Big Island Bed and Breakfasts

Aloha Kakahiaka Kakau ( good morning everybody) from the sunny shores of Polynesia and Ka’awa Loa Plantation! Sun is rising, light cloud cover and 74 degrees- bird are tuning up and the day is beginning. Come in for some coffee and to talk story -

Every day is a different day at a bed & breakfast for the most part. Let’s just start with your guests. Generally guest stay three to seven days different people arrive and depart at various time so the day is filled with fond Aloha both for welcoming and departing guests. Then comes breakfast. This other then the facilities themselves is the favorite of our guests. We bring in the farm fresh fruit, vegetables and coffee to the table that we grow and present it in a way that is educational and delicious. People often have not tried dragon fruit , white pineapple or even a papaya. One of the common questions is “what is this?”
It is great to share the bounty of the plantation and have them try something different.

Greg, my partner, runs the house and I run the plantation. I generally get breakfast prepped then Greg runs with it. I move to the outside to get the mango’s picked up off the lawn and we have two GIANT manago trees on either side of the home, sweep & clean the 2000 foot lanai, clear the driveway of fallen fruit, flowers and sticks then it is project time.

Oh ya - the flowers - always have fresh tropical flowers everywhere. It shows attention to details and really is a wonderful energy in the home. Often people say “are these real?” I smile and say no fake flowers here and they just love it.

Today, we are clearing two acres to plant more coffee. I have workers coming in that will clear the elephant grass, cut tulip trees and help me get pulli pullis (baby coffee plants) into the ground. With five acres we have our work cut out for us. But any day working for yourself and doing what you love is the best day you can have and we have a lot of those.

Then of course, we have our arriving guests that we want to be WOWED the minute the enter the property. The magic of Ka’awa Loa is that you feel like you have entered your own private place in paradise. The magic of Napoopoo is how one writer put it. Some people are intimidated by the driveway as it is up up up and very tropical with flowering trees, rows of white pineapple, dragon fruit, bananas and much much more but they only begin to appreciate them once they see the main house then they know that they have arrived.

Our days start at 6:00 a.m. with FRESH brewed Kona Coffee and starting the day. Our days end anytime from 8:30 p.m. to 12:00 mid depending on the guest we have in house and the lively conversations that we have around the table or on the lanai. Today one of my all time good friends arrive for the first time, I can not tell you how exciting it is for that to happen. It has been Greg and my dream to operate such a property and to see the love in the eyes of our friends and family and the support that is given all the way is incredible.

So what is Mike doing at the B&B today - probably a little bit of everything and loving it all the time.

Aloha Ke Akua - he maika’i o’e.

E Komo Mai - Our doors are always opened.

Call me for a tour or to find your own B&B, Guesthouse or Retreat. Hiki no - it will be my pleasure.

Cedar House is a beautiful tropical Bed & Breakfast home and coffee farm located in the Captain Cook area of Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Enjoy the lovely spacious accommodations of this Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Kona Coffee Country.

The intention is for every guest of Cedar House Bed & Breakfast to relax and experience real Hawaiian country living at its best. Take pleasure in the tropical grounds filled with fruits, exotic flowers and lush coffee trees. Expansive ocean views and a hearty Island breakfast buffet, including our home grown 100% Private Estate Kona Coffee, the perfect start to each day!

Licensed B&B with good income, great location above Kealakekua Bay. This home is well cared for with beautiful hardwood floors. Recent remodeling has added several baths and bedroooms to this home. There are 7 bedrooms/5 bathrooms in the main home.
Established business with an established coffee farm.

Second home is a 2 bedroom/1 bath home.

http://www.cedarhouse-hawaii.com/

Call
Michael F. Martinage R(S)
808-870-0116 for a private showing.

The B&B is quite busy so please allow time to notify the inn keepers.

FS $1,500,000.00

We could spend hours and hours discussing marketing and its strategies. However, the main purpose of this brief article is to get you thinking in terms of what you’ll need to do to market your bed and breakfast.
Just because you think you want to open a bed and breakfast, or may already have done so, doesn’t mean it will be successful. You should give much thought and do a lot of research before you decide whether or not to open a bed and breakfast. It should not be a decision you take lightly.

What is Marketing?

If you were to be asked, “What is marketing?” what would you say? (Take some time to jot down a few of your ideas.)

Marketing is probably all the things you listed. But if we get right down to the very basics of marketing hospitality and tourism…

Marketing is satisfying your customers’ (guests’) needs and wants.

