Bed & breakfasts and inns have been perfecting the art of hospitality for centuries. Their properties may be small, but their approach to creating memorable guest experiences is mighty. While cabins, boutique hotels, glamping sites, and short-term rentals each have their own unique appeal, there are valuable lessons they can take from the innkeeping tradition.

Here are a few timeless practices worth borrowing—adapted in ways that make sense for your own property type.

1. Personalization Matters
B&Bs thrive on knowing their guests—remembering names, dietary preferences, and special occasions. Even in larger or less personal settings, small touches of personalization (a welcome card, a local recommendation tailored to their trip purpose, or remembering a repeat guest’s favorite wine) go a long way toward building loyalty.

2. The Breakfast Experience
Not every lodging type can or should serve a full plated breakfast, but the concept of offering something thoughtful in the morning still resonates. Cabins might provide a basket of locally made muffins; boutique hotels could partner with a neighborhood café; glamping hosts might set up a DIY campfire breakfast kit. The idea is less about the food itself and more about creating a moment of care to start the day.

3. Storytelling as Marketing
Innkeepers often weave history, heritage, or their own personal journey into their brand. Guests love a story. Whether you manage lakeside cottages or a collection of short-term rentals, sharing the “why” behind your property—your connection to the land, the local culture, or your passion for hosting—adds authenticity that marketing dollars can’t buy.

4. Local Expertise
B&B owners are known as local ambassadors, pointing guests to hidden gems that make a trip unforgettable. Any lodging professional can lean into this role. Even if you don’t live on-site, providing a curated list of experiences, businesses, and events helps guests feel connected to your community.

5. The Art of Connection
At the heart of the innkeeping model is genuine hospitality—the feeling that a guest isn’t just staying somewhere, but being cared for. For cabins and STRs, this might mean thoughtful communication before arrival. For boutique hotels, it could be staff training focused on warmth and attentiveness. For glamping hosts, it may be creating communal spaces that encourage interaction.

Closing Thought:
Independent lodging comes in many forms, but there’s a reason B&B hospitality continues to inspire. It’s not about duplicating everything inns do—it’s about choosing the elements that align with your property’s identity and guest expectations. Even a small shift, borrowed from the innkeeping playbook, can transform a stay from ordinary to extraordinary.

At ALP, we know this exchange of ideas makes us stronger. Our membership spans cabins, cottages, boutique hotels, glamping hosts, short-term rentals, inns, and more—because every segment has something to teach, and something to learn. Together, we raise the standard of independent hospitality.