Letters
of Recommendation
Innkeepers
Share ... InnLight
Considering
hiring Christine Gustafson, InnLight Marketing?
Please read on ...
Being
in the advertising/marketing industry exposes our company to an
extremely large number of website designers. By far we place InnLight
Marketing at the head of that list in terms of concept, creative
design, and follow-through when it comes to travel websites. We
are continually receiving compliments on the travel website we
hired InnLight Marketing to create and its financial success has
far exceeded expectations, due to a large part on the insights
of InnLight Marketing prior to actual production. Not only was
the design good looking, the thought process that went into its
design was extremely effective. We strongly recommend InnLight
Marketing if you are ever considering having a travel website
designed.
Sincerely,
Gerry
Rose
Vice President
May/Partners
____________________
A
recommendation from Michael & Stephanie McCaffrey, McCaffrey
House Bed & Breakfast Inn - Pure Elegance in
a Wilderness Setting:
We
have been working with Christine Gustafson for four years. In
the first month Christine worked with us, she helped us write
our mission statement, form a marketing plan which included updating
our web site, web site marketing, rack card and post card designs,
a return guest program, media marketing, and setting up a small
gift shop. Needless to say she works tirelessly for her clients.
Although
we know Christine has many clients, we sometimes feel we are her
only one. She finds time to listen, seems to always be in touch,
answers emails and phone calls almost immediately, comes up with
great ideas to promote our inn and has a calming effect during
times of stress. Christine has a good eye for design and can turn
around a project quickly. Our guests are always complimenting
us on our web site They find it easy to use, comprehensive in
content, and user friendly
We
love working with Christine and find her energy, creativity and
love of what she does uplifting. She is a big part of our success
and we appreciate all she has done for us. Christine believes
in the clients she chooses to work with and helps us believe in
ourselves.
We
are members of a regional association of bed and breakfast inns.
Last year we recommended that our group hire Christine to design
the association web site and to help some of our struggling members
as well. She has since met with our group, redesigned the web
site and helped some of our member inns.
Over
the years Christine and her husband / photographer - Frank Marshall
- have become very good friends of ours and we look forward to
working with them for many years to come.
____________________
Regarding
the design and marketing of UNIQUEINNS.com
It
is wonderful to feel that after 20 years I finally have a co-employee!
Christine is extremely attentive, and considering the number of
clients, very quick to respond to requests for site updates and
adjustments. How she accomplishes it all while maintaining such
a positive outlook is beyond me! A real pleasure to work with.
Rose Allen, Executive Director
Unique
Inns
_____________________
Dear
Innkeeper:
Christine
Gustafson has done public relations for the Martine Inn for several
years. She is very creative and we have had articles about the
Martine Inn printed in 12 newspapers and magazines. She worked
up our annual publicity campaign that includes special events
and maximizing the use of our web site. She produced our first
newsletter and it has been received extremely well. She has designed
advertisements, undertaken photography projects, worked individually
with members of our staff, and has added to the positive experience
of our guests. Christine is reliable, timely and has wonderful
contacts. She represents the Martine Inn currently and will continue
to do so. I recommend her to you without reservation.
Sincerely,
Don Martine, Innkeeper & Co-founder of CABBI
California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns
Martine
Inn, Pacific Grove
_____________________
Christine
Gustafson has provided invaluable insight into marketing. First,
she is knowledgeable and our most valuable interaction is in discussing
what works and what doesn't. Second, she understands marketing
to different tiers in the market. Third, through the conversations,
we are able to craft a marketing plan that is not overly expensive.
Marketing on the Internet can be extremely expensive, consuming
not only dollars but also time, while, traditional marketing is
in disarray. Even feature articles in major newspapers and magazines
are not necessarily driving guests to inns.
Jeff
Stanford
Stanford
Inn & Spa, Mendocino
_____________________
Dear
Christine,
We
have been working with you for over 3 years now. Your experience
and knowledge of marketing as it applies to the Bed & Breakfast
industry is truly amazing! Your focus, energy and enthusiasm keep
us on the path to success. Your guidance produces results. It
is consistent with our goals and takes advantage of the unique
aspects of our property and personal strengths. We sincerely appreciate
that you are both professional and fun to work with. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Ann
& John
J.
Patrick House Bed & Breakfast
Cambria
California
_____________________
June
7, 2006
Dear Christine,
J and I want
to express the joy we experience every time we see the beautiful
website you created for our “Butterfly Universe”.