Needs: Gaps between what your customers (guests) have and what they would like to have.

Wants: Needs of which your customers (guests) are aware.

The inability to understand your customers’ (guests’) needs and wants can be a serious threat to your business.

As B&B operators, we are here to serve the customer (guest). Their needs are priority #1!
Now, none of us was born with a marketing degree, so this is something we need to learn and then polish through practice. Remember also, the marketing of hospitality and tourism is viewed a little differently than the marketing of a specific product. Let’s take a brief look at the differences.

Product vs. Services

Differences between Product Marketing and Services Marketing Product: Tangible
Service: Intangible

Product: Able to store
Service: Perishable

Product: Made ahead
Service: Immediately available

Product: Sold once
Service: Repeatedly sold

Product: Easier to cost
Service: Depends on demand

Product: Wide channel distribution
Service: Short channel (me to you)

Keep this in mind: An empty room is like water down the drain, it cannot be saved. If it’s not sold, that sale can never be regained.

Why Market a B&B?

Change occurs rapidly in the hospitality and tourism industry and marketing plays a key role in a business’s ability to cope with the changes. The “build it and they will come” philosophy just doesn’t apply here. You have to have a reason and a plan in order for guests to buy your service (a stay at your bed and breakfast.)

Competition is greater, although this can depend on your location and the number of other lodging choices available in the area. But competition is not all bad — many B&B owners form associations and work very cooperatively together locally, at a state level, and nationally. Pooling certain resources, such as advertising, can make economic sense for everyone involved. Referrals are also shared.

Consider to whom you will target your marketing efforts. The economy, social, cultural and lifestyle issues all play roles in market segmentation. You cannot cater to everyone. You must aim for a specific group for the majority of your marketing efforts.

Modern travelers are sophisticated and expect much more than in years gone bye. A lot more than a room with a bed is expected. To get these kinds of guests requires you to do more planning of your marketing effots.

Seven Principles of Marketing

Marketing Concept: The means you are acting on the belief that customer (guest) satisfaction is your top priority. You continually want to put your resources and efforts towards satisfying your customers (guests).

Customer Orientation: You accept and act according to the marketing concept. The customer (guest) is always #1! (For example: Mr. Marriott took time to read evaluations from all of his hotel guests daily and personally took interest in them.)

Satisfy the Customer: Is the only way to ensure your long-term survival. Success comes from knowing what your customer (guests) want and giving it to them. Never just make assumptions.

Target Market: All customers (guests) are not alike. You need to pick out and focus on those you want to attract. This is sometimes known as the “rifle vs. shotgun” approach. A single bullet hits target rather than shot spreading all over.

Value/Exchange: Customers (guests) want value for their money. This is often hard for many to actually define. Some people equate value with the price of something while others do not. We must provide the experiences which guests find valuable in return for that they pay us money, make reservations and hopefully will return again.

Product Life Cycle: All products and services go through a life cycle: introduction, growth, maturity and decline. If we deal in services, we don’t want to end up in decline, but do whatever it takes to continue to grow.

Marketing Mix: Will be discussed in more detail next, but this is the controllable factors which are used to satisfy customer needs.

Hale Maluhia Country Inn (house of peace) Kailua-Kona

Information also on web site: www.hawaii-inns.com/hi/kna/hmh

Parcel size: 35,763 sq. ft. Special Use Permit for Inn
Total interior floor space, approximate. 5,285
Total enclosed shop/garage, approximate. 1,656
Total lanai’s, (porches) approximate. 1,346

Hale Maluhia Country Inn is being offered for $1,800,000. Owner 75, wants to retire and travel.

Includes a fee simple near acre estate of big trees and five buildings. Inn is being sold turn key with furnishings and appliances. Inn has a total of 7 bedrooms in three buildings plus two cottages. Includes two large common areas, two kitchens and an office. This is a very unique Hawaiian property lovingly built over 35 years by the contractor owner in the local plantation house tradition. If you love big shade and mature fruit and nut trees and a touch of aloha from old Hawai’i, you will love Hale Maluhia Country Inn (house of peace) Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Also includes 3 businesses:

Hale Maluhia Country Inn, a going bed and breakfast inn.

Instant Hawaii Web Service, web publicity for island B&B’s: www.hawaii-inns.com

Adventures Hawaii Activity Desk, for securing activity reservations for guest of the inn and web clients.

Property Tax Information: TMK: 3-7-6-11-11, (35,763 sq. ft.) With a Special Use Permit zoning obtained for an Inn, No. 893, dated 1/3/95 from Hawaii County.

