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About the Bed and Breakfast Association
There are many thousands of "Bed and Breakfasts" in the UK, mainly small-scale, owner-managed businesses based in the proprietors' own homes. These are very important to the UK's tourism industry and to the visitor experience we offer to both British tourists and to visitors from abroad.
Until recently, these small independent B&Bs have not had a trade association to represent only themselves, without being dominated by the often differing agenda of the hotel industry, in which the strongest voice is that of the international hotel brands. The needs and interests of these huge corporations are often not the same - and may even occasionally be the opposite - of the needs and interests of the small, family-run B&B.
Louise and David Weston, owners of a small, high-quality B&B in Sherborne, Dorset, felt that there was no collective body to represent their interests, especially in the face of commercial threats such as the "Bed Tax" proposed by the Lyons Inquiry (since successfully fought off - so far) and by the 2006 fire precautions regulations, so they decided to start one. The Bed and Breakfast Association was established in 2005.
The Bed & Breakfast Association is a member organisation of the Tourism Alliance.
The BBA is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with the following objectives:
1) To represent the interests of members, and to campaign on behalf of those interests (for example, to Government and regulatory bodies);
2) To provide information and support services to members, to enable them to improve and develop their businesses;
3) To facilitate and enable the continuous professional development of the independent bed and breakfast sector in the UK, and promote best practice;
4) To promote to the public the advantages of staying in independent “bed and breakfast” accommodation.
The BBA defines “bed and breakfasts” as independent, owner-managed establishments not recognized as hotels, and offering overnight accommodation and breakfast on a “per night” basis to paying guests.
Online Communications
From the beginning, the Association has been determined to make all its information services online, and all its member communications by email. This is for two main reasons: (a) to keep the Associaton's costs (and hence membership subscriptions) as low as possible, and (b) to make best use of the new technology. This also allows us to avoid postal delays, and eliminates the unnecessary production of yet more printed paper.
Legal status
The BBA at this early stage is unincorporated; the Trade Association Forum (TAF) established by the Government (DTI) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) states that "A significant proportion of established trade associations are unincorporated. In the short term this is the best option for a newly established trade association as it is the most flexible and least costly. Incorporation is most appropriate where there is a need to limit the liability of members - which is not normally the case for trade associations".
Members of the BBA have no legal liability as they pay for annual services rather than a share in the ownership/liability of the organisation. Legal and financial liability is currently borne by our Chief Executive, David Weston.
Subscribe now for only £54 a year.
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