Inns And B&Bs Throughout The U.S. And Canada To Honor Vets With Free Rooms On Veteran’s Day

YARMOUTH, Maine - Aug. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- Charleston, SC – Inns and B&Bs throughout the U.S. and Canada will honor active military and veterans by opening their doors with complimentary stays on November 11, 2013, in observance of Veteran’s Day.  In the largest known effort within the lodging industry to honor active military and veterans, more than 800 inns and B&Bs are expected to offer free stays to thank veterans for their service to their country through the B&Bs for Vets (http://www.betterwaytostay.com/current-promotions/bbs-for-vets/) program.  Last year more than 500 inns and B&Bs signed up to participate in the B&Bs for Vets program in the U.S. with an additional 250+ offers from Canadian innkeepers. Organizers expect to surpass the 750 participating inns that joined in the program in 2012, expecting nearly  800 innkeepers to jump on board offering rooms as many as 5000 room nights to active military and vets on Veterans Day.

Many inns dedicate the whole property to free rooms for the B&Bs for Vets program.  Many more innkeepers will make special offers for vets to extend their stay for extra days or throughout the month. For a complete list of participating inns and B&Bs, visit http://www.betterwaytostay.com/current-promotions/bbs-for-vets/ for participating inns in the United States and www.bbcanada.com/bbforvets for a list of participating Canadian B&Bs. (Note: innkeeper registration for B&Bs for Vets starts in September; at this time inns are unable to register their participation. Check back for a list of participating inns after September 15; new inns and B&Bs added daily.)


“We are delighted that so many inns and B&Bs have jumped on board the B&Bs for Vets program in the past, offering free rooms to vets and their guests“ said Jay Karen, President and CEO of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (http://www.innkeeping.org/), the organization coordinating B&Bs for Vets. “Last year several thousand vets with their families and companions were honored with complimentary stays at inns and B&Bs and now that we’re celebrating the 6^th annual B&Bs for Vets celebration, we expect to host even more,” finished Karen.

The B&Bs for Vets program started in 2008 when Kathleen Panek, co-owner of the Gillum House B&B (http://www.gillumhouse.com/) and a handful of other innkeepers in West Virginia opened their doors to veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day. The program grew in popularity among innkeepers, and last year more than 750 inns in the US and Canada participated by offering free rooms to vets.  Once again this year, the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (http://www.innkeeping.org/) will coordinate the B&Bs for Vets program in conjunction with BBCanada.com (http://www.bbcanada.com/bbforvets) to thank veterans and introduce them to today’s B&B experience.

Active military and veterans interested in reserving a room on November 11 are asked to contact the inn/B&B where they wish to stay. Proof of military service will be requested, and all policies of the inn will be enforced for free stays.  To see a complete list of participating inns and B&Bs in the U.S. and Canada, visit www.bnbsforvets.org or www.bbcanada.com/bbforvets after September 15, 2013.  New inns and B&Bs are being added daily.

About Better Way to Stay

B&Bs for Vets is an initiative of the Better Way To Stay campaign, a grassroots program sponsored by the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (www. innkeeping.org (http://www.paii.org/)).  The campaign is dedicated to helping travelers discover today’s inns and B&B experience through programs and social network campaigns geared to enhancing the travel experience.  

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