The Inn contains 7 bedrooms plus two lovely cottages for a total of 9 bedrooms. Also are included 11 bathrooms. The Inn is designed very beautifully on nearly an acre in three major buildings and two smaller buildings. The Banyan Cottage is a virtual tree house much like Swiss Family Robinson of about 850 sq. ft. The other cottage is a delightful Japanese gazebo called Hale Pule (prayer house) which has been used for friends and family guests.

On the grounds there is a covered Japanese stone and tile jetted spa which is a favorite place to relax. The spa is located next to four koi ponds, streams, waterfalls and surrounded by gardens.

Next to the caretaker apartment is a large well lit shop, 22′x36′ with a commercial 12′x8′ automatic garage door. The shop is also designed with additional 230 volt power for heavier power needs. The zoning also allows for cottage industry. The shop has a 10′ ceiling and has been constructed with sky lights for good lighting during the day.

The Inn is located in the Holualoa Fruit Belt just 3 miles from Kailua-Kona with many large shade trees on the property including Samoan & Hawaiian Coconut, Hayden mango, macnut, Sharwell avocado, orange and both William’s and Apple Bananas. The Inn also has its own pineapple patch and papaya patch which grow excellent pineapples and papayas at our 940′ elevation in Holualoa. The Inn is also only 12 miles from the Kona International Airport (KOA) and may just be the closest Inn to the airport.

Hale Maluhia Country Inn (house of peace) Kona:

Is a complex of Five Buildings.

Main House: The north end of the main house includes the Owners living area of 1652 sq. ft. and also includes a 500 sq. ft. library and a large bedroom, three baths, kitchen with Hawaiian Koa Cabinets and pantry.

There is a large single garage, 352 sq. ft. in the center of the building dividing the two private living areas and also contains one of the two laundry areas.

The south end of the home has two large bedrooms and three bathrooms including a large living room of 15′x26′ with dining room and kitchen. The square footage is 1,516 sq. ft. On the west of this main plantation style home is a 10′ x 26′ Hawaiian Lanai for breakfast dining and watching our fantastic bird population including our wild turkeys.

Gate House: Includes a small office and bachelor apartment with kitchenette and bath on the ground floor Plus two more bedrooms for the B&B, all with bathrooms plus an attic Swiss Family cedar room, 13′ x 21′ with bath. Also Includes an attached 22′x36′ professional workshop/garage of 792 sq. ft. with sky lights and 10′ ceiling, perfect for hobby and art projects. Also has a 12′ x 10′ commercial garage door.

Hale Pule: (prayer house) Japanese Gazebo with a very special hexagon
design with teak shoji windows and doors and a front lanai. Living Area is about 200 sq. ft. Lanai Area, 21 sq. ft. The beautiful Stone steps rise to a typical Japanese entry under a very large shading banyan tree. This little cottage is unique for today as it includes a great deal of hand work in the building of the shoji windows and doors along with the oriental incline of the hexagon roof system. Used as an art room and family bed room when needed.

Banyan Cottage: The Cottage is commodious with about 850 sq. ft. of floor area. And includes a double marble mosaic shower, double Jacuzzi with Coraria marble trim and a kitchenette. The Cottage is nicely decorated with family and Hawaiian antiques. The Cottage also has a very nice view lanai with a wooden porch swing. Includes a Cal‑King bed in a sleeping alcove and a setting, dining room of 20′ x 26′ with a beautiful view. A futon couch also makes into a Queen bed for extra sleeping with needed. The cottage really feels like a tropical tree house in between two very large banyan trees.

North Storage building:

This storage building is next to entrance and parking area of 448 sq. ft. with attached outdoor shop bathroom. (May also serve as four more parking spaces as needed with the removal of the storage building.) This building was not included in the 1/1/05 appraisal.

Living Areas:

Main House: 1,516 sq. ft., Library/Family Room 500 sq. ft., Owners Apt./Office area 1352 sq. ft., including bed room/bath 480 sq. ft. above the office. Banyan Cottage 850 sq. ft., Hale Pule 200 sq. ft. Gate House 1067 sq. ft. For a total of 5,285 square feet. There is a yearly termite inspection and warranty.

Enclosed Garage/Storage areas:

Main Garage 352 sq. ft., Work shop/garage 792 sq. ft., Storage Bldg. 448 sq. ft. for a total of 1,656. sq. ft.

