the flavors of pumpkin spice and a splash of espresso.
- Dessert: Bourbon Pecan Pie: A classic Southern pie with the added richness of bourbon.
- Dessert: Apple-Spiced Beignets: Take a page out of the French-Southern fusion book with these light, fluffy apple-spiced treats.
December (Christmas, Hanukkah, & Kwanzaa)
- Breakfast: Gingerbread French Toast: Spice-infused French toast served with a dollop of nutmeg cream and a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Breakfast: Potato Latkes with Apple Compote: Honor the tradition of Hanukkah with crispy latkes and a side of spiced apple compote.
- Breakfast: Kwanzaa Cornbread: Infuse a classic Southern cornbread with African spices and serve with honey butter.
- Dessert: Christmas Fruitcake Cookies: Take the essence of a Southern fruitcake and turn it into bite-sized cookies.
- Dessert: Chocolate Gelt Brownies: Incorporate Hanukkah traditions by placing chocolate gelt (coins) on top of rich brownies before baking.
- Dessert: Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue: Add a twist to a classic Southern pie by topping it with a fluffy marshmallow meringue.
Seasonal Marketing for the Holidays: Wrapping It Up
The holidays are a magical time, and with the right touch, your B&B can embody that magic to the fullest. Remember, it’s not just about filling rooms; it’s about creating an experience that guests will remember for years to come. We hope our seasonal marketing tips for the holidays gave you some great ideas.
As a former B&B owner and innkeeper, and a B&B Consultant with over four decades of experience in the field, Licensed Realtor Rob Salesis the person to contact if you’re thinking of buying or selling a bed and breakfast inn.Contact Robfor a complimentary conversation.