The stories and many photos we sent you were arranged and designed
better than we could ever have imagined. This is such an unusual
website, in that, it is a special and personal story that we wanted
to share with everyone. You were able to capture that feeling
in the way you designed our website.
We appreciate
so much the quick way in which you work and how you always respond
to our requests and/or changes with a positive and “can
do” approach. It’s been over a year now since the
“Butterfly Universe” was created and it receives approximately
300 visits a day. The emails, letters, and visitors to the “Butterfly
House” always comment on how beautiful and unique our site
is and sometimes brings a tear of joy or compassion after reading
the stories. Thank you for helping us to share our experiences
with all who visit us.
Love,
J and Sonja
Jackson
www.thebutterflyuniverse.com
_____________________
Dear
Christine:
It
is my pleasure to highly recommend you and your marketing company.
As we have multiple inns, all with different styles and needs,
it’s been a bit of a puzzle to figure out what works best
for each, but you made it look easy! It is much appreciated to
have someone with your expertise to turn to in this world of ever
changing technologies. Our inclusion in national publications
and great presence on the web are to your credit.
The
ability to have a full service marketing company, complete with
great photographer, has been a real plus. Our meetings have always
been insightful, productive and pleasant. Your recommendations
regarding publications, hosting services and web site services
have always been right on and well received.
We
hope to have the pleasure of working with you for many years to
come.
Cordially,
Dawn Dull, Vagabond
House Inn, Carmel, California
_____________________
We
have been working with Christine Gustafson for over a year now
and what a difference we have noticed. We have an excellent web
presence that we do not have to worry about or constantly change.
Christine monitors and adjusts it for us and then lets us know
what she has done. She is constantly coming up with ideas for
us to try out and they all are very successful. Advertising for
our Inn has become more focused and our increased occupancy reflects
this. Anna and I love to work with Christine as she has become
a special friend that truly cares about helping us grow as Innkeepers
as our business grows. We look forward to a bright and prosperous
future with Christine’s guidance. Christine understands
our needs and knows what works due to her vast experience in the
Bed & Breakfast Marketing Industry. Christine is friendly,
responsive, enthusiastic and we just love working with her. We
are anticipating a constant increase in our business directly
due to Christine’s hard work and dedication. Thanks Christine,
you are helping us make our dream a reality right before our eyes.
Stan
and Anna Smith, Owners/Innkeepers
The
Shelford House Bed and Breakfast Inn
Cloverdale, California
www.shelford.com
e-mail: info@shelford.com
707-894-5956
_____________________
From:
Lynnette Sands, Owner / Innkeeper
LA BELLE ÉPOQUE BED AND BREAKFAST INN
Napa, California
Dear Christine:
I want to thank you for all of the effective help and expert advise
you have given us at La Belle Époque. From the moment we
started working with you, you have been thoughtful, innovative,
have clearly listened to what we wanted to accomplish and have
been key to our achieving it. Your guidance and process in setting
up an ongoing marketing calendar and monthly marketing goals is
a significant key to our success. I look forward to continuing
our positive and successful relationship. Should you need a reference
or testimonial, please do not hesitate to ask for it.
Sincerely,
Lynnette Sands
www.labelleepoque.com
_____________________
Dear
Christine:
Thanks
so much for all the effort you have put into the marketing of
my little, but wonderful inn. I have just the three suites, but
as you know I have put forth a great deal of love and effort into
achieving a highly rated Bed and Breakfast in St. Helena.
You
have certainly helped me in this quest, you have helped me to
realize very good traffic flow, and a great web site that finds
its way to either the first page or the first three pages in many
google search.
Plus,
I must say you are great fun to work with, always available to
update my site or to give suggestions for promotions, or to take
a new photo or two. I love your visits every year, and look forward
to a strong continuing relationship!
Warm
regards - Polly
Polly Keegan, owner/innkeeper
707-963-2238
www.adagioinn.com
_____________________
Working
with Christine has been an answer to a prayer. Innkeepers of small
bed and breakfast businesses have many responsibilities that we
may not be an expert at performing. It was a pleasure to find
and work with a person that has an outstanding reputation in the
field of web designing especially as it pertains to the bed and
breakfast industry. Her marketing expertise, up-to-date packaging
suggestions, and understanding of the unique intricacies of the
bed and breakfast field has made her an invaluable part of our
small business team. Christine is timely, responsive, and respectful
of the people she works with while developing a professional product.