Japanese style Stone/Tile Hot Tub w/jets: 7′x7′x3 2 feet interior with a Japanese roof system of 150 sq. ft. which also includes 2 sky lights for comfort on a rainy afternoon. Hale Maluhia is on the dry side of the Big Island with only 30 inches of rain per year. Probably the most sun days on the Big Island of Hawaii for a Bed and Breakfast.

Open and Covered Lanai=s/Walkways:

Main house 260 sq. ft., cottage 150 sq. ft., gate house 226 sq. ft., Library 160 sq. ft., carport 400 sq., ft, for a total of 1346. sq. ft.

Taxes: Present yearly taxes are about $3,000.00 per year

Improvements:

Cottages: (2) Hale Pule and Banyan Cottage Inn: Bedrooms 7 Bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 2 common areas plus shop. Automatic Sprinkler Systems 4 covering the needs of the property. 18 Parking spaces, open concrete 14, covered 4 (shop, main house and double carport,) owners apt. Koi Ponds 4, 30 koi, ponds, stream & 4 small waterfalls. West yard fountain 2 with electric pump waterfall with waterfalls. 4 Solar Systems, Hot Tub, Main House, Gate House & Owners apt. 3 Paloma instant water heaters, 2 Whirlpool Gold Ranges, Top of the line, set‑in. Includes ten appliances including two sets of washers/dryers. Kitchens are appointed with custom built koa cabinets in both the Main House and Owners Suite.

Kitchenettes: (3) Banyan Cottage, Pikaki Room & Bachelor Apt.

Facility includes: Marble or Tile Baths (5) Makua, Malia, Banyan, Library & Owners Suite. Air Conditioning, new (3) Owners Apt., Makua Room & Pikaki Room. Electrical braker panels (5) 115 & 230 circuits, 1 ea. bldg. with one main meter. Garage door openers (2) Shop door 12′ x 8′, house garage door 10′ x 7′. Japanese spa bridge is 14′ to cross over the stream. Cesspools (2) One is 8′ x 20′, & 7′ x 16′ no problems at all in 33 years. Concrete Flat Work 11,313. sq. ft. Dry stack stone walls 1,643. sq. ft. Stone/Cement walls 3,401 sq. ft. Oriental jade slate lanai & garden patio 394 sq. ft. Stone steps, stone/cement 52 steps, stone faced step area: 175. sq. ft. Stone steps, dry stack (5). Flat stone walks & areas 776. sq. ft. Front Corner Retaining walls 600 sq. ft. Cemented by 30″ thick + Concrete and Stone work above. These improvement do not include the stone work for the foundations of any of the buildings or the stone work that is attached to any of the buildings.

Trees (12 large): Banyan trees, (7) very large ‑ shade ‑ beautiful and excellent buffers along Hualalai Road. Hayden Mango (2) excellent, McNut (2) excellent, Sharwell Avalcado one excellent, Orange (3) dwarf, one very large monkey‑pod, Banana (25) Both Bluefields & William’s, Pineapple Patch (50) Golden, Samoan Coconuts (3) and Hawaiian Coconuts (3)

The following related businesses are also to be included in this offer. The Hawaiian businesses known as

Instant Hawaii Web Service and Adventures Hawaii Activity Desk.

www.hawaii-inns.com ‑ www.hawaii-inns.com/activity

Instant Hawaii Web Service: www.hawaii-inns.com
Provides B&B Inn publicity with over 600 visits each day of folks who are looking for a place to stay in Hawaii. The web site also has an income of about $3,000. per year from other B&B’s around the Big Island and Maui.

Adventures Hawaii Activity Desk, www.hawaii-inns.com/activity
Hawaii License #440 for auto rentals and activities, Gross income was about $2000. per year before 9/11. There are certain qualifications for license transfer. It provides a source of commissions for auto rentals, accommodations and activities on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Hale Maluhia County Inn , www.hawaii-inns.com/hi/kna/hmh
Offer includes Business, Improvements and Inn furnishings required for the B&B. The Inn was professionally appraised at $1,800,000. in January of 2005 excluding the 3 businesses, the furnishings and the north storage building and bath. Building appreciation in Kona is presently moving upwards at about 1.5 - 2% per month. Sale will includes the transferable special use permit zoning for an Inn. All offers will be carefully considered. A minimum of 1/3 down is required. The balance may be carried by the seller on a 7.5 %, 10 year mortgage, subject to the credit rating of the purchaser. Other property on the Big Island of Hawaii may be considered as trade, the ower wants to retire on the Big Island.

