Ask Lance and Joanne Murphy (above) what helped to sustain them during several years of renovating the property that became Port Austin Bed and Breakfast, and they’ll give lots of credit to their MBBA Aspiring Innkeeper membership.

After their opening weekend in May 2021, Joanne posted in MBBA’s private member forum, which is open to Aspiring members: “Our opening weekend, although small, went very well. Our guests enjoyed their rooms and their meals. We received lots of compliments on our attention to little details. Many of those details were inspired by you all and your willingness to share your ideas and challenges. We thank you all. Joining MBBA is the single most important thing we did to ensure our success. Again, THANK YOU!”

Starting your own bed and breakfast can be a daunting task, but with the help of our members and their resources, the Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association can assist you in making your dream a reality!

Scroll down for shadowing opportunities, to apply for membership as an aspiring innkeeper, and for great print and online educational resources.

Meet Aspiring Innkeeper members

Amy Berglund

8932 County 511 W.5 Road
Rapid River, MI  49878
(906) 399-4037

Hello!,  My husband, Brent) and I have built a brand new log home in Hahma Township;  we just received our certificate of occupancy last week.   We have almost 2800 SQ. feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms (all ensuite rooms); 3 we will be able to rent out, one of those being ADA compliant.   Tentatively we are looking at an open date of May 1st, providing our new water well passes testing.   We have approximately 1000 feet of shoreline on Big Bayde Noc, Lake Michigan and we are within walking distance of the Nahma Golf Course, about 3 miles south of US2 in Delta County.

 

Nicole Wirbel

3919 Gettysburg St
Midland, MI 48642
(989) 933-1298

I am a single mom whose children are growing fast. I am planning ahead and have always dreamed of having a B&B as a place for people to gather. Right now I am looking for more details on the business aspects before deciding which route I will be taking.

 

Patricia Bodrie

3292 3 Mile Rd
Traverse City, MI 49686
(216) 410-2778

I am an aspiring Innkeeper looking to open my own B&B within the Next 2 years (as of early 2023!)

Anna and Michael Hunter

5125 Stansbury Drive
Solon, OH 44139
(216) 410-2778

We are interested in purchasing a B&B in Michigan and are gathering information for our business plan. If the process doesn’t work out for the specific location, we are open to considering others in the state.

Laura Huth-Rhoades and Tom Rhoades
2133 119th Ave
Allegan MI 49010
217-778-1687
[email protected]
We are aspiring innkeepers, and I am the daughter and great-granddaughter of current and past innkeepers in Michigan and Wisconsin. Tom and I are proud to carry this legacy by transforming a guest suite in our rural barn home into a welcoming nature-surrounded B&B retreat called Oriole’s Nest. We also plan to create and open another small outbuilding as our second lodging option for additional guests. We hope to open in mid-2022. We are looking to learn and grow into our new role with the help of other Michigan innkeepers!

Sharon Miller
4967 S. Birch Lane
Cadillac, MI 49601
989-859-7681
[email protected]

Lost my spouse about eight months ago. Have owned my own business for 50 years and would like to explore the possibility of owning and operating a BnB.

Andrea Bergman
424 E Ayer Street
Ironwood, MI 49938
414-651-0790

[email protected]

I own a 1907 historic foursquare in Ironwood, Mi, and planning to convert it into a Bed and Breakfast.

Bernadette Steele
1215 W. Granville Unite G
Chicago, Il  60660
773-531-2091

[email protected]

I am starting my research to determine whether being an innkeeper is for me.

Cynthia & Eric Deitemeyer
2409 Thandlewane Path
Shoreham, Mi  49085
269 769 6802 cell – 813 523 9659

[email protected]

We are seeking a position as innkeepers.

 

Benefits of Aspiring Innkeeper Membership:

    • Listing on the Aspiring Innkeeper webpage
    • Notices of and invitations to meetings, webinars and conferences
    • Subscriptions to eNewsletters and other special mailings/alerts
    • “Shadow” veteran innkeepers for on-the-job training (See “Become a Shadower,” below)
    • Participate in educational webinars as scheduled
    • Access to the private online member Facebook forum 24/7
    • Waive the $50 non-member guest fee for the annual MBBA innkeeping conference

Annual Dues:  • $99
For a membership application,
Jump to Form  or call or email the office.

Note: If you open your inn and join as a full inn member before your aspiring membership year is over, we will pro-rate your $99 membership fee against your $150 start-up fee. Full inn membership is REQUIRED within 30 days after you open your doors to your first guests. If you choose not to become a full inn member within the 30-day grace period, your aspiring innkeeper membership status will be revoked.

Note: Aspiring Innkeeper Membership is as an associate member and is non-voting.

 

Find B&B Purchase Opportunities Here.

Become a Shadower – Learn the B&B Ropes

There’s no better way to decide whether innkeeping is right for you than by trying it on for size. And there’s no better way to learn what to do and how to do it best than by doing it — under the guidance of an innkeeper who lives it every day.

MBBA is the only Michigan organization that offers aspiring innkeepers the chance to shadow a professional innkeeper at a working inn. A list of those participating in the program is below. NOTE that each innkeeper and each B&B is different. Each has its own shadowing protocols. To the extent possible, each will tailor those protocols to suit your situation and availability. Some may charge you a fee (but only for an overnight stay), especially during their busy times. Others may offer only a mid-week and/or a daytime-only experience. Some have lots of time and space, while others are more limited. But ALL will welcome you with open arms. Don’t be shy: if you are an MBBA-member aspiring innkeeper, call or email to set up your personal shadowing experience.

Our shadowing program is a 24-hour experience if you decide to stay overnight or an 8-hour day with the inn you decide to mentor with.

Elk Rapids:  Darci Bartlett l 231 264 6282 l  email

Grand Haven:  Looking Glass Beachfront Inn  l  Brian King  l  231-588-6304  l  email

Ludington:  Lamplighter B&B  l Jen Hinderer  l  231-843-9792  l  email

St. Johns:  Nordic Pineapple B&B  l  Kjersten Offenbecker  l  989-292-4178  l  email

Whitehall:  The Lewis House B&B  l  Debi Hillebrand  l  844 -854-6424  l  email

 

Great Print and Online Learning Resources


Setting Up and Running a Successful B&B
How tough is it? Can you cut it? Find out from Karen Thorne, innkeeper and founder, Bed & Breakfast Academy

Articles for Aspiring Innkeepers.
A guide to financing B&Bs, inns and boutique hotels. Authored by Richard Newman, InnFinancing.com 

Running a Bed & Breakfast for Dummies
Learn to * Choose a location and make it your own * Create a profitable business plan * Decorate and renovate your property * Market your property for maximum occupancy. Authored by Mary White, former president of BnBFinder.com.

Become an MBBA Aspiring member