She started developing our web site in July, it was up and running
in August, and our monthly statistics for the past three months
have surpassed all previous stats for the same time period. Also,
a special added bonus in that Christine is a truly nice person.
What more could a small bed and breakfast owner ask for!
Gail
Golding
Lavender
Hill Bed & Breakfast
Sonora, California
_____________________
Dear
Christine:
We must tell you we can see a major difference in our operation
since working with you. We are more focused in our goals and objectives
and are able to think in terms of how our decisions impact/help
our goals and vision. You have provided invaluable advise that
has helped us make our bed and breakfast a star attraction on
the Central Coast.
Before
you redesigned our web site, our guests would comment during their
stay that our web site did not do our inn justice. Since your
redesign we now hear compliments that our inn is everything (and
more) than they expected from the web site. Thanks to your help,
we have been able to effectively increase our visibility on the
internet and this has paid off in more bookings (with lots of
repeat guests).
Your tips
on how to get publicity have also been very beneficial. We have
now won first place in Inn Traveler’s Book of Lists for
Best Breakfast in the USA for two years in a row. We also used
your advise in reaching out to the community and it has paid many
dividends for us.
We
enjoy working with you, enjoy your visits and also enjoy our friendship
with you. You truly care about your clients and the bed and breakfast
industry.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Ott, Owner
Olallieberry
Inn
Cambria, CA
_____________________
Hi
Christine,
Just a note to tell you how much I truly appreciate you and the
advice you have given me. So much has changed during the past
2 years that we have been working together. The direction that
you have taken my inn, from the web site design and the ease in
navigating the site (daily I receive compliments on that fact).
My inn is also enjoying the fruits of your advice as to advertising
and the closeness that you have worked with me not only to advise,
but to the direction I wanted to take my business. Just to mention
a few: webervations, gift certificates and the advertisers that
I needed to add and those I needed to drop. It truly does make
a difference to have professional guidance.
Even though I have owned and operated my inn for 20 successful
years, I have found that marketing has changed radically from
when I first started. Especially advertising and the entire marketing
concept really does need to be left to someone with experience
in that field.
Again, thank you and I do so are appreciate your advice and upbeat
style.
With kind Regards,
Marlene McIntyre, Owner
Sea
Gull Inn, Mendocino
_____________________
I
have been working with Christine Gustafson for three months now
and she has saved my life! There were so many marketing projects
which I wanted to get off the ground but did not know where to
start. Christine adeptly and painlessly helped me to define my
goals for the Inn. I quickly realized how little time I had been
spending on marketing and how much I needed her expertise. She
quickly went to work optimizing what marketing I had done and
the difference was immediate! What I thought was going to be a
mediocre year has turned into one of my best.
It
can be hard to have a working relationship where you are on opposite
coasts but Christine makes it easy! She is enthusiastic and always
interested in my life and my business; always responsive to my
needs when I know she has tons of other projects going on at the
same time. I feel like I am her only client. I look forward to
continuing to work with her. We still have a lot of projects to
tackle!
Heidi
Senkler Godbout, Innkeeper
North
Bridge Inn - Concord, MA
_____________________
I
have worked with Christine Gustafson for over two years now, first
through her association with CABBI and now through InnLight Marketing.
She designed and maintains our web site, which gets rave reviews.
I rely on her expertise about what works and what doesn't in marketing
as she has a unique understanding of the bed & breakfast industry.
Because of her efforts, our web presence is much stronger that
it has ever been, which means more guests coming through our doors.
Christine has an easy, warm demeanor which makes her very comfortable
to work with....she is prompt and responsive and very professional
as well. I have highly recommended Christine's services to several
associates, and would not hesitate to do so again and again.
Kristi Hallamore Jeppesen, Owner
Glenelly Inn & Cottages
www.glenelly.com
e.mail: glenelly@glenelly.com
707.996.6720
_____________________
From: Gina Glass, Abella
Garden Inn
Arroyo Grande, CA
My business was suffering and I was at my wits end trying to figure
out what to do. Then out of nowhere, I found out about Christine
Gustafson and her marketing company. I called her immediately.
She came to see me, we became good friends overnight, and she
has been doing my marketing ever since, about 7 months now. She
dramatically improved my web site, enrolled me in programs that
have gotten me more internet exposure and business, gives me input
about what I need to do, and is always there for me no matter
what I need. She is knowledgeable in her field, is positive and
enthusiastic, respectful, polite and a very spiritual, healthy
lady. Her friendship means as much to me as her marketing skills,
and I'm grateful to have her as part of my bed and breakfast "team".