The gross income for the Inn for 1999 - 2000 and up to 9/11 was approximately $240,000. per year. Tourism on Hawaii Island is presently above pre‑ 9/11 levels at this time and the Inn should be able to have a higher gross in 2006 if returned to being a B&B. Tourism was up 8% in 2005 alone. Our Instant Hawaii Web Service, web sites are enjoying over 700 visits per day (not hits) from folks looking for accommodations in Hawaii.

From 9/11 the Inn was used as a Christian Retreat Center by Trinity Fellowship International. The Inn complex works very well as a profitable B&B Inn. But the property could also be well used for a Corporate Retreat or a large family vacation home. The Inn is located at a most ideal 940 foot elevation in Holualoa and has about the best climate and central location in Kailua‑Kona, Hawaii. Yet the area still has a gentle touch of old Hawai’i with small ranches and coffee shacks here and there. However, many multi-million dollar homes are now being built all around the Inn at this time. There is a new connector road going in just above us and we expect our area to resolve to a sleepy Hawaii once the new section of Lako St. The paving of Lako St. is now complete but the barriers are still in place. The Elementary School at Holualoa is one of the best in Hawaii.

Call Michael F. Martinage R(S)
Livingston Realty Inc.
808-870-0116 cell
mmartinagehawaii@msn.com

One of the best things about staying at B&Bs is that each one is unique. But almost all of today’s B&Bs have on thing in common: They’re run by professional, competent innkeepers.
Nonetheless, some outdated myths about bed and breakfasts persist. These myths have their roots in the days before most travelers even knew what a bed and breakfast was. Today, with rare exceptions, they are simply myths. As with hotels, there are good B&Bs and bad B&Bs. With a little research you should be able to find one that fits your preferences.

Here are my picks for the top myths about bed and breakfasts.

1. There is no privacy.
The vast majority of inns, and all of the good ones, have plenty of privacy. Your room should be quiet and free from interruption. You won’t be forced to interact with other guests, nor will you have to sit down with the innkeeper and look at old family photos. At a small inn, you may be able to go through your entire stay without ever seeing any other guests — try that at a hotel! Innkeepers tend to be very concerned with their guests’ privacy and do everything they can to respect it.

2. The innkeepers are hiding.
This is almost the opposite of myth #1. Some guests are concerned if they don’t see the innkeepers when they return from dinner, or sometimes even at check-in. (Some inns leave a key in a pre-arranged spot to facilitate a late check-in.) In most cases, the innkeepers live in the same building that guests are staying in, so they’re never too far away. They’re probably just trying to respect your privacy.
3. You’ll sit with strangers at breakfast and have to make small talk.
It is true that sometimes breakfast is served at one or two large tables, so guests who don’t know each other may sit together. But in all the times that my husband and I have stayed at B&Bs, this has never been a real problem. Most people don’t try to force conversation when it becomes apparent that you’d rather enjoy a quiet meal. If it does become a problem, you can talk to the innkeeper about it and time your future breakfasts so that you’ll almost sure to be alone.
4. B&Bs have staff and a front desk clerk on duty 24/7.
In most cases, particularly with inns of less than 10 rooms, the innkeeper / owner is the only person (or couple) working at the inn. Sometimes, they might have a maid help with room preparation in the morning, but by and large that person is handling everything. This means that you should arrive on time, or at least call if that’s not going to be possible. Innkeepers often plan their day (including shopping for your breakfast foods) around guests’ arrival times.
5. Innkeeping is a hobby.
Most innkeepers couldn’t make a living just by running their B&B, but that doesn’t make it a hobby. It is a serious business with many facets.
6. Breakfast is simple to make, and innkeepers can just whip something up.
Most B&Bs plan breakfasts days or even weeks in advance, so you need to let them know ahead of time if you have any special dietary needs or restrictions. Going back to myth #5, the innkeeper is often also the cook, the waiter and the dishwasher. The best breakfasts I’ve ever eaten have been at B&Bs, and that didn’t happen by accident.
7. B&Bs are very expensive.
Not necessarily. There are some expensive B&Bs, but there are also some very affordable ones. It depends on the inn’s location, amenities, and other factors. But if you’ve avoided looking at B&Bs as an option because of the cost, think again. In New York City, for example, high-quality B&Bs are very competitive with hotel prices. In areas less often visited by tourists, B&Bs can be an amazing bargain.
8. Business travelers can’t stay at B&Bs.
Many B&Bs have all the amenities important to business travelers, and many will offer a discount for an extended stay. This might have been true 10 or 15 years ago, and is still true to some extent – but many B&Bs now cater to corporate travelers.
9. Innkeepers are rich.
If they are, it’s not because they’re innkeepers. Although they might own beautiful homes which have been restored and immaculately decorated, most innkeepers don’t even make all their income at the inn. If a B&B has less than 10 rooms, the chances are very good that the innkeeper, the innkeeper’s spouse (or both) has outside income.
10. There will be strange rules and a curfew.
Sometimes an inn will have rules that mystify me. But I’ve never stayed anywhere that had what I would call “strange” rules. And no B&B has ever had a curfew. Innkeepers will sometimes ask you to be quiet if you come back to the inn late, out of respect for other guests. Make sure you read all of an inn’s policies on their web site before making a reservation and you should never be staying at a B&B with truly strange rules. Innkeepers are not control freaks — they want you to have a great time, and they want you to come back.

One of the features that attracts guests to a B&B is the promise of a special breakfast. The host’s goal is to serve attractive, delicious, and (whenever possible) nutritious meals to guests.
Breakfasts start at the very simple — a continental breakfast, which usually includes hot tea or coffee, fruit juice and sweet rolls, muffins or biscuits. A full breakfast with juices, entree, breads and hot beverages is at the other end of the scale. No matter what type of meal you serve, everything should be of the highest quality.

Meal Planning

You may prefer foods that do not appeal to your guests, but you need to consider that people have a wide variety of food preferences as well as specific nutritional and dietary needs. Plan to serve foods that compliment one another and are appropriate to the season as well as those that are easiest for you to prepare and serve.

Consider the number of people you will be serving;
The type of place settings to be used; and
The method you choose for serving.
Start with high quality foods.

The best meals typically include a variety of temperatures, textures, flavors, shapes, colors, and sizes.
Of course, despite all your planning, there’s no guarantee everyone will enjoy the meals you serve.

Table Settings

The current trend in table fashions is that just about anything goes. Use of colors or florals is a personal choice. There are no fixed rules about what to use and when to use it.

Foods should always look attractive and appealing against the table cover and place settings used. Table settings can range from informal to very formal. The choice is yours and depends on the mood of your B&B and the feelings you want to convey to your guests.

Serve Healthy Foods

You should ask ahead of time if a guest has any specific dietary needs. This special touch will show your guests that you want to provide for their needs. Guidelines to consider for healthy meals:

Use low-fat products.

Include whole grains, fruits and vegetables in your meals. Bran or oats can be included in muffins, quick breads and served as cereal. These foods provide extra fiber.

Limit the use of fats and products with cholesterol and other saturated fats. Choose vegetable oils and liquid margarines rather than butter and other animal fats.

Limit the use of salt. Sodium can contribute to high blood pressure. Try substituting herbs, spices and other seasonings for salt in foods. Omit or reduce the amount of salt called for in recipes and avoid using processed or other foods that are high in sodium.

Limit the amount of sugar. Sugar itself is not harmful, but it’s a source of empty calories and provides very little nutritional value.

Food Safety
We’re fortunate to have proper storage and cooking methods easily available today. However, it’s amazing how many unsafe food practices people still use.

Government inspections and strict standards in the food industry usually assure us of high quality, wholesome and safe foods. It’s your responsibility to make sure that standard is maintained in your bed and breakfast.

The danger zone for bacterial growth in food is between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F. Most food poisoning bacteria grow in room temperatures around 60 to 70 degrees F. When bacteria grow, it divides and multiplies in number. Two very important rules to follow are:

Keep hot food hot and cold food cold!

When in doubt, throw it out!

Make sure all leftovers are stored promptly. Never thaw frozen foods on a countertop at room temperature.
For more food safety tips, contact your state or local health department.

Sanitization

“Sanitization” means effective bactericidal treatment by a process that provides enough accumulative heat or concentration of chemicals for enough time to reduce the bacterial count, including pathogens, to a safe level on utensils and equipment.

For example, bleach is an effective all-purpose sanitizer that even kills bacteria which may cause food poisoning. This sanitizer is authorized by use under USDA meat, poultry, rabbit and egg products inspection programs.

If using other types of sanitizers, such as tablets, then they must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the product label must claim it will sanitize food contact surfaces without needing a final clear water rinse.

Check with your state and local health departments for rules and regulations which are specific to your area. You also may have to undergo some type of health inspection, perhaps on a regular basis.

State and Local Regulations

Your food service might be controlled by state and/or local laws or regulations. Be sure to understand all of the laws and regulations which govern you in this area.