_____________________
From: Georgia Jump, Owner / Innkeeper
Former Owner of La Belle Époque
Napa, California
Dear
Christine:
I
want to thank you for all your help and expert advise you have
given us at La Belle Époque. As you know, I wanted a "Publicity
Program" for our inn for some time but really could not personally
afford to give the time necessary or the money necessary to have
an outside firm do the work. Then CABBI came up with your program
which was both affordable and excellent. Through you guidance
we have set up goals and a time schedule to accomplish those goals.
That alone has helped me focus on the job at hand. The press release
you wrote was excellent as were the photos. We were featured on
the front page of a local paper who used your press release WORD
FOR WORD along with the photos. The phone is still ringing with
the mention of the FRONT PAGE ARTICLE thanks to you. In closing,
I can only tell you I look forward to the continuation of our
ongoing project.
Sincerely,
GEORGIA JUMP
_____________________
Directed to:
Ms. Sandy Hazen, Executive Director CABBI
2715 Porter Street Soquel, CA 95073
Dear
Sandy:
I
wanted to take a moment to compliment CABBI on its decision to
contract with Christine Gustafson as a publicist for CABBI, and
better yet, for its member Inns. We have been working with Christine
since late July and words cannot adequately express how pleased
we are with her level of commitment, her extensive knowledge of
publicity campaigns and, in general, her rapid responsiveness
and overall follow-through. Though CABBI has provided us with
many benefits as members, the availability of Christine's services
and the recent creation of the CABBI media web site are wonderful
additions to that membership.
Sincerely,
Paula and Bruce Stanbridge
Windrose Inn Jackson, California
windrose@volcano.net
_____________________
From: The Hanford House
In the heart of Sutter Creek
"Winner of the Golden Web Award"
Sent
to the CABBI Administrative Office
Not
to paint all innkeepers with a broad brush, but we all think we
can do it ourselves. Most if not all were successful business
people who now long for the ambiance and the reduced stress of
operating a B&B. The simple fact of the matter is at the end of
a day operating an inn, we are just too tired to grind out a press
kit, an article, or a press release. "Boy, if I only had a publicist
like we had at the corporation!". Well, now we do. Christine Gustafson
is our personal publicist, she's also yours too. After 5 years
we have a renewed commitment to our media plan, a press kit pending
approval, a Conference Center brochure in production and a rewrite
of our rate card. We now also have a clearing house for media
inquiries. Not a bad deal. We urge everybody no matter what the
size of your inn to consider their own "virtual" publicist---Christine
Gustafson.
Regards,
Bob & Karen Tierno, Proprietors
_____________________
Ms. Christine Gustafson InnLight
109 Sixteenth Street - Suite Six
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Dear
Christine:
Sandy
and I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation
for the work you've done on behalf of the Eureka Street Inn.
We
originally considered that your involvement in the marketing/advertising
aspect of our business would be somewhat limited because of Sandy's
extensive marketing background. We were wrong on several points.
First,
there are unique requirements in effectively marketing in the
Bed and Breakfast industry, i.e., not only specific marketing
skills but intimate knowledge of varied media/marketing resources.
And, like many small businesses, regardless of how much experience
you have in your own industry, it is always difficult to find
the time to organize all of the projects into a cohesive, achievable
plan. In addition to the industry specific information you provided,
your creative talent combined with your organizational skills
enabled us to develop a marketing plan, tailored to our inn, which
is organized, prioritized and infinitely achievable within a specified
time frame.
Secondly,
as a marketing plan is developed, there must be ready access to
the developer. How many times have we all become enthusiastic
about a given project only to be disappointed by an inability
to remain in constant communication with key resources? How refreshing
it was to be able to call, knowing that you would be readily available
with sound advice and quality input.
Anyone
enlisting your services will benefit far beyond the initial cost,
regardless of how long they have been in the innkeeping business.
We
believe that this is the best resource that CABBI has to offer!
Your enthusiasm, dedication and special talents will serve to
increase business exposure and revenue better than any other marketing
idea that we have seen.
Truly,
we thank you not only your creative inspiration, but for providing
the Eureka Street Inn with a marketing and media plan that we
believe will well support the growth of our inn.
Sincerely,
Chuck and Sandy Anderson
Eureka
Street Inn
Sutter Creek, CA 95685
For
Additional recommendations: Please
contact any inn listed on the
business building, online marketing, or web design page.
christine@innlightmarketing.com